Ford 460 water neck

Jeri · #1 (**permalink**) 07-06-2010, 03:54 PM

Need help again,

I put a D.U.I. Performance Distributor on my engine and found out that the water neck will not line up with the bolt holes anymore. It is off about an 1/8of an inch. I was wondering if any of you have run into this problem and have any suggestions on a new water neck?

As always your help is appreciated.

Jeri

STL Mark · #2 (**permalink**) 07-06-2010, 05:03 PM

I had a chrome one. It warped.
The guy at the auto parts store said they all do.
He sold me a cast iron one.
It will not warp.
I painted it silver.

Jeri · #3 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 02:53 PM

Thanks, Mark. I appreciate the info.

Jeri

PANAVIA · #4 (**permalink**) 07-07-2010, 03:05 PM

I remember some heavy grinding on a setup we had to do. --

jetsbaby · #5 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010, 05:12 PM

I have the same distributor and you need to buy an offset thermostat housing..Is the distributor hitting the water neck?? Mine does..I went to NAPA and got the offset housing which is recommended by Performance Distributors..Part # BK6051090..Should take car of your problems..

Jeri · #6 (**permalink**) 07-13-2010, 01:15 PM

Problem solved. I took your advice and went to Napa Auto and got one of their water necks. I still had to do a little grinding on the offset area, but all went well. It fits!

Thanks for all the input.

ebustin · #7 (**permalink**) 07-13-2010, 03:47 PM

Try this link www.meziere.com. I had a problem, they had a fix

Jeri · #8 (**permalink**) 07-14-2010, 05:03 PM

Thanks, Ed.

I went to the Meziere's web-site and checked out the housings like you suggested. They look great, just what I am after.

After the grinding and taking the flaws out of the one I bought from Napa Auto parts the other day, I was going to take it and have it powder coated. But from the looks of what Meziere has to offer I can scratch that idea.

One question. Can you tell me the over all deminsions of the one you have?
You know the standard thing such as: height, length, width, and depth. Espcially the height. That's where I ran into my problem.

I look forward in hearing from you. Thanks again.

Jeri

ebustin · #9 (**permalink**) 07-14-2010, 11:07 PM

Jeri I can't do it now as my car is at my sons house. I will as soon as I can.
Ed

Jeri · #10 (**permalink**) 07-15-2010, 12:27 PM

I appreciated it, Ed.

Jeri

ebustin · #11 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010, 03:47 PM

Sorry Jeri am a little late. The water neck is H= 2.04 W=2.04 L=2.125
2 1/16 2 1/16 2 1/8

I have the WN0013C water neck. Note the Bev. edge. Good Luck..Ed

Jeri · #12 (**permalink**) 07-21-2010, 12:57 PM

Thanks, Ed. I really appreciate you taking the time to measure the neck for me. The dimensions are just what I needed --- it looks like there will not be a problem with the fit.

As soon as I get finished here I'm going to put in my order for the (WN0013C).
I'll let you know how it turns out.

Jeri

kitcarbp · #13 (**permalink**) 08-10-2010, 12:08 PM

I too switched to the NAPA cast Iron water neck that has clearance designed into the neck for 1) accessing water neck bolt and 2) clearing the edge of the distributor, just like the OEM part did back in the day. Its not a show quality piece, but if you wanted to spend the time, you could sand and powder coat it.

UPDATE: FAILED: The Cast IRON NAPA neck is cast in a place even worse than CHINA ! The casting core shifted so bad the bolt holes are askew !

I actually bolted it on and it leaked before even starting the engine ! I may have the Hedman (TRANS ADAPT) chrome steel one milled down and find a better O-Ring to seal it. I am back to square 1.

Jeri · #14 (**permalink**) 08-12-2010, 02:31 PM

A couple of weeks ago I bought a Meziere water neck that I still have to put on. It looks like it will work. If not, I already bought the Napa water neck (seeing how it only cost a couple of bucks) and started grinding it down; getting it ready for powder coating if the Meziere dosn't work.

Thanks for getting in touch.
Jeri

kitcarbp · #15 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 07:37 AM

Jeri, Which Meziere water neck part number did you buy and do you have photos of it mounted on the engine you could post here ? Does it seal to the manifold with a gasket or an o-ring ?

Thanks

Bill

Tom Wells · #16 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 08:47 AM

Bill,

Uh-oh. I hoped you'd have this one whipped by now instead of the other way 'round

I have a couple of really bad photos - the little camera wouldn't focus on it - but maybe you can tell enough to see what's there. I'll e-mail them to you.

I confess I didn't install this one. It was done by Fred Gimbel some eight years ago and works fine (more than 26K miles). Here's his contact info: http://www.autovisionperformance.com/services.html

From the photos it looks as though there may be some sort of gasket with some kind of sealer; maybe silicon?

Anyhow, call Fred and see if he has info. He has a good memory and great notes.

Just an off-the-wall question: is the manifold surface flat and clean where the water neck bolts on?

Tom

kitcarbp · #17 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 10:22 AM

Thanks for the info Tom, I sent Fred a note.

Jeri · #18 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 02:39 PM

Bill,

Unfortunately, the Meziere water neck (part # WN0013U - polished - gasket) did not work. It still hit the edge of the distributor, throwing the bolt holes off about a 1/4" of an inch. I'm sorry I don't have a picture of it to show you. I just sent it back yesterday. I'll tell you one thing, though, you talk about quality work, Meziere definetly knows how to put out a good product. I hated too send it back.

Saturday we have a kit car show where a number of Cobras show up. So I'm hoping somebody with a 460 will be there with the same set up as we have, and I can find out what they're using. I'll pass on the info to you.

Jeri

kitcarbp · #19 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 08:59 PM

Jeri, thanks I found them on their web site. I am looking for the neck that has the threaded boss in the top where I mount an air bleed-off valve to make system filling easier. The NOS part runs for $80+ on flea bay. I may find a used OEM one and clean it and paint it.
This threaded boss was used for a vac switch back in the 70's. I'm using a ACCEL dist (DURASPARK) from Ford racing and clearance to the housing is not an issue for me. Tonight I measured the flange face warpage on the chrome Transdapt/Mr Gasket/Ford Racing neck. I have a new one to compare it to, and the leaking one with about 10 hours running time on it has a warped of 0.015" which was the cause of the leak. I have heard folks will mill or grind it flat again but it warps again after a while.

Jeri · #20 (**permalink**) 09-14-2010, 01:11 PM

Bill,
I went to the kit car show Saturday and what a big dissappointment. Must have been only 6 Cobra's. I never found any new information regarding our water neck problem.

It sounds like my backup plan of using the Napa water neck is out the window from what you were saying happened to you. I was a little leary about something being made out of pot-metal.

I'll keep searching for a solution and pass the information on to you.

Jeri