Water pump & Opti change completed
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Honolulu HI
Water pump & Opti change completed
Just wanted to let the people who gave helpful information on how to change the WP and opti on my '96 LT1 know that the change is completed and successful. With the information given by forum members an the help of some friends, the job went smoothly. Special thanks to SWJ and Thomastp.
This was not an easy job, especially for a novice. There are alot of small things a novice wouldn't know, like putting silicon sealant on the wp bolt threads, removing parts to make room to get at a bolt or how to properly bleeding the water system.
Removing the wp wasn't that difficult, but it could be especially if you don't remove the idler arm (to get to one of the driver bolts side). Cleaning the wp mounts would also be difficult if the idler arm and power steering pulley is not removed.
An inexperience person might have a hard time taking the balancer pulley off. We got lucky in unscrewing the three bolts by just jerking the wrench to crack the nuts loose and as suggested, I went under the car and wacked the pulley from side to side with a wooden broom stick to get it off. To put the pulley back on we used a socket wrench to hold the nut in the center of the pulley to tighten the three bolts (the wrenches going in opposite directions).
I also replaced my plug wires. The wires on the passenger side wasn't too hard to do. The wires on the driver side was a hassel. To replace the drive side plug wires I had to take off the power steering pump, something else screwed to the wheel well, and the ASR!!!
I didn't change the plugs, the car is running fine (37,770 miles) and I was too tired.
Finnally, I did the TB bypass.
Thanks, Again
This was not an easy job, especially for a novice. There are alot of small things a novice wouldn't know, like putting silicon sealant on the wp bolt threads, removing parts to make room to get at a bolt or how to properly bleeding the water system.
Removing the wp wasn't that difficult, but it could be especially if you don't remove the idler arm (to get to one of the driver bolts side). Cleaning the wp mounts would also be difficult if the idler arm and power steering pulley is not removed.
An inexperience person might have a hard time taking the balancer pulley off. We got lucky in unscrewing the three bolts by just jerking the wrench to crack the nuts loose and as suggested, I went under the car and wacked the pulley from side to side with a wooden broom stick to get it off. To put the pulley back on we used a socket wrench to hold the nut in the center of the pulley to tighten the three bolts (the wrenches going in opposite directions).
I also replaced my plug wires. The wires on the passenger side wasn't too hard to do. The wires on the driver side was a hassel. To replace the drive side plug wires I had to take off the power steering pump, something else screwed to the wheel well, and the ASR!!!
I didn't change the plugs, the car is running fine (37,770 miles) and I was too tired. Finnally, I did the TB bypass.
Thanks, Again
