Fox Body Water Pump Replacement Guide

Although the stock pumps are typically quite reliable and durable, eventually they will wear out and fail. There are two reasons to replace a water pump: 

1. Because it has already failed 
2. It will soon fail

If reason #1 takes place, it will be pretty obvious. Expect the engine to run hot and there will be little to no coolant flowing through the upper radiator hose. Regarding #2, you may be thinking “how do I know if it’s going to fail soon?” If you are indeed thinking this, you’re in luck. There are two very simple checks that will verify the health of your water pump.

1. With the hood open, reach down and see if there is any play within the water pump pulley shaft. If there is some wobble, that water pump is on its way out and will need to be replaced.
2. The second verification method requires a little more elbow grease. Grab a flashlight and crawl under the car (or put on a lift, jackstands, ramps etc) and look up at the bottom of the water pump. The stock Ford water pumps have a factory weep hole at the bottom of them. Their purpose is to indicate pump health (a neat idea to incorporate, if you ask me. Makes maintenance pretty easy, no guessing). If you see traces of coolant (like stains) or coolant outright dripping out, it means the seals within the pump are worn and the pump ought to be replaced. Check below for a picture.

This picture was taken from beneath the car. See the weep hole (circled) and although it is not dripping right now, the stain on the pump housing is evidence that the pump is wearing out.

So, if the pump either has any wobble in the shaft or coolant leaking out of the bottom weep hole, it is time for a new pump. If neither of these symptoms are exhibited, no worries, the pump is still good to go.

Keep in mind also some Foxbodies are reverse flow engines. How do you tell which is which? Thankfully it's quite simple. If your Foxbody has a serpentine belt, then your water pump is a reverse rotation. The V-belt Mustangs have standard rotation water pumps.

In the event the pump does need to replaced which should you pick? There are many different choices out there, so let’s quickly examine the options.

For the most part, a stock quality replacement from the likes of Ford Racing will be all you need. They are a direct no-hassle fit and are more than capable of cooling a street driven 5.0 operating up to 6000 RPM. Just make sure to confirm that the replacement pump is a reverse-rotation pump, meaning that it spins in a counter-clockwise direction.

For a larger or more powerful motor, perhaps consider choosing a high-flow water pump. They too are a direct-fit, however they are typically constructed with a heavy-duty roller bearing and pilot shaft to pump a larger volume of coolant and are more durable at higher RPM’s, making them a better choice to cool a larger motor or high-revving motor. The Edelbrock Victor series hi-flow pump is a popular choice amongst enthusiasts whom require something a little more sinister than a stock pump.