Water Pumps and Quality???

VintageIronFab · Post by **VintageIronFab** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 12:35 pm

Hello All,
I feel like this is kind of a stupid question and almost mulling over stupid details but I will ask nevertheless. In about a week I'm going to do a waterpump one 96 5.8- it's not leaking but I think it's got a squeek to it that's pissing me off. So there is the typical Oreillys WP made by Murray for $30 or you can get name brand ones like Gates or a Motorcraft for about $45 shipped. The motor is just a stock engine but I do want to use good parts. Any thoughts on some of these parts would be great. I used to just get stuff from the parts store and throw it on but I've just been really impressed with the longevity of the factory stuff.

Thx,
Natt

Silverslk · Post by **Silverslk** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 4:34 pm

I replaced mine with Motorcraft. If it lasted 15+ years...

Post by **SteveG** » Thu Jan 22, 2015 8:14 pm

I would use Motorcraft.

Phoenix0783 · Post by **Phoenix0783** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 12:05 am

https://stewartcomponents.com/

VintageIronFab · Post by **VintageIronFab** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 2:18 pm

What about thermostats? Any reason to not run one from a parts store? There's the Robert Shaw variety, NAPA premium, or Oreillys off the shelf??

Post by **SteveG** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 7:15 pm

Parts store thermostats have a decent track record but I still only use factory thermostats.

Silverslk · Post by **Silverslk** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 7:43 pm

I prefer superstat or Napa premium as they call it now. Fail open is what I like about it.

hobbyturnedobsession · Thu Feb 19, 2015 5:01 am

Every time I used a damn fail safe they'd stick open. I stick with the motorcraft unit now.

robertcrav · Post by **robertcrav** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 6:06 am

I've never had a problem with flowkooler water pumps... http://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/

300 · Post by **300** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 8:01 am

robertcrav wrote:I've never had a problem with flowkooler water pumps... http://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/

I use them, too. They do not seem to last any longer than the cheap parts store version. Failure mode is typically the seal starts to weep and takes out the bearings.

Mesozoic · Post by **Mesozoic** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 12:50 am

The Edelbrock Victor pumps are really nice and worth the extra money.

Wrightracing.net · Post by **Wrightracing.net** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 3:42 am

I have had a Eldelbrock water pump on my 302 since 1998 without any problems. I also have run the Napa Thermostat and I did have it fail once but it failed open and took a while to warm up on a cold winter day in San Diego.

VintageIronFab · Post by **VintageIronFab** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 2:05 pm

I ended up just getting a NIB motorcraft pump off Ebay for about $45 shipped which is really a pretty good deal for a pump that would be going on a stock engine.

1Hondalover · Post by **1Hondalover** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 8:41 pm

I had a great phone discussion with these folks the other day......https://www.meziere.com/ps-1202-1170-wp374s.aspx

Mesozoic · Post by **Mesozoic** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:09 pm

I found that the stock Motorcraft aluminum pump on a supercharged 302 did a pretty dismal job of cooling, even with a massive radiator and twin electric cooling fans in an otherwise stock '89 Ford Mustang 5.0. The Victor Jr. on the otherhand...

Post by **SteveG** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:18 pm

It's not likely the water pump that did a bad job. Aside from garbage, cheapo pumps that have inferior impellers, cooling issues are almost always not the pump. Even the cheap pumps don't usually cause cooling problems.

apache41 · Post by **apache41** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 12:46 pm

What did Meziere have to say ? I like the idea but 600+ dollars is a lot of coin.....