Water pump Replacement advice? (Page 3/5)
Kitskaboodle MAY 19, 04:56 PM
To follow up…..
Here is the water pump I ordered:
Bosch p/n 98054. About $32.00 from EBay. For some weird reason, I was not able to find it on Amazon or Rockauto.
Anyways, here are a few pics for you to peruse. Gasket surface quality is below standard as there were pits, tiny dings on a few edges, etc. I ended up sanding it with about 400-500 grit sandpaper. Otherwise, everything looks ok. Kit
Kitskaboodle MAY 19, 04:57 PM
One more pic showing the sanded surface.
Kit
Patrick MAY 19, 06:09 PM

quote
Originally posted by Kitskaboodle:

Gasket surface quality is below standard as there were pits, tiny dings on a few edges, etc. I ended up sanding it with about 400-500 grit sandpaper.



With Permatex® Aviation Form-A-Gasket® thinly applied to the gasket surface(s), those "pits" IMO wouldn't have made any difference.

Looks like a quality made pump. Even came with the clamp!

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-19-2024).]

Kitskaboodle MAY 19, 09:08 PM
Thanks Patrick. As for gasket sealant, I prefer the Permatex 2A non-hardening sealer. Strangely, they no longer call it number 2 but rather p/n 80018. Anyways, I’ve been using it for over 40 years and it’s rarely let me down. I’ve used the Aviation Form A Gasket but I found it’s too stringy, it’s messy unless you’re really careful and it doesn’t go on smoothly and evenly. (in my opinion)
On a different note, I ordered Rodney’s timing cover hold down bracket. Still waiting for it in the mail and also my Fel-Pro gasket.
Kit
Patrick MAY 19, 09:44 PM

quote
Originally posted by Kitskaboodle:

On a different note, I ordered Rodney’s timing cover hold down bracket...



I was wondering why you were ordering Rodney's Timing Cover Tool when I see you have the timing cover clamp already there? Is it because the alternator bracket need not be removed with Rodney's device?

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-19-2024).]

Kitskaboodle MAY 21, 12:20 AM
Yes, that’s correct. I just got it in the mail today. My bracket was stainless and the hex bolt black. The orange one in the pic may have been the prototype?
Anyways, I also got my water pump gasket in the mail also. I am extremely not happy with it!! First, they put it in a soft mailer, they folded it on half to get it in the envelope and lastly it’s not even a Fel-Pro gasket. They put a black paper “generic” water pump gasket in the mailer instead of the correct BLUE Fel-Pro gasket.🙁 I was on the phone with Amazon and complained about the people that work at that third party vendor that sent me the gasket. You got to be dumber than a mud fence to fold a gasket in half.
Going to Autozone in the morning to get a proper gasket!
Kitskaboodle MAY 21, 02:31 PM
Ok, I went to the Zone and got this. (see pics)
They listed the blue gasket pic and the actual Fel-Pro number but I got this instead. It cross references several numbers for other gasket makers too. And, it doesn’t say Fel-Pro anywhere on the bag. Oh well, at least the gasket quality and thickness is a little better than the thin, black, cheap ones that usually come in the box with the water pump. Since they were only $1.37, I grabbed all 3 that they had. That way, I will have one for my 86 GT when it’s water pump needs replacing and plus I’ll have a spare in case one gets damaged during installation. Kit

[This message has been edited by Kitskaboodle (edited 05-21-2024).]

Patrick MAY 21, 06:04 PM
Kit, you're much more driven than I am. I would've just used the supplied clamp, coated the supplied gasket with my favorite Permatex product, and called it a day.


quote
Originally posted by Kitskaboodle:


[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-21-2024).]

Kitskaboodle MAY 22, 07:34 PM
Update:
I’m about half way done. A few notes and comments…..,,,,
I took out the plastic fender liner, rear wheel, Rodney’s tensioner, egr solenoid & bracket, oil pressure sender wiring plug, (or is it the water temp sender?) and then I had enough access. So far so good. Water pump came right off. Actually, the water pump pulley was more of a pain as those 4 bolts were really tight! Anyways, I did make a “mistake” as I wasn’t really paying attention. 🙁 What I did is I removed a bolt that had nothing to do with the water pump. If you’re looking at the front of the motor, there is a low profile Torx bolt that holds the timing indicator tube thingy in place. Well, directly above this Torx bolt is a 13mm (I think) bolt that holds the timing cover in place at this particular spot. Well, I loosened and removed it. Then, I realized my mistake and tightened it back down. The good news is I had already installed Rodney’s clamp before I removed any water pump bolts. I’m hoping and praying I didn’t screw up and break the timing cover seal because of this extra bolt I removed from the timing cover. 🙁
Ok, so here is a pic of the water pump i took off. I’m surprised that it’s a real GM pump. Notice the “GM” stamped on the impeller. Also, whoever installed this pump believed in using copious amounts of RTV on water pump gaskets!
Kit

[This message has been edited by Kitskaboodle (edited 05-22-2024).]

Patrick MAY 22, 07:52 PM

quote
Originally posted by Kitskaboodle:

...whoever installed this pump believed in using copious amounts of RTV on water pump gaskets!



Not a good idea. Excess RTV on the inside of the system can become "boogers" (as The Ogre likes to call them ) and potentially plug up internal passages. A thin coating of the proper sealant on each gasket surface is all it takes.