GreyGhost

I had my car out for a mid winter run today and I think the water pump has started to leak. There is anti-freeze infront of the engine below the pulley for the pump. I am new to the LT-1 crew and have a few questions about getting it repaired.

1. Can I just get the water pump replaced and leave the opti spark along?

2. What would be an average price for just the pump and If i have to have the opti replaced also?

3. Any other things I should know about getting the pump replaced and/or opti?

The car has 47,000 miles on it.

thanks for any insight on the problem

:grouphug:

5abivt

change the pump asap. The 93 opti is sealed and isnt vented, more vulnerable to moisture than later years. The longer that pump leaks on the opti the more likely you will have to replace it. THeyre not too expensive, make sure if youre removing it cover the opti well or the coolant from inside the block will leak all over it. :cheers:

rubyred93

Wow, you're lucky - you made it to 47,000 miles. My water pump/Opti Spark crapped out at 25,500 miles. :eek: Once removed from the car, it was obvious that the majority of the bearings were gone. The Opti had been throwing codes as well.

If I were you, I would replace both the Opti and water pump at the same time, but that is me. I paid to have it done by a Corvette shop, and labor charges are a good deal of the expense. If I remember correctly, the water pump was about $155.00 and the Opti was around $340.00. I did not upgrade to the vented Opti as that requires a bit of modification and extra expense. I don't drive the car in the rain nor do I hose down the engine, so I felt that I made the right choice for me.

You may want to do plugs and wires at the same time, as it's easier that way. The price tag for the job was $1,200.00 and that included plugs, wires, water pump, Opti Spark and labor. The shop had the car for a day. If you can do the job yourself, you're that much better off. :steering:

redwing76

$1,200.00? It seems like a lot but then my Mercedes water pump was $850.00. It costs a lot to get late model cars repaired.
My next Corvette will be a L-98 or a LS-1.

GreyGhost

I am thinking around 1000 or so. The chevy dealer I talked to today said it would be 390 in just labor plus the pump and opti. I might as well get it all done now and know its done. I wont do it for a month or so. The roads here are just way to bad to be driving the car. I have not seen them so white from salt in years..it sucks :U

thanks for the help.

its only money...right?

rubyred93

Well, I looked at it this way - you gotta do what you gotta do to keep Ruby up and running properly. It really is alot of money, but without the replacement water pump you can't reliably drive the car. Given enough time, it will quit on you and you run the risk of overheating, etc. :( Replacing both the pump and Opti should give you peace of mind.

I know exactly what you mean about the condition of the roads, they are awful. :mad I have not seen this much salt in a very long time and my car has not left the garage since November. :nonod: This has been a rough Winter.

Good luck with your repairs, that's a nice Ruby that you have. :thumbs: :auto:


[Modified by rubyred93, 7:23 AM 1/28/2003]

Jimbo93

You might consider going to an electric water pump. I've seen a lot of folks on the forum doing this. It also gives you a little more hp. :cheers:

Mr Mojo

At a typical GM dealer it will run you almost $1300 for a new water pump,new opti,new plugs and wires, and a radiator flush and fill, and labor included with a lifetime warranty.

Do it all at once, you will be better off.

RichS

I picked up my new pump today. Free under warranty but would have been $150. Buy the pump and do it yourself. It's not a hard job to do at all.