Thread: I found what blew in my engine!

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I don't think the water pump rpm had anything to do with the welds breaking--it was a marginal design change for a non-existant reason---and an inferior method of manufacture.
And then there was the mix/matching of non compatable pieces---Ford shortened the water pump to allow the 302 to be put in the t bird/cougar late 80s or early 90 as the engine was too close to the front of the car for federal crash specs---there was a complete series of parts involved with everything that had to do with the accessory drive / mount system. Your mounting and modifying( what rodders do) of these components ( shortening dampner drive hub) might of had more to do with setting up a vibration/harmonic in the drive system that caused an faulty weld to fail.

I think you might be right, Jerry. The guy I spoke with at Runne-Rite told me he used to work for Ford Racing and said " They know they have had problems with that pump, they should have told you that." I figured that pump and timing cover had to come off of some stock application, like the T Bird you mentioned, but I have never been able to find what stock pump it is. The guy at the Ford Racing booth at Turkey Run said this is a custom made unit that they machine the end off of to pick up 1.5 inches, but I can't see them not using a stock pump and timing cover if possible. Wish I could find out the exact application.

The weirdest thing was how that flat steel plate was totally reshaped into a cupped plate by the spinning vanes, I guess. What ever did it rolled the edge of the flat round plate into a perfect lip..........never seen anything like it.

Don

Don - it kinda looks like an Explorer pump and similar to what came off my crate motor - but yours is standard rotation - I believe ?????

Yes, they make this one in two versions, standard rotation for V belt, and ccw rotation for serpentine.........mine is V belt. When I was running around Daytona that Friday, trying to round up parts to fix my pump, the parts guy at a Ford dealership made me a printout that shows this pump as being used on a 351 mid 80's Ford F150 , but they didn't stock that pump. I took that info to a local NAPA and Advanced Auto and their pumps for that truck were totally different than mine.

I do know that to make this setup work I needed to buy a special timing cover that appears to be late model because it has that proviision down low for a crank sensor. It had some part numbers on the inside of it, but I didn't think to write them down before I installed it. Those numbers might have clued me in as to what this thing was designed to fit.

I almost chucked the whole setup and was going to order a Snow White short water pump assembly, but I am so deep in this thing now moneywise that I have to give it one more shot. I have a feeling that this may be the cure.

Don

Probably should keep this this thread handy to link to the next "How come there are so many small block chevies........." thread..

Originally Posted by bob parmenter

probably should keep this this thread handy to link to the next "how come there are so many small block chevies........." thread..

he he he

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Probably should keep this this thread handy to link to the next "How come there are so many small block chevies........." thread..

bob play nice hard to beat them belly buttons chevys

Inferior made parts will put those on the trailer too,I had to tow them home too.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Probably should keep this this thread handy to link to the next "How come there are so many small block chevies........." thread..

I had a newer bad water pump go out on my 37 chevy p/u,it was one of those shortened pumps to install a 55 to 62 235 in a 54 on back. The impellor came off the shaft and the pulley went into the radiator forcing me to remove the front clip to repair it.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Probably should keep this this thread handy to link to the next "How come there are so many small block chevies........." thread..

I know you posted this tongue in cheek, but you are absolutely right, Bob. Chevy engines are the least expensive to play with, and GM didn't make running changes every 6 months like Ford does. GM has kept the same basic design, with some updates, over the years, and parts are available everywhere.

As I've mentioned before, I lean toward Ford and Olds engines, but MAN, do I have a lot of respect for the 350 Vortec I had in my 23. That thing just purred along, always got me home, and didn't cost an arm and leg to build. No question us Ford guys pay for our loyalty.

Don

Don the more I ponder this the more I wonder if the high rpms may have created some cavitation eating the pump up so to speak. I've seen it happen to propellers on boat. Just a thought.

Yep Chevys are cheap to build but Fords go faster !!!

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I know you posted this tongue in cheek, but you are absolutely right, Bob. Chevy engines are the least expensive to play with, and GM didn't make running changes every 6 months like Ford does. GM has kept the same basic design, with some updates, over the years, and parts are available everywhere.

As I've mentioned before, I lean toward Ford and Olds engines, but MAN, do I have a lot of respect for the 350 Vortec I had in my 23. That thing just purred along, always got me home, and didn't cost an arm and leg to build. No question us Ford guys pay for our loyalty.

Don