The Ford Barn

old46ford · 02-21-2017, 11:15 AM

I am almost ready to get the '46 coupe on the road. The car was sitting since 1968, with an occasional start up by my late-grandfather. One thing I haven't addressed in the cooling system is the water pumps. It has a new radiator, hoses, etc... but the water pumps are original to pre-1968. They do pump, but I am not sure of their condition internally.

Should I go ahead and replace them before driving the car?

One thing to note was that when I put new hoses on the car, there were no thermostats installed. I am curious why my grandfather didn't have them in? The original radiator was nasty and very corroded and there's a new aluminum one in it's place.

Something tells me the car was having overheating issues yearw ago... thus the absence of thermostats. It doesn't appear to overheat right now.

alanwoodieman · 02-21-2017, 12:06 PM

did you flush out the block before the new radiator? flatheads run very hot and good water pumps, good flowing radiator , clean de-rusted engine insides all are very critical to keep it running cool as possible. New high flow water pumps or rebuilt ones from Skip are the best.

19Fordy · 02-21-2017, 12:18 PM

I would first run it with the old pumps in place. They may just run fine for years.
If they leak, then rebuild or replace them. There is always the remote chance that the impellers on the old OEM pumps have corroded so badly that they no longer "impel" coolant good enough to cool the engine adequately. Also, someone may have tried the old trick of removing every other pump vane thinking it would improve cooling.

flatford8 · 02-21-2017, 12:24 PM

If the radiator was plugged.... the block maybe too. I think you should search on here to find a way to clean the block before plugging the new rad up with debris from
the motor..... JMO...... Mark

old46ford · 03-24-2017, 05:04 PM

Ok. Took off old pumps. The impellers look great and the bushings seem tight. I am thinking of just cleaning them up and putting back in with new gaskets. Thoughts?

Brian · 03-24-2017, 06:17 PM

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Make some fine mesh screens you can poke into the top radiator outlets. These will catch all the crap that is waiting in the block to be circulated into your new core and blocking it.

old46ford · 03-24-2017, 06:23 PM

I meant to say. The block looks fairly clean inside. I did flush it a few years ago.

02-21-2017, 11:15 AM	#1
old46ford Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 195	Almost road ready I am almost ready to get the '46 coupe on the road. The car was sitting since 1968, with an occasional start up by my late-grandfather. One thing I haven't addressed in the cooling system is the water pumps. It has a new radiator, hoses, etc... but the water pumps are original to pre-1968. They do pump, but I am not sure of their condition internally. Should I go ahead and replace them before driving the car? One thing to note was that when I put new hoses on the car, there were no thermostats installed. I am curious why my grandfather didn't have them in? The original radiator was nasty and very corroded and there's a new aluminum one in it's place. Something tells me the car was having overheating issues yearw ago... thus the absence of thermostats. It doesn't appear to overheat right now.

02-21-2017, 12:06 PM	#2
alanwoodieman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: upstate SC Posts: 2,963	Re: Almost road ready did you flush out the block before the new radiator? flatheads run very hot and good water pumps, good flowing radiator , clean de-rusted engine insides all are very critical to keep it running cool as possible. New high flow water pumps or rebuilt ones from Skip are the best.

02-21-2017, 12:18 PM	#3
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,943	Re: Almost road ready I would first run it with the old pumps in place. They may just run fine for years. If they leak, then rebuild or replace them. There is always the remote chance that the impellers on the old OEM pumps have corroded so badly that they no longer "impel" coolant good enough to cool the engine adequately. Also, someone may have tried the old trick of removing every other pump vane thinking it would improve cooling. Last edited by 19Fordy; 02-21-2017 at 12:24 PM.

02-21-2017, 12:24 PM	#4
flatford8 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lyman,ME. Posts: 2,630	Re: Almost road ready If the radiator was plugged.... the block maybe too. I think you should search on here to find a way to clean the block before plugging the new rad up with debris from the motor..... JMO...... Mark __________________ I'm thinkin' about crankin' My ragged ol' truck up and haulin' myself into town. Billy Joe Shaver

03-24-2017, 05:04 PM	#5
old46ford Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 195	Re: Almost road ready Ok. Took off old pumps. The impellers look great and the bushings seem tight. I am thinking of just cleaning them up and putting back in with new gaskets. Thoughts?

03-24-2017, 06:17 PM	#6
Brian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Masterton, New Zealand Posts: 3,834	Re: Almost road ready Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Make some fine mesh screens you can poke into the top radiator outlets. These will catch all the crap that is waiting in the block to be circulated into your new core and blocking it. __________________ Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!

03-24-2017, 06:23 PM	#7
old46ford Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 195	Re: Almost road ready I meant to say. The block looks fairly clean inside. I did flush it a few years ago. Last edited by old46ford; 03-24-2017 at 06:28 PM.