Water pump bolt set - a solution!

[gadget73]

Did some poking and I'm not finding if we ever came to a firm answer about exactly how to get a complete bolt set for a Panther water pump.


Is there such a set or known combination of parts that definitely gets all of the parts needed for a car with AC ? This is an iron pump so i have the two extra bolts. Those are not a big deal, i mostly need the long stud bolts.

Water pump started leaking and the last time i had all that apart a number of years back for the cam swap they weren't looking so hot. I would like to have new parts to put back in there.

[WagonMan]

I did a GOOGLE search and there are a couple kits available. Type in " water pump bolts FORD 302' WagonMan

[gadget73]

A 302 is not a 302 though. the accessories on a Mustang have a couple less studs than what a Panther takes. The trucks have something else, V belt cars are something else again. I'm trying to avoid buying multiple sets at random and hoping I have the right stuff when I take this apart because I do not want it apart for days or weeks waiting on bolts.

This is a Fox Mustang one for example (pic rotated for easier comparison)




This is the Panther set (pic from Arquemann )


4 stud bolts vs 7.

[WagonMan]

I have extra good used ones, two 5", four 4", one 2.75" and one 2". $25 shipped. LMK, Pete VEIGHTPETE@GMAIL.COM

[gadget73]

I would very much prefer new parts. I already have a set of 40 year old bolts.

[WagonMan]

Only trying to help. The bolts I have are not corroded or stripped. Good luck with your search. WagonMan

[Tiggie]

AMK sells it by the piece. Not sure they have all you need but I bet most of it is there.

https://www.amkproducts.com

[gadget73]

looks like they possibly have one but its not the difficult to find one.

kind of leaning towards two Mustang sets and I'll make the one bolt that nothing seems to have out of one of the extra bolts. I should end up with at least one too-long bolt that I can cut down and use a die on to thread it.


this is all really stupid. Not even the factory parts manual has the right listing for bolts. It says there are a total of 2 bolts and 2 studs on the Towncar. Thats definitely wrong. It gives me 6 for the Vic and Grand Marq, 4 of which are studs. also wrong but less wrong.

[Arquemann]

That's not my picture, it was sent to me by another member. My water pumps haven't had the 2 extra holes.
Mine has 7 studs, like below: (left-to-right = clockwise around the pump, starting from bottom left)



Since my pump is off again I can go measure them, though the lengths marked in gadget's post are probably the same.

One thing I want to mention is the difference in the AC bracket. My '85 and probably other earlier boxes use an AC bracket that goes on only 2 of the water pump studs, whereas '86+ have the 2-piece bracket that uses 3 of the pump studs. On these earlier setups the pump stud between the water bypass and heater return nipples is not used:

[gadget73]

yeah I have an 86, so it needs that one. Which is unfortunate because it seems thats the one that isn't in either of the bolt sets. Two Mustang ones will give me the 6 other studs plus one thats too long. I have a saw and a die set, and I'm not afraid to use them. Guess I just need to buy the stupid things and order a pump.


thought the pic was yours because it came from one of your posts

[87gtVIC]

I went the two mustang kit set and still wound up short route myself. Spendy.

[gadget73]

yeah, and then I have to figure out what to buy for a water pump. I went through a whole thing years ago where it was a pump every 10k miles. This pump was the last of that. Its been through an engine rebuild, a timing chain failure, and a cam swap. Doesn't have tons of miles on it but its probably better than 10 years old and off the car a half dozen times or so. I think its just a random parts store unit, nothing special.


honestly its things like this that make me unmotivated to work on stuff.

[matth825]

I ended up ordering some from Totally Stainless. This was back in 2019 so no idea how their customer service is today but they worked with me to make a custom set. They took most from their mustang kit. The weird 2.75 inch they made for me. Didn’t need it because I have an 85 with the 1 piece bracket but wanted an original-ish look.

[gadget73]

happen to have any info on a kit number or anything like that I could feed them, or did you just give them the measured lengths? Stainless would be ideal honestly.

[matth825]

I found the kit in their catalog. There is no part number. It’s labeled the “85 Mustang Kit.” Comes with two short, two medium and one long stud bolt. I ordered that kit along with an extra medium stud bolt and the custom 2.75 inch one. The kit did not have the short 1.5 inch bolts you need for the cast iron pump. I didn’t need those as I’m running an aluminum water pump.