Can anyone tell me an approx. ammount of time it should take for a mechanic to replace the water pump on a 1987 5.0L? Also, what is involved? Flushing coolant, removing fan belt and pulleys, removing hoses then removing the water pump? Thanks.
Any shop will charge book rate.. which will be probably 3-4 hours. You have to remove the fan, shroud... belt... take the a/c compressor loose and move it out of the way, also the p/s pump if I remember correctly (can't remember the last time I did this with the car still having the a/c compressor)... then the pump.
I like to do things right when I do them, so I removed the radiator and cleaned it, straightened the fins and painted it, put the blue Ford Motorsports hoses on, changed the thermostat, and put an Edelbrock W/P on. I spent the better part of an afternoon on it!
I just did this myself, and it took 5 hours. I was taking my time, cleaned things real good, ate dinner in between.
You don't have to remove the AC/ or PS pump...
Today I did it this way...
Disconnect the Negative battery terminal. (Safety)
Remove the drive belt.
Remove the 4 bolts on the fan
Unplug the AC electrical line, so you don't mess it up
Then remove the shroud, and the fan at the same time.
Take off the water pump pulley
Remove the AC/PS bracket
Used tie downs to secure the AC/PS to the Strut tower brace.
Disconnect the Water hoses from the Water Pump
Remove all the Water Pump bolts
I cleaned the bolts with Gunk, and a wire brush, then hand washed them with soap.
I removed the Thermostat neck, and cleaned it up inside and out, (removed all the gasket goo), and pulled that hose off also.
Remove the Water Pump
Cleaned the block real good with scotch pad, and fantanstic
Mount the Water Pump
Stick the Tstat back on the neck with RTV, and make sure the little vent thing on the TStat is facing UP. Then stick the gasket on the Tstat neck.
Tighten the Tstat back down.
Bracket back on, Hoses, Belt, reconnect the AC electical wires, good to go.
I also cleaned the fan with a screwdriver to knock all the dust loose, then hit is with the air hose, and made it clean with all purpose cleaner. I did that to the Fan shroud also.
Air hosed everything off really good, and put it back on.
Lot of work, but the speed shop won't clean the Tstat neck (deposits reduce flow) clean the block, clean the fan, or the shroud.
I took my time, and did a good job. I would not pay anyone to do it, because it really is not that hard.
I have done my 87 about 4 hrs ...drunk no less I had a 85 I did in 1.5 Pulled the fan off clutch etc. pulled hosses off with the radiator mainly for room, it's only being held by 2 bolts and some hoses unless you have AT. At any rate you should get a shop manual and do it your self. Its good learning experience.
It took me the better part of a morning with my Dad (~2.5 hours) to get some of the stuck bolts out. Once that was done, we were actually working on the water pump for maybe 30 ~ 45 minutes. Plan on 4 hours, 1 case of drinks and some bloody knuckles for the stuck bolts.
Thanks for the tips/info guys, much appreciated! I asked around and it's going to be about $100+ for labour, so I've decided I'll just do it myself. The only reason I was considering getting someone else to do it was because I'm also in the middle of changing my head gasket on my truck, and bogged down with a lot of work right now, but it should be no problem to change that pump on Saturday morning, probably take me until Saturday night though, heheheh.