Not level would be my first thought, my second would be a crack. It may be tough to see the crack, check carefully.
L98 Water Pump Installation Issue
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Wixom Michigan
L98 Water Pump Installation Issue
Hey guys, I know this is a really stupid question but I need your help.
I have had to remove and install my new water pump on my 85' twice now because the gasket on the driver's side of the pump won't seal properly.
On my FIRST attempt, I cleaned up the block and the water pump surfaces, put a coating of RTV sealant on the water pump followed by the gasket, followed by some more sealant and then torqued the water pump down and it leaked.
On my SECOND attempt, I cleaned up the block and the water pump surfaces, put a coating of specialized RTV gasket maker on the water pump followed by BRAND NEW gaskets, followed by more gasket maker and then torqued the water pump down and it still leaks.
So now I'm getting pretty frustrated.....I have followed all the instructions from my Haynes manual and it only leaks from the driver's side of the pump. Am I best to use just a brand new set of gaskets with no sealant and torque the pump down to spec or do any of you guys have any tips of the trade that have worked for you? Thanks in advance for your help!
BTW my Haynes manual mentions nothing about installation of the gaskets or sealers.
Jim
I have had to remove and install my new water pump on my 85' twice now because the gasket on the driver's side of the pump won't seal properly.
On my FIRST attempt, I cleaned up the block and the water pump surfaces, put a coating of RTV sealant on the water pump followed by the gasket, followed by some more sealant and then torqued the water pump down and it leaked.
On my SECOND attempt, I cleaned up the block and the water pump surfaces, put a coating of specialized RTV gasket maker on the water pump followed by BRAND NEW gaskets, followed by more gasket maker and then torqued the water pump down and it still leaks.
So now I'm getting pretty frustrated.....I have followed all the instructions from my Haynes manual and it only leaks from the driver's side of the pump. Am I best to use just a brand new set of gaskets with no sealant and torque the pump down to spec or do any of you guys have any tips of the trade that have worked for you? Thanks in advance for your help!
BTW my Haynes manual mentions nothing about installation of the gaskets or sealers.
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,957
Likes: 706
From: WI
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
Likes: 0
From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
From: Plano TX
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,039
Likes: 0
From: CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
water pump leak
check to see that the thickness of the new pump on the bolt reliefs is the same as the old pump.
Sometimes the manufacturer looks at those mounting bosses as insignificant.
The shank of the bolt can bottom out on the block, and still not be cinching the water pump down sufficiently.
you might have to add some washers to squeeze those new gaskets
That's all I got
Sometimes the manufacturer looks at those mounting bosses as insignificant.
The shank of the bolt can bottom out on the block, and still not be cinching the water pump down sufficiently.
you might have to add some washers to squeeze those new gaskets
That's all I got
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
What replacement brand of H2O pump did you purchase? One of those cheap Autozone, etc. pumps could easily be out of round causing a leak. What happened after you applied the sealant to the threads?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Wixom Michigan
Sorry guys, I apologizing for getting back to the forum so late. AGENT 86 was right.........I pulled the water pump off again and then set a straight edge across the flange and it is definitely not casted flat. I already have a call into the store I bought it and I'm getting it replaced.
Thanks for all your help and I'll keep everyone posted!
Thanks for all your help and I'll keep everyone posted!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
Just as a precautionary measure you might want to clean out the bolt holes to make sure that you are getting them down tight. With that much gasket and silicone even with imperfections in the pump casting it still might have sealed.
Chances are with the new pump you fixed it already but it is apart so it won't cost anything but time to do.
Chances are with the new pump you fixed it already but it is apart so it won't cost anything but time to do.
