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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Water Pump Bolt

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lovejoy
  • Start date Start date Mar 25, 2016

Lovejoy

Jerking And Popping
Jan 3, 2016
94
7
28
Illinois
Mar 25, 2016
#1
  • Mar 25, 2016
  • #1
Seems like I can't catch a break lately. Changing water pump and bolt head snapped off. Have half inch or so sticking out but vice just strips bolt and it's not long enough for stud remover to work. If i take timing cover off it will be long enough but trying to avoid removing cover. Will water pump leak with one missing bolt? Just head snapped off. No grinder or torch to use so any suggestions will help.
 

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rd

Founding Member
Jan 12, 2000
3,316
63
109
Ocean Springs MS
Mar 25, 2016
#2
  • Mar 25, 2016
  • #2
Been down this road.

Pull the timing cover. Mine had corrosion in there that probably helped stick the bolt.

Makes it much easier to deal with. Finished at 1 am. Drove to work at 0600.
 

dgollem

20+ Year Stangneter
May 5, 2004
211
33
49
Waldorf MD
Mar 25, 2016
#3
  • Mar 25, 2016
  • #3
Plus one for pulling the cover. Still may need a torch to keep it from snapping again. Should be able to get MAP gas torch at Lowes or Home Depot
 
E

elimontfort

Member
Mar 14, 2016
2
1
13
Mar 25, 2016
#4
  • Mar 25, 2016
  • #4
Try grinding some flat spots on it with a Dremel then grab it with a new set of vise grips. And when you replace them ARP makes a water pump bolt kit. I replaced mine with those.
 

Shakerhood

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 28, 2004
3,355
207
114
Ohio
Mar 25, 2016
#5
  • Mar 25, 2016
  • #5
Weld a Nut on it, the heat will help loosen it and you will also be able to get a wrench or socket on it.
 

Lovejoy

Jerking And Popping
Jan 3, 2016
94
7
28
Illinois
Mar 26, 2016
#6
  • Mar 26, 2016
  • #6
No tools like that. No grinder or welder. Ended up taking risk and putting back on with a lot of sealant around broken bolt. This is basically my daily driver. Hope it works. But thanks for all suggestions wish me luck lol
 

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.
15 Year Member
Jul 6, 2006
5,232
2,652
223
gainesville
Mar 26, 2016
#7
  • Mar 26, 2016
  • #7
Lovejoy said:
No tools like that. No grinder or welder. Ended up taking risk and putting back on with a lot of sealant around broken bolt. This is basically my daily driver. Hope it works. But thanks for all suggestions wish me luck lol
Click to expand...
Much luck with that. If it holds go ahead and plan on ordering the arp set and replacing these ASAP. it will leak sooner rather than later.
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
8,859
214
In the garage
Mar 26, 2016
#8
  • Mar 26, 2016
  • #8
grind a slot in the head of the bolt and see if you can turn it with a screwdriver. A big plus is to buy a cheap propane torch and heat up the area where the bolt goes into the water pump. The alum will expand faster than the steel bolt- spray some PB blaster in there when you remove the flame. repeat that a few times and then see if you can remove the bolt.
 
G

Glenn01

New Member
Mar 26, 2016
1
0
1
Mar 26, 2016
#9
  • Mar 26, 2016
  • #9
Lol. I've got a c clamp on my daughters liberty. Been on there almost a year. No leaking.

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
 

Lovejoy

Jerking And Popping
Jan 3, 2016
94
7
28
Illinois
Mar 26, 2016
#10
  • Mar 26, 2016
  • #10
Not a Mustang but what kind of clamp is that
 

Lovejoy

Jerking And Popping
Jan 3, 2016
94
7
28
Illinois
Mar 26, 2016
#11
  • Mar 26, 2016
  • #11
Sorry missed c clamp. That's great it's not leaking but doesn't look great lol.
 

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL
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Mar 10, 2000
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Dublin GA
Mar 27, 2016
#12
  • Mar 27, 2016
  • #12
I realize that this is a little bit late, but for future reference, here it is...

Water pump removal problem common to many 5.0 mustangs

A lot of us have struggled with water pump removal. The classic problem is a bolt, or bolts that are stuck and refuse to budge.

Even the best of us get forgetful or in a hurry, and forget the preventive fix for this problem. It is lots of Never-Seez applied to the bolt shanks and threads. I was one of those people, who forgot their own best advice.

I got all the bolts out without much problem except the upper one by the lower radiator hose. It was stuck - realty stuck. Rocking the bolt back and forth proved useless. So did tapping on the wrench handle with a rubber mallet. Now it is serious prayer and thought time, so I paused in my efforts and did both. The answer was PB Blaster - that's simple and obvious enough. But how do you get PB Blaster inside where the rust and corrosion is when the bolt is in the engine block behind the timing cover? Here's where divine inspiration and some tools left over from my days as an A&P aircraft mechanic.



That is a 12" long #40 (3/32") drill bit.


This is where it gets used;


This is the result;


Stick the soda straw on the PB Blaster in the holes and squirt away. Wait a little bit and squirt some more. Rock the bolt back and forth; squirt some more...The bolt starts to turn without excessive force, squirt some more. Then with a 1/2" ratchet, it begins to wrench out without any problems.



The offending bolt; notice the necked down part just above the threads. That is where the bolt would have sheared off if brute force had been applied.


A couple of dabs of JB Weld will cover the holes and keep out any moisture
 
Last edited: Mar 27, 2016

Lovejoy

Jerking And Popping
Jan 3, 2016
94
7
28
Illinois
Mar 27, 2016
#13
  • Mar 27, 2016
  • #13
That's a good idea. Sucks it's already back together but if starts leaking that would be my next move. Thanks for help. Same bolt too. Very helpful
 
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