How Important is the Water Pump You Choose

[joshua]

I have no idea however, it was happening for 3 yrs as I had guys I know call me about it AND when I called Flowkooler there were quite adamant that we should jus stack gaskets till it cleared- which to me meant, screw you guys, jerry rig our parts fitment to make it work!

You would think they could at least stamp out a shim and use 2 gaskets. One on each side of the shim.

 

[nvrstuk]

Yeah, better off making one of your own with double the thickness gasket material.

 

[joshua]

Or that.

 

[rockinrich]

I have no idea however, it was happening for 3 yrs as I had guys I know call me about it AND when I called Flowkooler there were quite adamant that we should jus stack gaskets till it cleared- which to me meant, screw you guys, jerry rig our parts fitment to make it work!

Wow,ok thank you!

 

[Madgyver]

stock explorer waterpump is all you'll need. matched with a good radiator and fan and you'll be fine.

 

[nvrstuk]

I run a stock wtrpump again now after the FlowKooler died. It was purchased directly from my local Ford dealer and it did have a "Made in China" sticker on it . I took a pic of course and posted it on my build thread to remind me.

 

[raleigh_bronco]

I run a stock wtrpump again now after the FlowKooler died. It was purchased directly from my local Ford dealer and it did have a "Made in China" sticker on it . I took a pic of course and posted it on my build thread to remind me.

I would like to learn more about this issue…. Was it a bearing failure on the impeller? How old was the unit? I ask because I recently installed a FK pump on my new engine.

 

[nvrstuk]

Failure was the result of water leaking out the weep hole.

I probably had 15K on it???

 

[DirtDonk]

I had about five or six years on my first one. Probably equated to about 35 to 40,000 miles.
Was working fine until I jacked it up (literally ) raising the body for a body lift, and neglecting to remove the fan shroud.
Still worked, but the bearing was a little wobbly after the jamup.
Got another one and that was still on the engine when I sold it.
They were actually willing to give me a new one under warranty on that one, because at the time they had a lifetime warranty on their products. Now I think it’s only two years.
But I went ahead and paid for a new one because it was my screwup.

That was in the relatively early days, early-ish 80s I think? And the water pump itself was a GMB product made in Japan. They simply modified the impellers back then, before they came up with their own designs.
Not sure if they’re making their own now, or if not who’s main bodies they use.

 

[bronconut73]

I had about five or six years on my first one. Probably equated to about 35 to 40,000 miles.
Was working fine until I jacked it up (literally ) raising the body for a body lift, and neglecting to remove the fan shroud.
Still worked, but the bearing was a little wobbly after the jamup.
Got another one and that was still on the engine when I sold it.
They were actually willing to give me a new one under warranty on that one, because at the time they had a lifetime warranty on their products. Now I think it’s only two years.
But I went ahead and paid for a new one because it was my screwup.

That was in the relatively early days, early-ish 80s I think? And the water pump itself was a GMB product made in Japan. They simply modified the impellers back then, before they came up with their own designs.
Not sure if they’re making their own now, or if not who’s main bodies they use.

Long time no talk Paul.
I've been really busy, lol.

I recall getting a heavy duty water pump from one of our Bronco vendors(?) in the 80's.
It arrived packaged very well with the name brand Brassworks(?) on it.
Being the mid 80's it could only be Duff's, Tom's, or Jeff's I think....
I sold that 302 in the early 90's to a fella still running it and that water pump now.

I think I later heard that Brassworks went away and that Flowkooler filled the void they left behind.
I've been running a WH procured Flowkooler waterpump on my Explorer Serp System in my '73 for at least 8 or 10 years. Zero issues. Works fabulously. Powerful coolant flow.

 

[DirtDonk]

Yes, I was quite pleasantly surprised at the powerful coolant flow through the radiator.

Actually, Brassworks and Flow-Kooler are the same company. The websites used to be the same as well, if they are not still.
Originally simply a “division” of Brassworks, if I’m not mistaken, they just used a new name for the water pump aspects.

In fact, before they even sold complete water pumps, I think they started with impeller “kits“ where you bought a simple disc and installed it on your existing pump impeller.
Later they went to premade pumps, as well as separate kits if the customer wanted. Or if they didn’t make a complete pump for your application.
In the early days, they only had a few applications.

I think the Brassworks company came to life making things such as vintage looking radiators and heater core for very old vehicles.
You know, shiny, polished, hot rod radiators.

When I originally ordered my first FlowKooler pump, I called Brasswork.

 

[DirtDonk]

Just checked and they call themselves a “sister company“ but just happen to be at the same address in Paso Robles.

 

[ntsqd]

For vehicles that I want to be able to rely on long term I've been using Stewart Components water pumps. I put the first one on the '67 Ranchero in about 1989 or so. Snowball has one on it now. The Wagon will be getting one once the LQ4 is installed. FWIW I've never had to replace one of them, but the longest one in service, the Ranchero, went with the car when I sold it in '95
Last I looked they had a pump with the right body to fit on a Explorer front dress, but it didn't have the correct hub on it. I'd call them rather than trying to figure out what would work from their web page.

Contact Us - Stewart Components

www.stewartcomponents.com

 

[mac0424]

Well, it’s seemingly simple question. Without a very simple answer. Or maybe it is simple…
Is it important to get a good water pump? Of course!
But is there anything wrong with a standard pump? No, there is not.

How important it becomes to you individually, is how much trouble you have keeping your particular engine cool. No trouble keeping it. Cool? Stock engine? Then there has never been a stock explorer set up that needed upgrading that I’m aware of.
But then again, when you’re replacing the pump, an upgraded, more efficient pump is not a bad thing to look for. Might end up being future proofing in case you decide to modify the motor.
Your choices are fairly limited, being that it’s specifically for a Ford Explorer. So in a way, that just makes it a little simpler.
Personally, I’m running, and would run, a stock explorer pump just about any day. But when replacing it, I’d probably go with a Flow Kooler brand.
Nothing wrong with more efficiency at a slightly higher cost. Last time I checked, there wasn’t a huge difference between a good quality replacement, and a Flow Kooler. I’m sure if you did all your shopping on Amazon, you could easily find one less expensive. I just don’t usually check for price alone.

I have been working on my project for a few years, big learning curve (some people know and sell good products (stay with them) and some guys are just trying to be helpful. My concern is my water pump, the engine builder recommended the Edelbrock 8843 for increased cooling. Looking at the installed 8843 the bottom port is on the driverside. I plan on adding an aftermarket A/C kit. so, I have 2 questions. 1) do I have the correct water pump and 2) am I better off converting to a serpentine setup up or is the V-belt setup okay? Thanks. P>S> Any recommendation for a new radiator? Everything is going to be replaced, I would love to correct the first time again. LOl

 

[EPB72]

Thats really the wrong pump but may be made to work First it is clockwise rotatation ,, so keeping v belts or a serpentne sytem that keeps the pump rotating clockwise ,,,you would have to come upwith a lower radiator hose solution ,,and with a v belt the Power steering belt Maybe another obstical.and adding AC with V belts could turn into a challenge.. So affter market accessories belt drive set ups not a fan but could be an option but may or maynot work with that pump,, March.CVF others will need to see what pumps are compatible ......since you mention AC and you say your replacing everthing the explorer front dress would be my top consideration ,also allows a couple options on PS pump and AC compressor types and mounting options with a different bracket...and the bettercooling and fan set up may benafit the AC,,,, but you would lose the mechanical fuel pump

 

[DirtDonk]

Same recommendation here.
The Ford Explorer accessory drive system checks all the boxes and gives you virtually the best of all worlds for a Bronco.
The only downside I can think of, would be if you feel like you have to run a mechanical fuel pump. There’s no way to do that on the Explorer setup.
It’s a shame to lose a perfectly good brand new Edelbrock water pump of course, but now is the time to make that decision and see how you can benefit. Maybe someone needs a new water pump and can utilize that one.

If you are going to now, or eventually upgrade to a higher output alternator, you will eventually find the limit of the belt pulley. So another reason for not in chaffing good after bed.

You won’t be changing the pump inlet location, however, as the Explorer still aims to the driver side.

If you’re not fond of scouring the junkyards, member Sandmann here might still be a junkyard hound and have good explorer setups for a reasonable price.

 

[ntsqd]

There apparently is a Mustang 5.0 that had a similar water pump to the Explorer. I know nothing about it, but I recall some discussion about it years ago. The Explorer front dress was favored for being shorter than anything else, but is/was there other reason(s) to not use the Mustang front dress?

 

[DirtDonk]

I believe it was the 94/95 Mustang you’re referring to.
Back in the day, when I kept watching the flowkooler website, they listed the Mustang, but not explorer. Later on, I believe the Mustang and explorer pumps kept a different part number.
I don’t know any details, though, as to why that might be.
Don’t know if the front timing covers are the same, or anything else. I thought at one time I had seen those year Mustangs under the hood, and they used the similar alternator to the explorer, but I believe through discussions here on the forum, that was incorrect.
A quick lookup of alternators would tell that tail.
Might be differences between the V6 and V8 also.

 

[ntsqd]

I believe that the pumps share the same pump to cover gasket (if not, they are extremely similar), but the Mustang shaft hub is different. When I tried to find a Explorer application on Stewart's page it was the Mustang pump that I found.

 

[anoblefox]

I have used the same Edelbrock water pump for 34 years; it has a real impeller and a larger bearing. VERY pricy nowadays, but in context of what we spend on our Broncos, I would still pony up for one if I had to replace mine.