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Water Pump Problems!!

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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 12:27 PM
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Default Water Pump Problems!!

On My 75 When I get Into High Rpms Like 4500 to 5000 The Water Pump Gaskets Will Give And Leak Coolant Every Where. I've tryed everything. Anyone Have Any Suggestion Why This Is Happening?
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by 75VetteSR
On My 75 When I get Into High Rpms Like 4500 to 5000 The Water Pump Gaskets Will Give And Leak Coolant Every Where. I've tryed everything. Anyone Have Any Suggestion Why This Is Happening?
Are you positive it's coming from the water pump? Hope you're not continuosly revving that high without the engine under load. If you're sure it's coming from the water pump, what have you tried so far?
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 12:50 PM
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How long has it been doing it? How do you know for sure it is coming from the water pump gaskets? Was the pump recently installed?

Need more info.
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 12:56 PM
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I've Tryed Replacing The Gaskets of Course And Ive Put A High Flow Water Pump On there. I Live In Wyoming And I Drive On Long Higways And When I Pass People, That When I Get In the High Rpms, And After A Couple Of Time In that High Rpm Range The Water Pump Just Gives Out. Yes I Am Positive Its Coming From The Water Pump.
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted by 75VetteSR
I've Tryed Replacing The Gaskets of Course And Ive Put A High Flow Water Pump On there. I Live In Wyoming And I Drive On Long Higways And When I Pass People, That When I Get In the High Rpms, And After A Couple Of Time In that High Rpm Range The Water Pump Just Gives Out. Yes I Am Positive Its Coming From The Water Pump.
I still want to know how you KNOW it's coming from the water pump. Did you just put the gaskets on there? Or did you use some RTV too?
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 01:06 PM
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Yeah I Replaced the gaskets and used sealant. I 100% positive its coming from the gaskets, because ive replaced them at least 5 times.
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 01:53 PM
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I would replace that high flow waterpump with a stock configuration pump the next time those gaskets blow. Good luck.
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 02:10 PM
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Ahh so the gaskets are blowing...okay. How did you put the RTV on there, and what kind did you use? The RTV should hold up well.
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 02:22 PM
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I put the RTV on the pump then placed the gasket on the pump, but i didnt put any on the block and just bolted it back up. Im not sure what RTV i used, i can find out after school today.
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 02:25 PM
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Are you sure that your bolts are not loosening. I had the same problem and it was because at high revs(LT1) the bolts backed out. Use some threadlock.
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 02:25 PM
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Make sure that you put the sealant on both sides of the gasket. If you are losing them at higher RPM's that means the pressure is causing it. It may be a matter of not having the bolts tight enough to hold the pump tight.

If you have A/C, you have a lot of brackets that attach to the front of the pump. If the brackets aren't lined up right, it could prevent you from fully tightening the bolts.
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 02:33 PM
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Yeah I see how that could happen. Ill try putting some thread lock and see what happens. I have tryed putting the sealant on both sides of the gaskets, they held for a while then blew again. There Isnt a Torque requirment on those bolts is there?
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 04:06 PM
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Since some bolts go into the water jacket they should have thread sealant on them as opposed to thread lock. Good luck.
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 04:11 PM
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Yeah that sounds good. Ill give it a shot. Thanks for Your Help.
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 04:14 PM
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Run a file across the openings in the block and on the pump to make sure they are flat. If pressure is blowing the gaskets...I doubt sealer will do much good. Something isn't allowing equal pressure across the pump holddown bolts.

I agree with making sure brackets aren't holding things back, but even that would probably hold Ok unless bolts are bottoming in holes or on shoulder of bolts or something like that. You could always install studs..that's what I have on mine.

Look real close at the timing cover to make sure it isn't interfering with the back of pump or right beside the water openings. I've had some that needed some grinding to get past the timing cover correctly.




JIM
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 04:18 PM
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I've cleaned the openings really good with a file all the times I've replaced the gaskets. Now what would cause the unequal pressure? Im running only the alternator belt, so could it be pulling the water pump to one side?
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 05:56 PM
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Take a look at this. Take you radiator cap off and rev the car up and see if you are getting anything blowing out ot the radiator. You could have a bad head gasket or intake gasket letting compression into the water jacket part causing excess pressure in the cooling system. Just a shot in the dark. I would think IF you had compression going into the cooling system it would blow the radiator before a pump gasket though.
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Old Nov 20, 2006 | 10:43 PM
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There is an RTV for thermostat gaskets and water pumps. Use this next time. Get some threadlocker while you're at it too. It will also say for water pumps and thermostat housings. Put RTV on the block and then put some on the water pump. Put the gasket on the pump. Stick the bolts in the pump to keep the gaskets lined up. Tighten whichever bolts do not have brackets hooked to them. Make sure to put the threadlocker on there. Tighten to 30 ft. lbs. Should be all set.
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