Water Pump Inlet for 408W in 67 Mustang

[armand67Fstback]

I am getting closer to getting most of the parts to take in a F4TE block to be built into a 408. I plan on getting some type of serpentine pulley system and a high flow aluminum water pump.

In regards to a 1967 Mustang, what are the pros and cons of having the water pump inlet on the passenger or driver side?

I am trying to find out what radiator configuration to get based on the feed back I get. Thanks for your help on this.

 

[dennis112]

Inlet on the driver's side gives better cooling potential as it locates the inlet further from the outlet. The passenger side inlet is located just above the outlet and so part of the radiator is not fully being used because the coolant wants to take the shortest path. Also most aftermarket pulley/bracket systems cater to having the inlet on the driver's side.

Your choice of water pump also is related to your balancer, timing pointer location, pulleys, and the brackets. They are different from side to side. Do you have a balancer yet and where do you want the timing pointer? There are 3 different balancer timing locations and they must match the desired pointer location. Some balancers include multiple marking locations. If you have the wrong combination, you won't be able to easily see the pointer as it will be located below the water pump inlet. So, if your waterpump inlet is on the driver's side, you want your pointer to be located on the passenger's side. The balancer will then need the markings for the passenger's side.

Its all a system. Welcome to the world of Fords.

 

[armand67Fstback]

Dennis, thanks for explaining all of this I learned a lot from your post. I have not purchased a balancer nor pointer yet. No kidding it is quite a system, it requires very careful parts selection.

 

[dennis112]

If it helps with your parts selection, the change over for SBF's inlets mostly occurred in 1970. Prior to that, 289, 302, and 351w's had passenger side inlets. From 1970 on, most SBF vehicles came with driver's side inlets.

 

[68stang351]

In my 68 I have a fox Mustang style water pump and timing cover, which means the pump has a drivers side outlet. But instead of the original style radiator with the bottom hose on the opposite side, I have a Fox body radiator also, so I just use a fox lower hose. The radiator core is the exact size as the opening in the core support where the old 68 radiator had a big gap there.

This also only works in my car because my battery is in the trunk. If it was in the stock location, the radiator wouldn't fit.

 

[mtaqua]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GRI-1-55242-X/

I use this with a standard flow passenger side inlet pump. I did some mods in my 66 to get it to fit, but it might be easier in the 67 to fit. I used a moroso bracket for my alt, it can be set up for any location on the motor. I do run a serp belt, but it required some alterations. I don't run a tensioner, just use the alt to get the belt tight. March sales a pulley set with a bracket that supposedly will fit, but I wasn't convinced. I had bought just the pulleys and a moroso bracket prior to realizing they had a complete kit, so I called them and asked for a pulley height of the kit with the bracket and they wouldn't give it to me. They insisted that their kit would fit and to just buy it (well I had everything and another set of March pulleys were not in the budget). So I got a balancer pulley spacer, and it was to big. I measured the difference (pretty easy) and took it to a machine shop and they turned some off. I've gone to 7K on the motor numerous times and no belt issues. With all the different pump heights and balancer heights I don't see how it will fit all of them when each combo requires a different pulley height. Anyways, not trying to scare you just be warned that there might be mods to be done (which are easy if you can use a ruler).

 

[armand67Fstback]

In my 68 I have a fox Mustang style water pump and timing cover, which means the pump has a drivers side outlet. But instead of the original style radiator with the bottom hose on the opposite side, I have a Fox body radiator also, so I just use a fox lower hose. The radiator core is the exact size as the opening in the core support where the old 68 radiator had a big gap there.

This also only works in my car because my battery is in the trunk. If it was in the stock location, the radiator wouldn't fit.

68stang351, my timing cover is from a 1997 351W, so I am pretty sure it is just like that of a fox 5.0. I plan on putting the battery in the trunk, what brand of 5.0 radiator did you use? What water pump did you use in you conversion? Do you think the Edelbrock Victor high flow pumps are worth the expense?

Mtaqua, thanks for the heads up, I will be getting a drivers side serpentine water pump. The next challenge will be figuring out a serpentine system to get everything to line up and work.