Michael Yount
Mustang Master
Reverse rotation simply means that the water pump is turning the opposite direction of the crankshaft pulley/engine rotation. The engine rotates clockwise. For cars with the factory serpentine drive system, the water pump is designed to operate by turning counter-clockwise. This allows for the proper serpentine routing. If you have an HO motor, with the 'standard' reverse rotation pump, you simply need to route the belt so that the ribbed side is on the crank pulley, and the flat side is on the water pump. If you do that, no matter how else it is routed, the pump will turn the opposite direction from the engine.
This approach is contrasted with 302's that have standard v-belt accessory drives. Those will have the engine and water pump pulley rotating in the same direction - so you need a standard rotation water pump - which is designed to pump when it rotates in the opposite direction of our reverse rotation pumps. Confusing as hell......
This approach is contrasted with 302's that have standard v-belt accessory drives. Those will have the engine and water pump pulley rotating in the same direction - so you need a standard rotation water pump - which is designed to pump when it rotates in the opposite direction of our reverse rotation pumps. Confusing as hell......