Water pump replacement
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Water pump replacement
Hello,
Today i bought my first corvette and i had to drive it from up north to the twin cities. An hour in my water pump blew up so i got it trailered home. after replacing the water pump the car squeals bad when revved and after 4k rpm the car shakes terrible. it’s a 79 L82 4 speed if that makes any difference can someone help?
Today i bought my first corvette and i had to drive it from up north to the twin cities. An hour in my water pump blew up so i got it trailered home. after replacing the water pump the car squeals bad when revved and after 4k rpm the car shakes terrible. it’s a 79 L82 4 speed if that makes any difference can someone help?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,282
Likes: 7,865
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Squeals bad when reved is belt tension. Adjust your belts tighter.
as per shaking above 4 thousand RPM. no clue. Nothing about replacing a waterpump should cause that.
as per shaking above 4 thousand RPM. no clue. Nothing about replacing a waterpump should cause that.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,242
Likes: 9,386
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
4k rpm on the highway? if its a certain speed and its shaking the tires probably have flat spots or are coming apart internally. You need to clarify what you are doing at 4000 rpm and what is shaking...the engine or the car or just the steering wheel. Pics of the tires build date would help to identify that issue. If you have any reason to believe they are older than 8 years old they should be replaced regardless
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Lets assume you purchased the correct W.P. Just because the parts counter person or a catalog says: Fits All Vettes blah-blah-blah.
The pump must be purchased model year specific. There are different shaft sizes and different pilot sizes. This can move the fan, hub, clutch in or out from the shroud.
Something tells me to look closely at the clutch fan set-up now. Loosen the belt, grab the blades and check for something that is "out of whack".
The pump must be purchased model year specific. There are different shaft sizes and different pilot sizes. This can move the fan, hub, clutch in or out from the shroud.
Something tells me to look closely at the clutch fan set-up now. Loosen the belt, grab the blades and check for something that is "out of whack".
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 1,359
Likes: 822
From: Wisconsin
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Congratulations on your vette purchase! I'm from up north too eh.
Last edited by Mdbirk; Apr 8, 2023 at 01:54 PM.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,282
Likes: 7,865
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Common enough. A lot of mechanics out there believe there are but 2 Chevy small block water pumps. A short nose and a long nose and that is all there is.
But this is NOT correct. There are 3 Chevy small block water pumps. A short nose, a long nose and a CORVETTE pump!
the Corvette pump is Not a short nose pump. It is a special Corvette only pump.
So, if you didn't purchase the pump yourself specifically for your corvette or you had someone else install it.
Check that the belts all look like they are running straight and then as above. Check shaft diameter.
But this is NOT correct. There are 3 Chevy small block water pumps. A short nose, a long nose and a CORVETTE pump!
the Corvette pump is Not a short nose pump. It is a special Corvette only pump.
So, if you didn't purchase the pump yourself specifically for your corvette or you had someone else install it.
Check that the belts all look like they are running straight and then as above. Check shaft diameter.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
If you put a Pre-1972 W/P on a 73-82 Vette there is a good chance the fan clutch will vibrate.......the later pumps have a 3/4" shaft and the earlier ones are 5/8"........this shaft locates the clutch "hub centric".....a clutch with a bigger hole like the later ones mounted on an early pump are counting solely on the bolts to locate it.......
This is worth a check and is free.
Jebby
This is worth a check and is free.
Jebby
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,400
Likes: 1,227
From: Tampa Florida
It drove me crazy in 1975...I would stare at it and think, that just can't be. Pulled off the fan clutch and saw the problem. I guess when the original owner replaced the wp that's the part # the book listed in BC, 'before computers' at the parts store.