Allright, I bought the new MSD cap & rotor. Just got it today from Jegs. My new water pump should be here tomorrow.

Is there a gasket or seal that goes between the opti & the block?

I didn't find one when I took it off but it seems like there should be one there.

Also, when I put the water pump back on do I need any silicone on the gaskets for the water pump or are the gaskets suffiecient by themselves?

I'm not a mechanic. This is my first major repair that I have attempted myself. Your advice would be greatly apprieciated.

 

I've tried to change a few water pumps in my day but I could never seem to get the seals to sit well, so I always ended up taking it to a shop. I've done this on a few truck and the labor is quite easy, but from searching the forum here, I think you'll find the vette to be a bit more problematic due to limited working space.

Regarding the gaskets, I would use a proper sealant.

Best of luck.

 

I installed the water pump on my '94 with dry gaskets (no sealant). The gaskets don't leak, and I'm sure they won't.

I only use sealant on a water pump gasket if it's the only way to hold the gasket in place while assembling things. Lotta guys do it differently, though...

Be well,

SJW

 

Nope, No opti to block gasket(or timing case cover rather)..........Many of the gaskets out there don't require sealant, but I like to use the LOCTITE gasket stick(crazy glue is fine too because it scrapes off easy in the future)....The LOCTITE gasket stick comes in what looks like an oversized chapstick container...you just coat the gasket(let it set for about 5minutes and then stick it where you want...perfect for the LT1's water pump gaskets and others that are hard to keep positioned...also make sure to use PERMATEX # 2 (The non-drying pliable sealant) on your waterpump bolts(coat the threads well)...some guys get away without it...but it's always recomended to use thread sealant on any bolts that go into water which those do....also make sure to use NEW rubber O-rings on the opti-shaft, and water pump spline shaft(replace ALL of them, I believe 4 if I remember correctly) they're usually dried out and prone to leaking....and as you can see it's alot of work to have to do over again because of a 20cent part .......also completely seal with silicone RTV your new opti-cap(every section where there's a seam that water "could" get in over the years)...just run some nice neat small beads all the way around everywhere it goes together...and it's also a good idea to red loc-tite your rotor bolts in as well, if you haven't already......good luck OH YEA, One other thing (as if all that wasn't enough LOL)that many of us do with our waterpumps is take a 25cent vacuum fitting (about 1/8 inch or smaller) and epoxy it (JB weld is fine) to the weep hole on the bottom of the waterpump, then after everything is installed on the car, run a small piece of rubber tubing from the fitting you put on, and away from that area (put a tiewrap on it to hold it in place) so that when the day comes that the waterpump goes, and starts to gush water from it's weep hole, it won't go anywhere near the opti unit, instead of directly on it...Great design HUH.......It sounds like a bunch of work, but it's really just an extra 20 minutes or so............Joe

 

Thanks for the tips guys. I'm going to have to do the waterpump mod for sure.

 

Uh- there is absolutely a seal between the Opti and the timing cover.

Front of the timing cover with Opti and WP removed:
http://www.rx7gslse.com/umrswimr/Cor...4/IMG_0809.JPG

Closeup of the WP driveshaft seal and the Opti Seal:
http://www.rx7gslse.com/umrswimr/Cor...4/IMG_0803.JPG

I used a little bit of coolant gasket sealer on my WP housing gaskets- mostly to hold them in place while I slid the housing on.