Water pump rebuild kit? Where to buy.

[stickshift]

My water pump is leaking at the packing seal It looks like the bushings are shot too. The car came with a used spare water pump, but the bushings are worn out on this one as well. Is it worth while to rebuild these water pumps? I couldn't find any rebuild parts, just new pumps on Snyder's and Lang's.

[J Franklin]

Stop in at a good machine shop, they can make bushings if they are not a standard size. Model A Ford packing might work to seal it up.

[rotorwrench]

Waterpumps were basically an accessory. ModelTs would thermosyphon pretty well as long as the radiator tubes and water jackets in the engine are clear of obstruction. A lot of the accessory stuff was aftermarket.

Ford only put pumps on the very early cars and likely only around 200 cars were so equipped.

[J Franklin]

Even tho most were not equipped with a water pump, many were sold aftermarket. I put one on my car just because I thought it looked good.

[stickshift]

I coughed up the money and ordered a new water pump. The two old ones I have were different brands and I might think about rebuilding them at a later time to keep as spares. I just wanted to make my T roadworthy so I can get used to driving it. I live in the foothills, so I'm not sure if thermosyphoning can be relied on.

[stevests]

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Thermosyphon is dependable - it's the radiator's lack of cooling performance or crud in the cooling passages that is the likely culprit of overheating. "Water pump" is a bit of a misnomer as a Model T doesn't have a pressurised cooling system - it should be referred to as a "circulator".

[rotorwrench]

My Mother's family spent summers on the west slope of Mount Blanca in the east edge of the Sangra De Christo range of Colorado. All they had for long distance travel was a model T touring car. She said that there were a few slopes they had to negotiate in reverse but the old T could make it up most hills in low. The Levita pass was a slow drive up and a scary ride back down but the old T made it. They carried water bags to replenish lost coolant but they only stopped if it started blowing steam.

They did the trip from southwestern Kansas and back for a number of years till the depression finally put a stop to it. The old Ts did OK with no waterpump. If a person has a speedster with healthy modifications then a coolant pump and better brakes would be in order.

[stickshift]

I was worried when I first bought the T if it could handle going up and down my driveway. It's over 1/2 mile long and a 16% to 20% grade with three switchbacks. A total change of elevation of 320 vertical feet. It did o.k. though, I just retarded the timing going down with my hand on the brake lever. Going up I used pedal down and Ruckstell low. I also tried going up with the Ruckstell in high, but I had the throttle it up to keep from stalling and it was a little too scary on the turns for my liking. I thought it might overheat, but no steam. I'm not sure how it would do with my wife and two kids in the car. I might test the waters before I attempt the descent with a loaded car. My AA does just fine going up in second gear, no effort.

[Dan McEachern]

Sounds like a good set of outside brakes might be a good idea given the description of your driveway.

[redmodelt]

Bushings and stainless steel shaft can be gotten from MacMaster Carr. You will need to work out what sizes you need to order.