I just spent most of yesterday replacing the water pump on my 1988 GT. If any of you have to do it in the near future, do yourself a favor and pull the alternator belt pulley and harmonic balancer bolt and washer, the EGR valve solenoid bracket, the battery and shield, the big electrical connector just aft of the battery, the right rear wheel, and the flexible inner fender shield. Oh, and you don't need to remove the water hose that connects near the water pump, like I did. Also, you can bleed the cooling system enough by removing the pipe plug in the water line underneath the car IF you also remove the thermostat cover. If you know of a GOOD solvent type gasket remover, you may save yourself hours of careful scraping to remove gasket remnants. I tried one product, and it just didn't work. One other thing - the bolts (three different torx sizes and two 15-mm hex studs requiring a deep socket) - will probably be quite corroded. You may have to work them back and forth a few times to keep from stripping the torx heads. Clean them up with a brass wire wheel before reinstalling them. I used RTV gasket sealant on all of them, although that was probably unnecessary. I hope your job doesn't take 11 hours, like mine did.

Before I found PFF it took me the beter part of a month to change the WP on my Fiero. Now a days I figure I could do it in a week or less. LOL

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Ol' Paint, 88 Base coupe auto.
Turning white on top, like owner.
Leaks a little, like owner.
Doesn't smoke, unlike owner

I have been putting off doing the water pump on my 88 and reading this did not help! 11 hours? oh no!

Yeah, those different size torx bolts are a major pita! Especially the smallest ones. Take your time and crack a cold one or two (easily a 6 pack job). You can do it! Oh, one VERY important tip. Get a new water pump with a steel impeller. I installed one with a plastic impeller and 12,000 miles later I was doing this god awful job all over again.

That's exactly why I've paid the big bucks for professional mechanics to replace the water pump (also keeps me from drinking too much!). I save my time and frustration for easier tasks like ........
replacing steering racks, ball joints, and all removable body panels prior to repainting.
texmark (orig owner 88 GT)

I am a stud and nut guy
sure helps on a thing like water pumps
at least get some REAL BOLTS WITH HEX HEADS
IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO HUNT FOR STUDS

I sure am glad we have a bolt and nut shop near by
those guys have allmost every size ever used
and know where to get the real odd stuff they donot stock

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Question wonder and be wierd
are you kind?

And itīs a good time to flush your cooling system including the radiator.
It was really a pain to change the waterpump and unfortunately I didnīt
have a replacement pump with a steel impeller. I think I have to do it
again in the future.

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Jürgen Martin
white GT 87
Germany

I did my water pump and while I was at it I changed the front seal in the cover, and sleeved the balancer hub. I also changed every hose in sight. Those torx bolts were replaced with hex head bolts also. I thought it was a pretty challenging bit of wrenching but honestly the hardest part was very carefully scraping all the old gasket off the cover. I used Chisel gasket remover which helped a lot but you still can't take the chance of gouging the sealing surface. Other than that it was just screwing and unscrewing, something I've always liked doing.

Thanks for posting the tips ... gulp, 11 hours. My motor is starting to make a water pump bearing-like noise for a few moments when starting up, and I am dreading the job. Does anyone know if the Fiero Store WP has the metal impellor?

I bought my water pump (84 Iron Duke) from NAPA. It has the metal impeller.

I don't have a V-6 but when I had to replace the battery tray on my 84 I said to myself ( or so I thought) "Gee, it sure would be easier to change the water pump if I make the battery tray removable ." Surely I don't have to tell you what the Fiero gremblins did about six months later.