Water pump advice
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown,WV USA
Water pump advice
I need some advice on a project related to my 78 Pace Car.
I am getting the car ready for summer and am in the process of replacing the coolant hoses, cleaning the radiator and painting some areas of the frame (like the front crossmember). I also want to repace the fuel pump (the one thats on it is the original one) it does not leak but I do not want it to leave me stranded due to age related failure. I plan to take a few longer trips this year.
The previous owner replaced the radiator and water pump 10 or 11 years ago (car has 26k miles on it) and the pump has 5k miles on it- max. The bearings seem tight, no leaks and the car runs pretty cool.
As I replace the hoses I have been thinking about changing the water pump as a preventative measure, especially since I have everything apart now. However, the though of fixing something that is not broken keeps ringing in my head.
What do you guys think? Should I swap the pump?
Thanks,
Dan
I am getting the car ready for summer and am in the process of replacing the coolant hoses, cleaning the radiator and painting some areas of the frame (like the front crossmember). I also want to repace the fuel pump (the one thats on it is the original one) it does not leak but I do not want it to leave me stranded due to age related failure. I plan to take a few longer trips this year.
The previous owner replaced the radiator and water pump 10 or 11 years ago (car has 26k miles on it) and the pump has 5k miles on it- max. The bearings seem tight, no leaks and the car runs pretty cool.
As I replace the hoses I have been thinking about changing the water pump as a preventative measure, especially since I have everything apart now. However, the though of fixing something that is not broken keeps ringing in my head.
What do you guys think? Should I swap the pump?
Thanks,
Dan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Classic example of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Water pumps seldom fail unexpectedly. They leak, drip, throw coolant everywhere, but rarely die like fuel pumps can and do.
The odds of getting a new water pump with a problem are way better than you running one that has 5k on it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 34
From: Working on the car NY
I would regard the 5K miles on the pump as "shakedown" miles - ready for another 95
.
Additionally to make you feel better, I took an under 5K mileage pump off my oem motor, painted it and put it on my new ZZ4 replacement engine
.
.Additionally to make you feel better, I took an under 5K mileage pump off my oem motor, painted it and put it on my new ZZ4 replacement engine
.
Last edited by TWINRAY; May 23, 2012 at 10:54 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Classic example of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Water pumps seldom fail unexpectedly. They leak, drip, throw coolant everywhere, but rarely die like fuel pumps can and do.
The odds of getting a new water pump with a problem are way better than you running one that has 5k on it.
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
