brianfoster2003

I have a '70 vert 350/300. I'm getting a noticeable, high-pitched whine that sounds like it is coming from the very front of the engine near the fan. It is loud enough that I hear it when I am driving the car around the neighborhood.

I trust the guy who takes care of the car for me, he says it is the water pump and I should replace it, but I just wanted another opinion before I have him do the work.

- Is it the water pump?
- Should I stick with the Ecklers replacement? ("Corvette Water Pump, Small Block, Aluminum, Stage II, Hi-Flo, Stewart, 1955-1970, Item #34981")
- Any other issues?

Thanks all.

Brian

Red 71

1) First I would grab the fan (engine off of course) and see if you can rock it back and forth. Usually a water pump will start leaking before the bearing goes bad but not always. If you can rock it back and forth the bearing is going bad.

2) With the car running take a long screw driver and place the tip on the side of the alternator and the handle end against your ear. If it by chance is the alternator it will be noisy. If you by chance can do the same thing with the water pump, the loudest one will probably be the culprit. Remember, there is a spinning fan!!!

3) The other thing you could do is remove the belts that are running on the alternator and water pump and then turn the pullleys. If you have a bad bearing you should be able to feel a roughness in the bearing.

Ironcross

.

off hand, I would suggest its the alternator charging the battery without being present to hear it....alternators do whine when charging and is normal...when they stop, that when problems start...

bluthundr

This may be a dumb question, but since you have a 70, is it maybe the sound of your transmission? Do you have a 4 speed Muncie?

JimT

A defective/worn clutch fan will make noise. Check it out.

markdtn

Alternator and p/s pump too are possiblities.

joewill

yup, power steering, alternator, or water pump, or clutch fan..

remove each belt should tell you

Dads66Coupe

I have just started using my dad's 66 coupe again (had been off the road in storage for many years) and have the same intermittent whining up front . . . though it seems to only take place when the engine is getting up to normal ops temperature. I am suspecting the alternator also. Water pump not showing signs of leaking and clutch fan seems pretty solid.

Which leads me to the next question: does anyone know of a reputable re-builder of stock alternators out there? I'd like to keep the original alternator with the car; would just like to send it to someone to have it properly rebuilt and cleaned.

GD70

I needed to replace the alternator, noise gone, but check the other items suggested as well.
Glenn