How hard is it?

[koda2000]

How hard is it to take the P/S A/C compressor bracket loose on an 5.0L? I need to drill a hole in the water pump to get a stuck bolt out and it's in my way. I see 2 bolts on the front of the bracket. I figure there must be more.

 

[SoHK_alumni]

Piece 'o cake!

Only three bolts hold the entire bracket with ancillaries to the block/head.

For the short slide out of the way, release the suction hose clamp over by the alternator and with the belt and that clamp off, you should have plenty of "wiggle" to get some access in there (assuming the belt, fan blade and shroud are already out of the way)

If memory serves, two bolts are 3/8" with 9/16" heads, the other is a 7/16" with a 5/8" head on it.

 

[koda2000]

Piece 'o cake!

Only three bolts hold the entire bracket with ancillaries to the block/head.

For the short slide out of the way, release the suction hose clamp over by the alternator and with the belt and that clamp off, you should have plenty of "wiggle" to get some access in there (assuming the belt, fan blade and shroud are already out of the way)

If memory serves, two bolts are 3/8" with 9/16" heads, the other is a 7/16" with a 5/8" head on it.

The belt, fan, shroud, tensioner, idler pulleys, hoses and wiring are all off. Where's the 3rd bolt located?

Okay, found the 3rd bolt and they're all out (all 3 were the same size). The bracket is loose, but I can't get it far enough out of the way to gain access to the w/p bolt in question. Tomorrow I'll pull the battery and battery box out to see what I can disconnect from the bracket. Maybe the compressor? I don't see how removing the suction hose clamp from the back of the compressor is going to help, but I can't see very well at night.

 

[SoHK_alumni]

NOT FROM THE BACK OF THE COMPRESSOR!!!!!! There's a clamp (or should be) over by the alternator.

 

[koda2000]

NOT FROM THE BACK OF THE COMPRESSOR!!!!!! There's a clamp (or should be) over by the alternator.

I didn't see a clamp by the alternator, but (like I said) I couldn't see very well. The suction line doesn't really have much give to it. It just goes over to the accumulator. I may be missing something. I'll look at it tomorrow.

 

[SoHK_alumni]

Yea, working when it's dark is not fun!

 

[koda2000]

Update:
Went to the auto parts store and picked up a new lower idler pulley and some antifreeze. I also went to the hardware store to get my jam nuts. I woke up this morning wondering if the stud part of the long w/p bolts are even really threads, as nothing actually bolts onto them except the press-on wiring harness stays. Turned out they are threads (thank God) but surprise they're SAE and not metric. WTF, I thought the days of mixing SAE with metric fasteners were long gone, but I guess Ford had a better idea.

Got home and quickly located the suction line bracket on the alternator and disconnected it. Then I lifted the p/s pump bracket as far up and out as I could and I think I'll be able to drill holes in the water pump and/or timing chain cover to get some penetrant on the stuck bolt using my drill extender. It's not a straight shot, but it looks like it can be done. So I get my electric drill and the battery is dead. I go to my backup battery and it hasn't charged because apparently it needs to be replaced. now I'm charging the other drill battery, which is probably no good either. In the mean time I'm typing this update.

On the plus side, taking loose the p/s bracket allowed me to see and disconnect the oil pressure sending unit harness, which will make removing the w/p easier.

Hopefully my next update will be that the water pump is off.