water pump pulley
 

Hi, I have a 302V8 that I installed on my 65 Mustang. I've already changed the oil pan, timing cover and water pump. I left the original 302 4 hole harmonic balancer and pulley but changed water pump pulley to a 289 double grove pulley. The groves seemed to match but the size of the harmonic balancer of the 302 seems to ne to large; does not allow the water pump pulley rotate freely. For those guy out there that have adapted a 302 on a 65 Mustangs, what are my alternatives to make this thing work.

The car is equiped with the original power steering and factory AC.

Thanks

1. Use the 302 water pump pulley. Besides it binding, the 289 one may drive the water pump too fast or slow. I think this would give you the least amount of headaches, as long as your PS and AC work.

2. IF the motor is a 28 oz. imbalance, you might swap all the old front stuff onto the 289, including the balancer. I believe the 50 oz. balancer came in '79. You don't want to mix these up - you'll get horrible vibration that will damage the motor.

Matt

Thanks Matt. Your suggestion works only if I give up the AC system .The 302 water pump pulley hits the bolt that holds the AC idler assemnly that is bolted to the water pump. I really wanted to to install the AC especially after what I paid for those original brackets and idlers. Will the engine really screw up if I put a 289 harmonic balancer and pulley in it. The engine is a 5.0 from a 79 Ford Fairmont. Any other sugestions?

I have a 74 302 in mine. Wiht all the 289 front accesories. Including balancer. No prob with vibrations. But I do not have ac, or power steering.

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Rwhite65, fastback, 302, 4.10, AOD

Thanks Rwhite65 for your comment. I think I am going to have to install the 289 harmonic balancer and pulley to make this thing work. I could use the 302 pullies like Matt suggested, but I won't be able to use the 65 power steering because 302 water pump pulley has only one groove. I can probably live with out the AC but not the PS unless I replace the control calve rod to a non PS. I don't really want to do that neither because that control calve rod was pretty expensive too.
I hope there are more guys out there that can share their experiences about this problem. I appreciate more words of wisdom.
Thanks.

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Moises Plasencia