Noisy Air Pump (1986, 302 Windsor)

[RobClark]

Having driven for 1 week with no belt on the (AC Compressor)+(Air Pump)+(Idler)+(Crankshaft) - I have realised my Air Pump is very noisy.

I pulled the AP off today and - yep it is noisy. But does not sound like bearings. Some black dust (like brake dust) came out when I gave it a few love taps with a hammer and spun the shaft. I guess it was years of accumulated road dirt.??

Anyway - before I do something rash like buying a new one or destroying this one as I attempt to pull it apart (tried - but did not seem simple)...do you gurus know of a simple fix?

I am hoping I get something like:

1) Flush out with 20W50 engine oil!
2) Blow the 20 years of acculumated dust out with high pressure air
3) etc

Cheers

Rob the Aussie

[Grand Marquis GT]

They ain't all that much to replace, like 34 bucks..

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=A1C&mfrpartnumber=32291&parttype=254&ptset=A

Or, i'm sure someone could hook you up with a used one for next to nothin... People are always tearing them off

[RobClark]

... Plus $150 shipping to Australia

[RobClark]

Just checked: www.partsamerica.com does not ship outside USA.

If any readers have a good Air Pump they want to sell me - and ship at my expense to Australia - let me know.

car: 1986 Lincoln Town car, 302 (5L) Windsor engine.

[RugerP97DC]

:devildrop: :hairrais:

[Archangel]

Rob, shipping a 10lb package (8lb of smog pump + 2lb of packaging) to Australia is going to be around $60 for the regular USPS airmail (4-10 days), and about $65 for the EMS service (3-5 days). I have an air pump that seems to be working good - I'll take it apart, clean it up nicely, put it back together, and if it still works OK and you want it then it's yours for free as I no longer need it.

I have to warn you though, so far I haven't heard of an air pump that is very quiet, they all make noise, some just more than others. So as a beginning I suggest you tak yours apart and clean it, see how it works after that, and if you still want another one we can take care of that

[grandpaslincoln]

If you want to take it apart and clean it, and oil it, go ahead. There are four bolts on teh back. Once you get the bolts out, you have to tap the rear cover with a hammer to get it to come off. Unfortunately, that's as far as your gonna get. THe rest won't come apart without really banging on it, which could damage it. Anyway, there are bearings in teh rear you can oil up. For some reason, Ford saw no need in putting a filter on the air inlet on the pump, so all kinds of dust and crap gets sucked in there.

[Pickles]

302 windsor? pardon my ignorance, but ive never heard of a 302 windsor!
is that some wierd australian motor? a wierd option? or a wierd name for the non-H.O.?

[Grand Marquis GT]

theres only 302 that ISNT a windsor.

A boss 302.

[grandpaslincoln]

mmmmmm good ol 302W

[Tiggie]

302 windsor? pardon my ignorance, but ive never heard of a 302 windsor!

There was a 302W and a 302C down under. The 302C was based on our 351C. The 302W is the same as our normal 302. Our Boss 302 was basicially a beefy normal 302 with the 351C heads and unique intake manifold, not related to a 302W.

[jasonh]

What kind of noise do they make? I hear a growling noise coming from my air pump area.

[fomoco01]

If you dont have to pass an emission test, get rid of it!!!

[RobClark]

To answer a few questions above:

1) The car was imported (into Oz) from USA. I am not sure what other types of 302 engines were made around that time....but my manual tells me I have a Windsor and the mechanics here all recognise that term. I think the other type is a Cleveland...but no idea what the difference is.

2) "They [Air Pumps] all make noise". Hmmm. Maybe mine is normal then. Does not sound like a bearing - more like crap/dust inside. But makes the engine a LOT quieter without it running.

3) I tried pulling it apart (4 bolts off the back) but as she did not come apart easily - I got nervous and put the bolts back. May get tough with it and try again. Any tricks of the trade I should be aware of as I remove the back?

4) Ivan D: Thanks for the great offer of shipping yours (naturally I would pay costs). I will pull mine apart and see. But as we do not have smog checks here, and the car seems to be running smoother and quieter without it (no belt on at the moment)...might simply leave it off ... if I can work out how to still run the AC compressor with the Air Pump missing.

Thanks for the great advice guys.

Rob in Oz

[87mefull]

You can run the AC without the smog pump and im doing that now. You can use a 560K6 accessory belt to hook the AC back up.

The smog pump is used for pumping air in the cats at startup to reduce emissions and the life of the cats will be shortened without it. If you are running the original cataytic convertors, leave it off. Its more of a vacumm mess than its worth if its all original. The standard stock replacement convertors don't even use the smog pump and have only 2 convertors.