I recently had to replace the water pump on my 87 L4.

I pressed the pulley as far onto the pump shaft as I dared but the pulley still looks like it's off some. Not as bad as it was but enough that such a short belt run could have problems. (This also explained why I kept eating belts when I ran it around the AC. With the old pump it was an entire rib off over only about a 6 inch run.)

AC clutch alignment to the crank looks good. It may be a hair off but I haven't looked and even if it is there isn't any adjustment in the AC compressor.

What I need to know is if there is any play in the WP to Block hardware that might let me shuck the whole thing back a bit more.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurasic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top of every forum page...)

I would love to help you here Ogre, but after pulling one of mine all apart I don't remember there being any "adjustment" in the assembly bolting to the block. IIRC the water pump pulley should be pressed on until it the input shaft is even and flush with the surface of the pully itself. Is it sitting more outboard or more inboard in it relationship to the other pulleys?

88Ironduke

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Pilots with out maintainers are just pedestrians with a cool jacket and sunglasses.
I.Y.A.M.Y.A.S.

My understand was that the pulley is normally pressed on far enough to get proper alignment. With modern manufacturing tolerances I can't think of any reason why misalignment would be a problem, unless the block holes are defectively placed. That I wouldn't really think would get past QA even back then.

JazzMan

Yes, I know the pulley ideally should be even with the end of the shaft... When even with the end of the shaft, the AC clutch and crank don't line up with it. I got away running the non AC belt without problem because the longer distance between pulleys allows more error. With the belt around the AC the belt wear was really bad as in the belts won't last a year because the pulleys are real close. (And the V6 guys think they are the only ones with belt problems...)

As I said I've got the pulley pressed as far as I dare to try to get the alignment within range for the "AC loop." (If needed, see the belt map in my cave for a reminder of how both loops run. The drawing isn't exact but gives you the general idea. The AC pulley is really close to the WP.)

I'm concerned because the belt I replaced only a couple months ago when I fixed the AC already has major wear. Only missaligned pulleys will cause this. (The non AC belt is a couple years old...) Yes, I cleaned the pulleys. Cleaned them again even more when I replaced the WP over labor day. (7 hours changing a water pump... Thank god I bought the pull/press tool so I could tweak the pulley on the car.)

I was hoping that maybe there was some slack in the block bolts that would let me get a bit of adjustment to solve this. I was looking at the AC and there is no way to move that but as far as I can see it's not the problem. I'm allot closer now but getting the things exact would be really nice. Eating $35 belts once or twice a year gets old fast.

And before you ask... It's not an AC load problem... The belts had the same problem when the AC wasn't working.

Would the pullies line up better if the pully on the crank was shimmed out with a washer?

When did the car start eating belts? Was it before or after the A.C. system maintenance? In most cases the problem usually arises after work is doen, but you already know this. I don't supposes there is any way to get some kind of measurement of the pulleys and there relationship to each other wihle still in the car? I am led to believe that one or more pulleys is damaged/worn or not spinning true.

Normally I would say a new 3800 would solve that problem altogether. But at current gas prices the little duke is looking better and better everytime I fill up.

88Ironduke

Ken... you can't move the crank pulley. The crank and AC pulleys look to line up fine. The problem is the WP.

88ID... It has eaten belts the whole time I've had it any time the belt runs around the AC... The problem is alignement. (The AC clutch doesn't ahve any problems. AC compressor works just fine after AC repairs a couple months ago.) The closer the pulleys are the less alignment error is allowed. The WP and Crank have the same error but are farther apart so the belt doen't get abused as baddly.

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 09-13-2005).]

Could the water pump/pully have been replaced at some time with the wrong pully? I just had to return an axle because it had the wrong cv on the end.

Another possibility is that someone left out the two spacers that go behind the front compressor bracket. That would chew up belts in a hurry

sounds like the wrong pump to me.
i have never bought a pump without a pulley areadly on it.
i have recieved pumps with 2 and 3 grooves.
i have recieved a pump with a bent pulley.
i say start with a different pump.