remove radiator to replace water pump?

[weebo]

I was wondering if anyone with an SOHC had replaced the water pump and if so if I needed to remove just the fan/shroud or the entire radiator?

Also, any recommendations on the best place or brand pump to buy?

 

[X~FACTOR]

You have a '97 and already need a new water pump? Overheating problem? From my experience the last one to replace is the water pump. Those things last a long time and they don't break easily... unless you shave some sort of leak then it'd be the gasket you need replacing.

 

[MONMIX]

Removing the rad gives you more room to work.
It comes out easy enough, the few extra mineuts is worth an easier job.

 

[Robert]

My '97 needed a new waterpump about 19 months ago after developing a small leak. Ford's water pumps aren't exactly the best quality. My Wife's '93 Sable has had two replaced. Ford replaced it under my extended warranty so I didn't hang around and watch. My thoughts though are since the radiator is so easy to take out, I would probably remove it just because of all of the extra room it gives you. Of course if after removing just the shroud, I found that I had plenty of room, I might not. Start with the shroud. If you still need more room, take the radiator out. If I remember right on mine there are only 4 bolts holding it in, the two radiator hoses and the two tranny coolant lines. Once the shroud is out of the way and the radiator is drained, it shouldn't take more than another 20 minutes or so to get the radiator out.

 

[Rhett]

...unless your trans cooler lines are seized!! It took me hours to get those **** fittings loose! If you've got a manual, you don't have to worry about that though.

I would probably remove it just because of all of the extra room it gives you. Of course if after removing just the shroud, I found that I had plenty of room, I might not. Start with the shroud. If you still need more room, take the radiator out.

Interesting. On my 94, you can't remove the shroud unless you either first:
a) remove the fan, or
b) remove the radiator first
The shroud won't physically be able to move past the fan or radiator to pull it out of there. I only ask because I'm always interested in differences between 1st and 2nd gens.

 

[section525]

I somehow forgot to put my shroud back in before the radiator. There is no way that thing is going back in after the fan is in along with the radiator.

 

[addkev]

My water pump failed after a little over 2 years and the dealer removed the radiator to replace it.

 

[Texan01]

I didn't pull the radiator to get my pump off on my OHV, I took the fan and shroud off, the hardest part is getting the fan off of the pump. took me about 2 hours total from draining, flushing all the rust and scale out and cleaning gasket surfaces to running again. I pulled the alternator bracket off just have some more working room to scrape gasket.

But 2 bolts, 2 lines and 3 hoses and the radiator's out and you've got 5 more inches of room.

 

[weebo]

Thanks for the input.

It's the strangest thing though...

I was having no leaks, and no overheating problems. Saturday, upon starting up the X the serp. belt popped off. I put it back on thinking that maybe the a/c compressor locked up but then upon starting it up again the belt popped right back off.

I then noticed that the pulley on the water pump was moved forward about 1/2" thus making the belt jump off. It was easy to rock the fan back and forth, so I assumed the bearings in the water pump were worn out.

So, yesterday, I tackled the job...removed the radiator (very simple), remove the fan clutch/fan (not so simple...the fan clutch tools at autozone do not fit 4.0's even though it lists them on the box...but we made our own wrench to fit and used a strap wrench on the pulley.) After taking the fan clutch off, the pulley literally fell off the shaft. I then took off the water pump but the shaft seems very tight so I'm afraid that the pump itself was ok.

So, I'm now waiting on the new pump to get in...takes 4 days for a sohc, whereas the ohv was in stock. If the new water pump includes the pulley then I'm going to use it...if I have to use the old pulley, then I'm going to send the new pump back and just replace the pulley (save some $.)

Any thoughts on the pulley/pump situation?