Water pump out (long rant)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 0
From: Mobile AL
St. Jude Donor '05
Water pump out (long rant)
I had prepped and detailed my '96 CE to take to a car show on Saturday, started out the driveway and it felt like the power steering pump was out! REALLY hard to turn left or right. I went back up the driveway, opened the hood, and there was anti-freeze all over everything! (making all the stuff slip). The water pump had let go! I shut it down and stuffed rags between the water pump and the opti-thingie. Too hot to do anything with it so I went to the show with my son in his '69 Camaro. When I got home, I removed the water pump, and found that there were none in the city. Supposed to have one in by Monday. ALso no radiator hoses: they also have to be ordered. (I figure if I've got to take them off, and they look OEM, I might as well replace them.) Anyway, rant over, hope the pump and hoses are in today. Just glad it did not happen on the highway. 
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 1
From: Howell N.J. Home of Redgar
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
I went to Cruise-In V with Vetteweiser
Do you have to replace the Opti Spark ? Most of the time the Opti goes when there is a major leak with the water pump .
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
You better go ahead and do the opti anyway instead of having to tear it all apart again later.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 0
From: Mobile AL
St. Jude Donor '05
Since I was that far into it. I pulled the distributor cap off and it was completely dry inside, so I'm going to try to avoid replacement. It's less than 6 months old and seals are still good and soft. Thanks for info.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
Yeah you got it all opened up, and an extra couple hundred for the opti would be most advisable. Otherwise there will be another rant post if it goes out after you get it all back together.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,235
Likes: 1
From: Sterling Va
You people realize that the optispark was designed to get wet as Corvettes are able to drive in the rain long distance right? If you drive in rain and look at the opti it will be soaked and yet you did not break down how odd. These things are meant to go for about 60,000 miles then needs to be replaced as part of normal maintenance as it is merely just a distributor cap after all when it comes down to it. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,625
Likes: 4
From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by SilverBeast
Since I was that far into it. I pulled the distributor cap off and it was completely dry inside, so I'm going to try to avoid replacement. It's less than 6 months old and seals are still good and soft. Thanks for info.
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
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
Ibuyvettes, can't tell you how many times I've said that too. Especially the passenger side of the opti gets very wet when driving in the rain. But its the coolant that is deadly to it. And your correct they should have a much longer service life. If its running fine and he replaces the pump its a very good chance things are ok.
Plus he has a 96 which has the vented opti, so he's probably ok. Bogus had a good suggestion to RTV the seams while he's in there.
Plus he has a 96 which has the vented opti, so he's probably ok. Bogus had a good suggestion to RTV the seams while he's in there.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 0
From: Mobile AL
St. Jude Donor '05
Excellent idea on the RTV. I'll do that since I have not put it back together yet. Having trouble getting the water pump here in Podunk, AL. No upper radiator hose locally either. AutoZone brought one out that was about 4 feet long with one bend and he told me I could cut it and bend it to fit 
. O'Reilly is supposed to have the pump and hose in later today, so maybe I can get it back together this evening. Thanks for all the input - this forum is tops!
. O'Reilly is supposed to have the pump and hose in later today, so maybe I can get it back together this evening. Thanks for all the input - this forum is tops!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,235
Likes: 1
From: Sterling Va
I know fro some reason no one listd the right hoses for LT1 vettes 
I converted the hoses on my 94 to the 95 style (no throttlebody coolant hose) and all anyone had was the old two piece hoses, even my friend at the dealers parts dept got it wrong the first time.
I converted the hoses on my 94 to the 95 style (no throttlebody coolant hose) and all anyone had was the old two piece hoses, even my friend at the dealers parts dept got it wrong the first time.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
Originally Posted by SilverBeast
Having trouble getting the water pump here in Podunk, AL.