Water pump/timing cover

[Shran]

I am balls deep in my 302 swap and I have encountered a small hangup. The 302 I have is out of a '76 Bronco so the outlet on the water pump is on the passenger side. I looked at water pumps for a '76 F100 with a 302 that have the outlet on the driver's side - but I'm not sure they will work with the timing cover I have.

The reason I am even asking is that I want to use an Explorer radiator for ease of bolt in. I don't want to make a big deal out of this nor do I want to change the timing cover so I may just run a Chevy radiator, but I am just checking to see if anyone has run into this issue before.

 

[Prostreet Ranger]

I think both will bolt to the same timing cover.

 

[baddad457]

76 Bronco's water pump INLET is also on the driver's side. The pre 1970 small block water pump INLETS were on the passenger side. Be that as it may, there's no room to run a stock radiator with the longer waterpumps (non Explorer/94-95 Stang/88-93 T-Bird/Cougar)

 

[Shran]

I think both will bolt to the same timing cover.

I dunno - the other 302 I have, which I'd use if it still held oil pressure, has a totally different water pump and timing cover, like the bolt pattern is way off. I haven't tried switching them but it doesn't look like it would work.

76 Bronco's water pump INLET is also on the driver's side. The pre 1970 small block water pump INLETS were on the passenger side. Be that as it may, there's no room to run a stock radiator with the longer waterpumps (non Explorer/94-95 Stang/88-93 T-Bird/Cougar)

My bad - inlet Are you sure you don't have those two switched? I am 99% sure all the Early Bronco V8 engines had passenger side inlets. My buddy has three of them - a '69, a '74, and a '76, all with 302s that have the passenger side inlet. Ron Davis even makes a bolt in aluminum radiator for EB's that has the lower hose on the passenger side.

So should I just plan on running a radiator inside the core support then? I am cool with that, whatever works, the Ex radiator is probably free so I figured I'd try it.

 

[baddad457]

I haven't looked a early Broncos in years, but all the other 302's had the switch to the driver's side inlet waterpump in 1970. There was no change in timing covers then, only the addition of a stamped steel timing pointer added to the lower two cover bolts.

 

[Teddyzee]

FWIW, 351 water pumps have inlet and outlet on passenger side. That's what my bro is using on the 302 in his RX7, to match the stock Mazda rad.

The build is the '86 4x4? Should be easy to put the rad in/under the core support. My '97 is the same as your '96. I trimmed 1/4" off the bottom of the core support, then set the rad down on the frame rails under the support. You can see pics in my build, a link is in my sig if you're curious.

There's a great picture around of all the different timing cover styles, I'll post it if I find it.

 

[Shran]

I haven't looked a early Broncos in years, but all the other 302's had the switch to the driver's side inlet waterpump in 1970. There was no change in timing covers then, only the addition of a stamped steel timing pointer added to the lower two cover bolts.

I may just pull the water pump off my other 302 and try it then. Can't hurt... will just buy a new one if it works.

FWIW, 351 water pumps have inlet and outlet on passenger side. That's what my bro is using on the 302 in his RX7, to match the stock Mazda rad.

The build is the '86 4x4? Should be easy to put the rad in/under the core support. My '97 is the same as your '96. I trimmed 1/4" off the bottom of the core support, then set the rad down on the frame rails under the support. You can see pics in my build, a link is in my sig if you're curious.

There's a great picture around of all the different timing cover styles, I'll post it if I find it.

Nice truck man! I am doing my swap in the '86.

So you're using the stock radiator? I am assuming it's large enough to cool your engine... the 4.0 radiators I have seen and have in my possession look HUGE in comparison with the first gen Ranger radiators.

 

[Teddyzee]

Yes, mine is the stock 4.0 rad. No issues, in fact i keep putting hotter thermostats in, as it runs too cold. I first erred on the side of caution.

 

[baddad457]

FWIW, 351 water pumps have inlet and outlet on passenger side. .

That would be a 69 pump then. The 70 and later are on the drivers side, same as the 302's

 

[Shran]

Well it doesn't matter now. Bought a 89 Crown Vic today with a sweet fuel injected 5.0 so I have exactly what I wanted now.

Thanks for all the help.