Steel bolts in an Aluminum housing (Water Pump)

[txplayboy001]

Well, here is another design flaw (in my opinion).
I tried to chage my water pump yesterday. It is the original pump (140k). The bolt shafts are corroded to the water pump housing. They will not come out without breaking. Any tips or suggestions?

 

[rd]

You will most likely break some of them, especially the long ones on the drivers side. They are 3/8 studs on the outside where the accessories mount, but basicly a 5/16 bolt inside the pump, timing cover and block. One or two are about 5 or more inches long.

If you can safely put some heat on them, you may get them out. Usually they break. Basicly, you will need to remove the timing cover to get them out. They bind in the timing cover from corrosion. Once you get the cover off, they should easily thread out of the block.

New ones should be available from Ford, and there are some aftermarket kits with these bolts also. Real pain. Been there, done that. Bought at least two sets over the years.

 

[wht93gtEd]

when the water pump on my 74 Buick Apollo was changed.....5 out of 9 1/4" bolts snapped. an easy out took them right out. still a pain in the a$$ though.

I've never had to do it on my Mustang, so I'm not sure about the details.

 

[txplayboy001]

Well, ARP sells a stainless steel bolt kit for this situation. So, I am thinking that I can just drill the heads of the bolts off and pull everything off, then unscrew the rest of the bolts. Sonnds ok to me. Does it sound too easy to ya'll?

 

[Michael Yount]

Galvanic corrosion is a ****** - no two ways about it. Good luck. Use a high quality thread sealer with whatever you put back in - I like ARP's moly lube/thread sealer.

 

[cardudeusa]

The ARP bolt kit doesn't work. I just have that kit and about 2 or 3 bolts work out of the like 20 they give you, what a waste. Do like Michael Yount said and use some arp thread sealer, stuff works good.