Hello all,
I have a '96 F150 2WD, 4.9L which I bought used about a year ago. I bought a drive train warranty with it, so I make a point of getting documented oil changes. On the most recent visit, they verbally noted the coolant was "very low" and indicated "low pts" on their report. I am not sure it was all that bad. I filled it last, and might have missed some air. Anyway, a flush and new hoses seemed a good way to waste part of a weekend.
Bottom line: I think the flush cleaned out the gunk that was doing what the water pump seals once did :) Prior to the flush, it did not actively leak that I could detect, but it does now. I have a new pump, and knowing this day would come, some time ago got the wrenches to remove the fan clutch.
The fan shroud says "right hand thread on fan clutch." Anyone care to disagree? I ask because maybe it is not the original shroud???
What I think I should be doing is putting the spanner (54 mm) over the bolts on the water pump pulley, and the wrench over the nut on the fan clutch. With a right hand thread, I should be turning the nut CCW (pull the wrench from right to left, spanner from left to right), right? It's tight. It is also swimming in PB Blaster. The spanner is a little chewed up on the inside, and I will exchange it tomorrow (already talked to the guy at Autozone - he offered to exchange it w/o question). My sense is that just about the time the nut should move, the spanner slips. Is there a trick to it?
Any other ideas?
My experience for reference: I have done some small engine carburetor rebuilds, and I replaced the thermostat and shocks on this truck. My fluid systems tend to hold on the second try now, and (thanks to you guys) I had almost no trouble with the shocks. On your advice, I put PB on the bolts a week ahead, and with a $20 breaker bar, the bolts were easy to remove. I didn't even have to elevate the rear of the truck, though I took it up just enough to get jack stands between me and the next world.
Bill