Waterpump replacement
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Pro
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 582
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From: Fayetteville, GA
Waterpump replacement
noticed anti freeze on the underside of the hood and on the serpintine belt of my 96 lt1....I assume its the water pump....am about half ready to tackle replacing it myself....looks fairly simple....only question is... it looks like the bolt on the bottom right side of the pump is behind one of the pulleys for the belt...do I have to remove that pulley to get the pump off....and which of the
two small pulleys is the tensioner....I suppose that sounds silly...Im getting ready to take off the water pump but dont know how to take off the serpintine belt...but Im just a rookie..this will be my first attempt to do anything to this car besides polish it.....thanks for any input
two small pulleys is the tensioner....I suppose that sounds silly...Im getting ready to take off the water pump but dont know how to take off the serpintine belt...but Im just a rookie..this will be my first attempt to do anything to this car besides polish it.....thanks for any input
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
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Re: Waterpump replacement (larryf)
Not a hard job but I can tell by your questions your green to this type of work. I'd find a friend with some motor knowledge to walk you through it.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Sydney, Australia
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17, '22
Re: Waterpump replacement (larryf)
Changing the water pump is fairly straightforward but if you are really "green" to this sort of work either have a friend "walk" you through it or maybe get a service manual (thats what I did) - now before I tackle anything I'm not familiar with, I familiarise myself with the parts involved and the process by using the manual before and while doing the work.
As a caution, from what I understand you may need to be REALLY careful when pulling the water pump on an LT1. Unless I am mistaken it is quite easy to ruin your optispark distributor if you get any water in it (and it's directly below the waterpump... :rolleyes:)
As a caution, from what I understand you may need to be REALLY careful when pulling the water pump on an LT1. Unless I am mistaken it is quite easy to ruin your optispark distributor if you get any water in it (and it's directly below the waterpump... :rolleyes:)
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 19,812
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From: Weirsdale (outside of Ocala) Florida
Re: Waterpump replacement (Red 90 L98 Coupe)
Yes, watch the optispark. Drain your fluid and put some towels and maybe some plastic wrap over the opti. Try to catch any water that runs out of the hoses or waterpump. It's not only the water that can do the damage but the antifreeze is a real killer to the electronics of the opti.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 259
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From: Pontiac IL
Re: Waterpump replacement (larryf)
Drain the radiator, then the block by removing both knock sensors. I found them very easy to remove. Do not use sealant on the knock sensors after reinstalling them (by factory service manual). You can remove the bolt without removing the ps pump pulley. Use a 14 mm socket and a 3/8 ujoint and a 3 or 6 inch extension. Work thru one of the 4 holes in the pulley. Once you get the bolt partially out you have to remove the u joint so it does not get stuck on the backside of the pulley. Then finish taking the bolt out by leaving the socket on the bolt and just putting you extension in loose ( don't snap it in) so you can turn the bolt out by hand at an angle since the pulley does not allow a straight shot at it. The serp. belt is very easy to remove. But your socket and breaker bar or long wrench directly on the pulley bolt. It is the one closest to the water pump. You may want to replace your plug wires at this time. Hope this helps. FrankLT4CE
