C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Water Pump '85

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 16, 2011 | 12:13 PM
  #1  
CSmax's Avatar
CSmax
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Default Water Pump '85

Coolant is leaking from the what looks like the lower mounting bolt/gasket. I just had the coolant flushed and new thermastat installed and system was pressure tested about a week ago. Don't know why/how this was missed, but it was. My question is, do I try tightening the bolt that's leaking or have the pump and gaskets replaced.
What type of water pump is best? There are a variety to chose from starting at $36 to $196. Should I replace bolts too? Heavy Duty pump?
Reply
Old Oct 16, 2011 | 12:17 PM
  #2  
TRACKMAN2's Avatar
TRACKMAN2
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,177
Likes: 0
From: VALENCIA PA
Default

Originally Posted by CSmax
Coolant is leaking from the what looks like the lower mounting bolt/gasket. I just had the coolant flushed and new thermastat installed and system was pressure tested about a week ago. Don't know why/how this was missed, but it was. My question is, do I try tightening the bolt that's leaking or have the pump and gaskets replaced.
What type of water pump is best? There are a variety to chose from starting at $36 to $196. Should I replace bolts too? Heavy Duty pump?
certanly try it not going to hurt anything if it still leaks get some ulta grey sealant remove the pump and run a little bit on both sides of the gasket and replace no need to get new gaskets....i always do this on all my water gaskets....just as a precauiton if ure pump works keep it
Reply
Old Oct 16, 2011 | 04:52 PM
  #3  
nutz4c4's Avatar
nutz4c4
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 0
From: WAY UPSTATE NY
Default

Originally Posted by CSmax
Coolant is leaking from the what looks like the lower mounting bolt/gasket. I just had the coolant flushed and new thermastat installed and system was pressure tested about a week ago. Don't know why/how this was missed, but it was. My question is, do I try tightening the bolt that's leaking or have the pump and gaskets replaced.
What type of water pump is best? There are a variety to chose from starting at $36 to $196. Should I replace bolts too? Heavy Duty pump?
Which bolt is leaking? Lower bolt on drivers side goes into the water jacket. You need to use thread sealer on that bolt.
Reply
Old Oct 16, 2011 | 11:13 PM
  #4  
CSmax's Avatar
CSmax
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Default

Yes, it looks like the lower bolt on the driver side.
Could I just remove that bolt and add sealant and see what happens?

Not knowing how old the water pump is, should I just have it replaced with new??
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2011 | 06:09 AM
  #5  
blackozvet's Avatar
blackozvet
Safety Car
Conversation Starter
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 341
From: Adelaide South Australia
Default

Originally Posted by CSmax
Yes, it looks like the lower bolt on the driver side.
Could I just remove that bolt and add sealant and see what happens?
Not knowing how old the water pump is, should I just have it replaced with new??
Getting the water pump off is not a 5 minute job, I would take the bolt out and lube it with Sealer or RTV silicone or similiar and put it back in, if it works great, if it doesnt then think about taking the pump off to replace the gaskets etc,
The bolt runs thru the block into the water jacket so it needs sealer on the threads.
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2011 | 01:07 PM
  #6  
CSmax's Avatar
CSmax
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Default

Blue threadlocker sealant for the bolt?
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2011 | 04:03 PM
  #7  
nutz4c4's Avatar
nutz4c4
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 0
From: WAY UPSTATE NY
Default

Originally Posted by CSmax
Blue threadlocker sealant for the bolt?
Nope. Old School...#2 Permatex
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2011 | 11:30 PM
  #8  
CSmax's Avatar
CSmax
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Default

Thanks for the replies..
I tightened both (top and bottom) bolts and for now the leak stopped.
My question now is..should I remove the bolts and add sealant to them or leave alone.
Is it worth replacing (I won't be doing it myself) the water pump for precautionary reasons, since I don't know if and when it was done.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-6

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
Old Oct 18, 2011 | 06:46 AM
  #9  
blackozvet's Avatar
blackozvet
Safety Car
Conversation Starter
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 341
From: Adelaide South Australia
Default

hi csmax, you can take the 2 bolts out, clean them up and put the sealant on and put them back on, shouldnt be a problem,
if the pump works then it probably doesnt need replacing, how many miles is on the car and do you think its the original pump ?
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2011 | 11:12 AM
  #10  
CSmax's Avatar
CSmax
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Default

It has 46,000 miles and I'm the 4th owner. I have all the maintance records. I don't see water pump replacement anywhere. The pump is stamped GM. (??)
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2011 | 11:19 AM
  #11  
navy_vette's Avatar
navy_vette
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 995
Likes: 1
From: Naples Campania
Default

Originally Posted by CSmax
It has 46,000 miles and I'm the 4th owner. I have all the maintance records. I don't see water pump replacement anywhere. The pump is stamped GM. (??)
It's probably stock. If someone kept all of the records, that's probably something that would be in there. I would pull the bottom 2 bolts seperately, clean and seal. I wouldn't pull the pump out if it's unnecessary. It's a PITA. Torque them to spec and keep an eye on it.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Water Pump '85





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:33 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE