How to Install OPR Replacement Water Pump - Short (02-04 V8) on your Ford Mustang

Installation Instructions:

1.Disconnect the negative battery terminal from the car.This will require an 8mm socket to loosen the bolt on the terminal plug.

2.(Optional) Raise the vehicle tobetter access the radiator drain plug which will need to be taken out later.

3. Remove the coolant reservoir cap to allow the coolant to drain freely.

4. Loosen the radiator drain plug (highlighted in red) located on the bottom passenger side of the radiator.  You can use either a flathead or a phillip head screwdriver to loosen.  It will not pop out all the way but will begin draining.  Be sure to use a catch pan to collect the old coolant.  After done draining, the coolant reservoir should be empty.

5. Leave the belt on the vehicle for now to hold tension on the water pump pulley.  Loosen the fourbolts holding it in using a socket wrench, but leave the pulley on.  A breaker bar will make the job much easier.  (Note: If the pulley is spinning even with the belt, hold a separate bolt still with a wrench at the same time to prevent the pulley from spinning.

6. Now that the four pulley bolts are broken loose, remove the serpentine belt.  This is a great time to replace the belt if it is old, cracked, or damaged.Insert a 1/4" socket into the belt tensioner and rotate it clockwise to loosen the belt and slide it off.  A breaker bar will make the job much easier.  Then finish unscrewing the loosened pulley bolts and remove the pulley.

7. Now remove the four bolts holding in the water pump.A breaker bar may be necessary to loosen them.  Once the bolts are removed pull out the old water pump and clean the water pump hole of any debris.  The water pump may be stuck, so lightly tap it with a mallet so as not to damagethe block.

8. Insert the new water pump gasket that is included onto the circular groove before inserting the new water pump into the block.

9. Insert the new water pump into the water pump hole in the block. Tighten the four bolts that hold the water pump down to 18ft lbs.

10. The pulley can then be tightened onto the water pump at 15-21ft lbs, or hand tight if you do not have a torque wrench. Reinstall the belt by pulling back the tensioner as described earlier and verify you have the correct routing.  There should be a sticker under the hood for each models belt routing.

11. Tighten back the radiator plug that was loosened earlier and refill withcoolant.  Squeeze the upper radiator hose to help remove air bubbles.

12.Reconnect the battery terminalby tightening the 8mm bolt on the post.

13. After finishing installation, always check for leaks and make sure everything is tightened down the way it should be as described in this guide.

Installation Instructions provided by AmericanMuscle Customer