Dear SHO Forum,
Hello and Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to everyone here...
I've got 20 questions regarding my water pump install:
1. When installing the 2 new O-Rings, What do I use as a safe rubber lubricant- can I use Dielectric grease or will the silicone in it screw up the innards of the cooling system?
I grabbed whatever water pump O'Reilly's had in stock- which turned out to be a brand new Murray brand pump for $154. The Murray has both the front part of the pump (where the pulley shaft exits), a new pre-mounted pulley, the back part of the pump, a tiny paper gasket, and 2 O-rings...
2. Does the back half of the pump (engine side) ever leak- meaning, do the O-rings (including the tiny paper gasket) ever get old and leak?
3. If the back half of the pump NEVER tends to leak, ever- then why should I even bother changing it as it looks like an unnecessary "pain in the neck" to have to deal with?
If I rent a pressure checker, and put the system under pressure, and it ONLY leaks at the water pump's pulley shaft area (front half of the pump), then that's the only piece I might change- that is, if the other "back half" never ever tends to leak. If I do end up going that route...
4. Should I return the brand new O'Reilly's Murray brand pump (that includes everything), and exchange it for their (special order) "Rebuilt" $50 MasterPro brand water pump- which is only the front half of the pump w/bare pulley shaft only (no pulley included) and a larger paper gasket (goes between front and back half)? Should I exchange for the cheaper "rebuilt" front half only? Is O'Reilly's "Rebuilt" $50 MasterPro brand water pump inferior in any way? In general, are "rebuilt" water pumps inferior? What is the HIGHEST QUALITY brand/pump (new or rebuilt) I can buy? Please elaborate.
My old water pump pulley looks fine- however one of the 4 bolts was apparently NEVER torqued by Ford on the 60K tuneup...
5. What is the proper torque setting (ft lbs) for those 4 water pump pulley bolts?
6. How do I install, and properly torque, my OLD pulley onto the new water pump's pulley shaft while out on the work bench? Please advise safe procedure- one that will avoid damaging my pre-existing pulley. Note: I got my pre-existing pulley bolts loose using my air ratchet while the belts were still tight- however I'm going to have to later TIGHTEN them by hand w/my hand-torque wrench (elcheapo- can't set torque on my air ratchet).
Don't laugh here but I'm serious- If you all tell me not to purchase a rebuilt water pump, but to instead simply remove the front half from my brand new one- then...
7. How do I remove the new water pump's pre-mounted pulley while out on the work bench? Please advise.
I'm a little low on dough right now and would like to save as much time and money as possible (w/out shooting myself in the foot though) so...
8. Is there a way/method/procedure to change my water pump w/out having to remove the big "Crankshaft Vibration and Damper Pulley" down there at the bottom? If yes, please advise. Also, is there a way to change the water pump that does not require the removal of the front passenger wheel?
9. If no, then what special tools do I need to rent from Autozone (Loan-A-Tool) to remove/reinstall that bottom "Crankshaft Vibration and Damper Pulley?" What tools do I need to ask for?
10. Is the "Crankshaft Vibration and Damper Pulley" nut reverse threaded- or anything else I should know about?
11. If I'm using a Harmonic Balancer Puller or something similar to remove the "Crankshaft Vibration and Damper Pulley" (after nut removal)- what thread size bolts do I use with the puller- will they be standard or metric thread?
12. Is there a way/method/procedure to change my water pump w/out having to remove my pre-existing TIMING Belt? If yes, please advise.
13. If there is a way to install the water pump w/out having to remove the pre-existing TIMING Belt, what is the worse case scenario- should the re-used old timing belt ever one day break? Shouldn't the computer protect the motor from damage under such a scenario?
14. If I DO have to remove my TIMING Belt, then why?- is it to avoid getting coolant on it, or is there "clearance issues?"
15. If I do have to remove my TIMING Belt, how do I turn my engine over by hand to "line up the pulleys?" Which "direction" do I turn "what" and with what type of tool...
16. If I do have to remove my TIMING Belt, and I PROPERLY reinstall the old (or new) timing belt back- do I have to "further" properly set the timing "electronically" later with a timing light? If yes, please advise how.
HIGH PERFORMANCE QUESTIONS (WHILE I'M DOWN THERE)...
My Air Conditioner Refrigerant ran dry and I went all Summer without AC- it wasn't too bad. So I was wondering if I could get better performance from "by passing" my AC Compressor with a shorter 6-Ribbbed belt...
17. Can one bypass the AC Compressor by using a shorter 6-Ribbed Belt? If yes, what is the Gate's Part# for that shorter belt? Note: My particular model does not use the giant Serpentine belt- but has 2 separate belts instead.
18. If one can bypass the AC, is the increase in performance "lame" or negligible at best? Please elaborate.
19. I heard a rumor (from a possibly clueless acquaintance) that the SHO AC Compressor is also used for other functions- not JUST Air Condition. Is that true? He claimed it "dehumidified the heater's hot air" Talking about "hot air" LOL! I don't know though- I'm sorta' old school so I better not laugh... Basically, could I possibly damage something else (including components within the AC System itself) by "taking a detour around" and bypassing the AC Compressor completely? Could it ever "confuse" the computer?
The bearings inside my idler pulleys (NSK Japan) look to be of a sealed type...
20. Is there a way to use graphite or something to help them really "ziiiiiiing"- you know, reduce friction? Or is such a thing negligible, performance wise.
Thanks,
Hello and Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to everyone here...
I've got 20 questions regarding my water pump install:
1. When installing the 2 new O-Rings, What do I use as a safe rubber lubricant- can I use Dielectric grease or will the silicone in it screw up the innards of the cooling system?
I grabbed whatever water pump O'Reilly's had in stock- which turned out to be a brand new Murray brand pump for $154. The Murray has both the front part of the pump (where the pulley shaft exits), a new pre-mounted pulley, the back part of the pump, a tiny paper gasket, and 2 O-rings...
2. Does the back half of the pump (engine side) ever leak- meaning, do the O-rings (including the tiny paper gasket) ever get old and leak?
3. If the back half of the pump NEVER tends to leak, ever- then why should I even bother changing it as it looks like an unnecessary "pain in the neck" to have to deal with?
If I rent a pressure checker, and put the system under pressure, and it ONLY leaks at the water pump's pulley shaft area (front half of the pump), then that's the only piece I might change- that is, if the other "back half" never ever tends to leak. If I do end up going that route...
4. Should I return the brand new O'Reilly's Murray brand pump (that includes everything), and exchange it for their (special order) "Rebuilt" $50 MasterPro brand water pump- which is only the front half of the pump w/bare pulley shaft only (no pulley included) and a larger paper gasket (goes between front and back half)? Should I exchange for the cheaper "rebuilt" front half only? Is O'Reilly's "Rebuilt" $50 MasterPro brand water pump inferior in any way? In general, are "rebuilt" water pumps inferior? What is the HIGHEST QUALITY brand/pump (new or rebuilt) I can buy? Please elaborate.
My old water pump pulley looks fine- however one of the 4 bolts was apparently NEVER torqued by Ford on the 60K tuneup...
5. What is the proper torque setting (ft lbs) for those 4 water pump pulley bolts?
6. How do I install, and properly torque, my OLD pulley onto the new water pump's pulley shaft while out on the work bench? Please advise safe procedure- one that will avoid damaging my pre-existing pulley. Note: I got my pre-existing pulley bolts loose using my air ratchet while the belts were still tight- however I'm going to have to later TIGHTEN them by hand w/my hand-torque wrench (elcheapo- can't set torque on my air ratchet).
Don't laugh here but I'm serious- If you all tell me not to purchase a rebuilt water pump, but to instead simply remove the front half from my brand new one- then...
7. How do I remove the new water pump's pre-mounted pulley while out on the work bench? Please advise.
I'm a little low on dough right now and would like to save as much time and money as possible (w/out shooting myself in the foot though) so...
8. Is there a way/method/procedure to change my water pump w/out having to remove the big "Crankshaft Vibration and Damper Pulley" down there at the bottom? If yes, please advise. Also, is there a way to change the water pump that does not require the removal of the front passenger wheel?
9. If no, then what special tools do I need to rent from Autozone (Loan-A-Tool) to remove/reinstall that bottom "Crankshaft Vibration and Damper Pulley?" What tools do I need to ask for?
10. Is the "Crankshaft Vibration and Damper Pulley" nut reverse threaded- or anything else I should know about?
11. If I'm using a Harmonic Balancer Puller or something similar to remove the "Crankshaft Vibration and Damper Pulley" (after nut removal)- what thread size bolts do I use with the puller- will they be standard or metric thread?
12. Is there a way/method/procedure to change my water pump w/out having to remove my pre-existing TIMING Belt? If yes, please advise.
13. If there is a way to install the water pump w/out having to remove the pre-existing TIMING Belt, what is the worse case scenario- should the re-used old timing belt ever one day break? Shouldn't the computer protect the motor from damage under such a scenario?
14. If I DO have to remove my TIMING Belt, then why?- is it to avoid getting coolant on it, or is there "clearance issues?"
15. If I do have to remove my TIMING Belt, how do I turn my engine over by hand to "line up the pulleys?" Which "direction" do I turn "what" and with what type of tool...
16. If I do have to remove my TIMING Belt, and I PROPERLY reinstall the old (or new) timing belt back- do I have to "further" properly set the timing "electronically" later with a timing light? If yes, please advise how.
HIGH PERFORMANCE QUESTIONS (WHILE I'M DOWN THERE)...
My Air Conditioner Refrigerant ran dry and I went all Summer without AC- it wasn't too bad. So I was wondering if I could get better performance from "by passing" my AC Compressor with a shorter 6-Ribbbed belt...
17. Can one bypass the AC Compressor by using a shorter 6-Ribbed Belt? If yes, what is the Gate's Part# for that shorter belt? Note: My particular model does not use the giant Serpentine belt- but has 2 separate belts instead.
18. If one can bypass the AC, is the increase in performance "lame" or negligible at best? Please elaborate.
19. I heard a rumor (from a possibly clueless acquaintance) that the SHO AC Compressor is also used for other functions- not JUST Air Condition. Is that true? He claimed it "dehumidified the heater's hot air" Talking about "hot air" LOL! I don't know though- I'm sorta' old school so I better not laugh... Basically, could I possibly damage something else (including components within the AC System itself) by "taking a detour around" and bypassing the AC Compressor completely? Could it ever "confuse" the computer?
The bearings inside my idler pulleys (NSK Japan) look to be of a sealed type...
20. Is there a way to use graphite or something to help them really "ziiiiiiing"- you know, reduce friction? Or is such a thing negligible, performance wise.
Thanks,