Replacing a water pump on a 1992 Ford Thunderbird?

Answer 1

Drain out the coolant, remove the V-belt (if the spring tensioner is too difficult to move by hand, place a jack underneath the car, just below the tensioner, then place a bar or piece of wood between the jack and the tensioner and slowly jack it up to release the tension and remove the belt), remove the alternator, remove the bolts that hold the Power Steering pump in place and move it forward (these bolts are difficult to see and remove and require a great amount of patience). Also remove the plastic fan cowling. Remove the fan. Now remove the bolts to the water pump. Clean off the old gasket material with a putty knife, smooth dinner knife and clean down to bare metal with fine sandpaper, clean with lacquer thinner or denatured alcohol. Apply non-hardening gasket sealer to both sides of the new gasket and metal sides on the water pump and the timing chain cover. Do it in this order:

1. Timing chain cover, 2. one side of the new gasket, 3. place gasket on timing chain cover, should hold there because you are mating to sealant sides together and the bolt studs are there, too, 3. can then add sealant to other side of gasket, then add sealant to the new water pump. Put water pump back on and torque according the spec in a Haynes manual, you can pick one up at an auto parts store.