Replacing water pump
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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O.E.M. wires are good for 60,000 miles, but many begin to fail long before that.
It's a harsh realm in there with all that engine heat and relatively low room to circulate cool air. I'd replace 'em while you're in there.
A water pump, plugs and wires swap is a labor-intensive job and one you won't relish doing again any time soon.
Once you start yanking parts out, you'll see....and if you DON'T replace (or at LEAST carefully inspect) your wires, holders and separators, you're gonna' wish you had once something invariably goes ****-up.
Heed the sage advice of your Corvette brethren. Pony up on all the necessary parts and change your plugs, wires, holders and separators while you're at it.
You'll be miles ahead of the game.
It's a harsh realm in there with all that engine heat and relatively low room to circulate cool air. I'd replace 'em while you're in there.
A water pump, plugs and wires swap is a labor-intensive job and one you won't relish doing again any time soon.
Once you start yanking parts out, you'll see....and if you DON'T replace (or at LEAST carefully inspect) your wires, holders and separators, you're gonna' wish you had once something invariably goes ****-up.
Heed the sage advice of your Corvette brethren. Pony up on all the necessary parts and change your plugs, wires, holders and separators while you're at it.
You'll be miles ahead of the game.
Last edited by onedef92; Jul 27, 2007 at 09:04 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 65
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
A very nice forum member sent me scans, 4 pages, from book 1 which include details on it.
Would you recommend me draining all the coolant out prior to wp removal and filling with regular water then run, let cool drain, then repeating the process 2 more times? I think that should drain/clean out the dexcool in the system.
Will 2 premixed gallons be plenty you guys think?
Would you recommend me draining all the coolant out prior to wp removal and filling with regular water then run, let cool drain, then repeating the process 2 more times? I think that should drain/clean out the dexcool in the system.
Will 2 premixed gallons be plenty you guys think?
Pull the 2 knock sensors out to drain the block and water pump. All 6 water pump bolts get torqued to 30 ft/lbs
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
No. The cooling system holds about 17 quarts (check the owners manual for the exact amount).
I usually drain the system then add straight antifreeze in an amount equasl to half the system's capacity then top off with water.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,383
Likes: 4
Just tossing this into the mix here:
There are premix solutions out there that claim to work with either the green stuff or the orange stuff.
If changing from one to the other why not drain as much as you can then fill with the new premix that says it works with both. Next time you change the coolant just change to the one you want.
When I changed to the green stuff there weren't any compatible solutions out there so I did the tedious purge described so well in the faq/tips.
There are premix solutions out there that claim to work with either the green stuff or the orange stuff.
If changing from one to the other why not drain as much as you can then fill with the new premix that says it works with both. Next time you change the coolant just change to the one you want.
When I changed to the green stuff there weren't any compatible solutions out there so I did the tedious purge described so well in the faq/tips.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 1
From: Central NJ
On the side note I checked with my dealer, they wanted $355.40 for the wp, and $36 for each radiator hose.. I ended up getting from thepartsladi for $214 shipped.
Hopefully I can start working on it next week.
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So was mine. 
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Or maybe wait until after a few changes.Jerkwad prev owner decided to put Dexcool in my 69 Chevy pickup before I bought it. Dexcool can do nasty things if you let the system run low for any reason or don't purge it properly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 65
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
I've always flushed mine with tap water too. I get a garden hose and first fill the system with clean water then start the car, open the petcock on the radiator and put the hose in the radiator and adjust the flow so it equals the draining. Run the car for 10 - 20 minutes, shut it down, turn off the hose, drain and refill with fresh antifreeze.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Kinda hard to flush a system with a bottle.
I pull the thermostat and use the garden hose to blast the crap out of that motherf'r, both directions, till it comes out clear both ways. Then drain and put your EG/distilled mix in.
I pull the thermostat and use the garden hose to blast the crap out of that motherf'r, both directions, till it comes out clear both ways. Then drain and put your EG/distilled mix in.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 1
From: Central NJ
While im still waiting for it to arrive, im wondering is dehumidifier water as good as distilled water? Im thinking of going that route, just because the premixed coolant is almost as much as the non mixed stuff 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 1
From: Central NJ
Well today I took the vette out of the shed to test the dexcool, it is currently good for -40 deg f. So now I am thinking of just keeping it instead of doing the flush, 
, why does this have to be so confusing.
On a side note, the car was cold, I took off the pressure cap to test the dexcool, then replaced. I was looking at the endtank of the radiator on the pass side and squeezed the lower radiator hose, and I found the radiator is leaking, its leaking right between the endtank and the aluminum
. Funny thing is that I do not think it leaks when the car is running (at least not that I can tell), it was coming out fairly good too 
. I took the car down the road about 2 miles to see if anything was coming out of the radiator and I didnt really notice anything again, but what I did notice was that the waterpump was leaking pretty good, a drip almost every second.
Car is away until parts come in, good thing I have another car
, why does this have to be so confusing.On a side note, the car was cold, I took off the pressure cap to test the dexcool, then replaced. I was looking at the endtank of the radiator on the pass side and squeezed the lower radiator hose, and I found the radiator is leaking, its leaking right between the endtank and the aluminum
. Funny thing is that I do not think it leaks when the car is running (at least not that I can tell), it was coming out fairly good too . I took the car down the road about 2 miles to see if anything was coming out of the radiator and I didnt really notice anything again, but what I did notice was that the waterpump was leaking pretty good, a drip almost every second. Car is away until parts come in, good thing I have another car
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 65
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Why replace the whole radiator with a factory original if its only a $32 dollar end tank that is leaking? Unless the core is also rooted, just replace the tank, it comes with a new rubber seal in the box.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 1
From: Central NJ
EDIT: I read "I've been told by GM people not to mix them. The green is not chemically compatible with your seals and gaskets. It can degrade them."
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=dexcool
So I guess ill stay with dexcool to be on the safer side.
Last edited by ubnpast; Jul 30, 2007 at 12:28 PM.