warrenmj

I've never seen this before. I purchased a new DeWitts radiator last year with plans to put it in this winter. On my last drive this past fall, I heard a clicking under the hood as I pulled into the garage. I opened the hood and saw the water pump pulley wobbling. I figured the pump had gone bad and felt fortunate it happened when it did as I could do the pump and radiator at the same time. Well, I got started today and when I removed the pulley from the pump, this is what I found! I'm not sure how much longer(minutes?) it would have lasted before shearing off. I'm sure my pump is fine and will order a new pulley, belts and hoses.

csherman

do you run a flex fan ? or a fan clutch ?

warrenmj

Flex fan - No, fan clutch - Yes

I've owned the car since 2000 and put about 30k miles on it with this pulley, water pump and fan. I did replace the fan clutch about 12 years ago.

66jack

Did you have the reinforcing part on the pulley?


:::EDIT:::

Long Island Corvette part#24-27K...$5.00

Corvette central part #301110....$5.95

desertpilgrim

I'll bet the correct answer is "No" or "What reinforcement?".

warrenmj

You are correct! However I did see it when I was looking for a new pulley and will order it.

JohnZ

It was added on a TSB basis to reinforce the water pump pulley, but I haven't located where I hid it yet.

warrenmj

Just ordered the pulley, reinforcement, new bolts, belts and hoses. Guess I'll pull the old radiator and then work on my hardtop in the basement until everything arrives.

rongold

And remember, the reinforcement goes on the inside of the pulley. It fits better on the outside, but it goes between the pulley and the pump hub.

GUSTO14

Mark, while you have it apart, check the crank pulley as well. They have been known to crack in a similar manner and it will hardly be easier to check than while you have everything out of the way.

Good luck... GUSTO

warrenmj

Thanks Gusto. I'll check that one later today.

warrenmj

Since my hard top is now almost complete (waiting on interior trim screw set), I moved back to my new radiator yesterday. Got a friend to help me remove the hood, then removed the old hoses, radiator, shroud and crank pulley, which was not cracked. New hoses, belts, pulley and reinforcer are due to be delivered today. Will do a little cleanup on the engine before reinstalling.

Avispa

FWIW, my water pump pulley failed like yours was about to. That was from using a too tight inner belt (L72 w/PS). Out of spec Chinese repro belt from don't remember what vendor. Correct length belt from Paragon and no more troubles for 12 years running. There was no damage to the water pump or anything else. You shouldn't expect any it get damage either. The pulley is just a thin stamping. The pump drive flange is several tunes the metal thickness and is gonna have to suffer a lot more before it ever gets bent..

warrenmj

My water pump wasn't damaged. I think I had the right belts, which were on for probably 10 years. I bought new GM belts and hoses from Zip, which arrived today, so I should have everything back together by this weekend.

Pilot Dan

Here's the TSB for the pulley reinforcement John mentioned.
Pilot Dan

plaidside

Dan,
Can you send me a copy of the TSB? I tried to enlarge this one but it becomes unreadable.
Is the reinforcement is between the fan spacer and the pulley?
It is hard to tell from the pic.
Joe

warrenmj

Ron, are you sure about the location? The info I've seen is on '66 300 and 327s is it goes between the pulley and fan clutch. There are other year and engine combos that have it going between the water pump hub and pulley.

Mark

warrenmj

Actually, if you look closely at the TSB posted by Pilot Dan, you can see where the reinforcement plate goes on the outside of the pulley between it and the fan clutch.

62vetteman

Here are copies of the TSB's I have saved. The first is for '66 Corvettes with the 327 / 350 hp engine. The second is the one that Pilot Dan posted.
Erich

rongold

All the pullies I've seen over the years had the reinforcement on the inside. I guess Chevrolet wanted you to add a second one on the outside to cure the fracturing problem. I never saw an engine with both reinforcements.




RON