The Ford Barn

stickshift · 10-09-2023, 06:14 PM

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 · 10-09-2023, 07:04 PM

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 · 10-10-2023, 02:44 PM

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 · 10-10-2023, 06:55 PM

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 · 10-10-2023, 08:02 PM

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 · 10-11-2023, 10:32 AM

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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 · 10-11-2023, 03:23 PM

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 · 10-11-2023, 06:18 PM

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 · 10-19-2023, 12:20 AM

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

redmodelt · 10-19-2023, 03:32 PM

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

10-09-2023, 06:14 PM	#1
stickshift Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Grass Valley, Ca Posts: 245	Water pump rebuild kit? Where to buy. 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. __________________ Stickshift 1915 Model T touring 1931 Ford Model AA Flatbed

10-09-2023, 07:04 PM	#2
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,962	Re: Water pump rebuild kit? Where to buy. 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.

10-10-2023, 02:44 PM	#3
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,426	Re: Water pump rebuild kit? Where to buy. 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.

10-10-2023, 08:02 PM	#5
stickshift Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Grass Valley, Ca Posts: 245	Re: Water pump rebuild kit? Where to buy. 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. __________________ Stickshift 1915 Model T touring 1931 Ford Model AA Flatbed

10-11-2023, 10:32 AM	#6
stevests Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Longbranch, Washington Posts: 513	Re: Water pump rebuild kit? Where to buy. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) 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".

10-11-2023, 03:23 PM	#7
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,426	Re: Water pump rebuild kit? Where to buy. 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.

10-11-2023, 06:18 PM	#8
stickshift Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Grass Valley, Ca Posts: 245	Re: Water pump rebuild kit? Where to buy. 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. __________________ Stickshift 1915 Model T touring 1931 Ford Model AA Flatbed

10-19-2023, 12:20 AM	#9
Dan McEachern Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 193	Re: Water pump rebuild kit? Where to buy. Sounds like a good set of outside brakes might be a good idea given the description of your driveway.

10-19-2023, 03:32 PM	#10
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,340	Re: Water pump rebuild kit? Where to buy. Bushings and stainless steel shaft can be gotten from MacMaster Carr. You will need to work out what sizes you need to order. __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!