I am so stupid
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 2
From: Surprise Arizona
I am so stupid
I have spent every evening this week and most of last weekend changing the water pump and cleaning up the mess under the hood. I had every thing back together including installing the new camber brace. I put a full gallon of coolant in the radiator, then put a gallon in the engine through the upper hose. I put about a half gallon of distilled water in the engine when I start to hear the sound of water hitting the garage floor. Yep it has a leak. So I start taking it all back apart. I screwed up one of the water pump gaskets. It was not on correctly and leaking between the new water pump and engine block. I was almost done with this job too. 
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,400
Likes: 0
From: Oceansaide CA
Did you put some gorilla snot on the gaskets before you put the pump on? And yes, it's sort of a tight squeeze in there, but folding back the AC hoses, taking off the belt, frisbee and air pump is still a whole lot easier then dropping the motor, as I had to do in my FWD. The vette took me meybe 3 hours, but I had wobbles and an air ratchet, which IMO saved me a good hour or so. Good luck with it; at least the pump was cheap, right? 
Hooray for chevy 350...
Hooray for chevy 350...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 2
From: Surprise Arizona
Ya I used some sealant on the gaskets. Didnt help. I still had it out of position. I ran to Advanced and picked up another set of Fel Pro gaskets. I will resume the project in the morning.
You are correct, it only took me about 20 minutes to remove the pump this time. Mainly because I carried all the right size tools to the car with me. And I knew just how to go after each bolt. The first time the pump came off I removed many things that I did not have to.
My problem now will be guessing how much coolant and water I lost. I was doing it the easy way. I added half the capacity of the cooling system with coolant first, then topping off with water.
You are correct, it only took me about 20 minutes to remove the pump this time. Mainly because I carried all the right size tools to the car with me. And I knew just how to go after each bolt. The first time the pump came off I removed many things that I did not have to.
My problem now will be guessing how much coolant and water I lost. I was doing it the easy way. I added half the capacity of the cooling system with coolant first, then topping off with water.
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: machesney park il
Originally Posted by Paul G
Ya I used some sealant on the gaskets. Didnt help. I still had it out of position. I ran to Advanced and picked up another set of Fel Pro gaskets. I will resume the project in the morning.
You are correct, it only took me about 20 minutes to remove the pump this time. Mainly because I carried all the right size tools to the car with me. And I knew just how to go after each bolt. The first time the pump came off I removed many things that I did not have to.
My problem now will be guessing how much coolant and water I lost. I was doing it the easy way. I added half the capacity of the cooling system with coolant first, then topping off with water.
You are correct, it only took me about 20 minutes to remove the pump this time. Mainly because I carried all the right size tools to the car with me. And I knew just how to go after each bolt. The first time the pump came off I removed many things that I did not have to.
My problem now will be guessing how much coolant and water I lost. I was doing it the easy way. I added half the capacity of the cooling system with coolant first, then topping off with water.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 0
From: Bremerton Wa
St. Jude Donor '04 &'05
I did a water pump in a 96 Z-28 once got it all back together went for a ride, boy it got hot quick took it home forgot the little piece that actually turns the pump...
Last edited by 96zride; Oct 30, 2004 at 09:35 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles, MO Route 66 Corvette Club
Hey Paul: A previous post suggestes mixing the AF and water together....good idea. I noted you were pouring coolant into both the radiator and engine. If you will drill a 1/16 inch hole in the thermostat (must drill in the part that does not move), you can just add the water to the radiator and not fool with the "packing of the water" mess. The little hole allows air to escape from the system during fill. This makes this part of the water pump change much easier. Good luck and hope you stopped the "rain" on the floor. 
SAM
SAM
done it twice. I'm getting good at it.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 2
From: Surprise Arizona
It's all back together again and running sweet. I did the initial fill, went for a ride, let it cool and topped it off. I think that should do it. No more air coming from the bleeder on top of the water pump. I hope that's it.
I think I could do the water pump in 1 1/2 hours now. Third time is the charm. Lets see what does the dealer charge $100 per hour for Corvette labor. I saved $150 doing it myself. That aint to bad.
I think I could do the water pump in 1 1/2 hours now. Third time is the charm. Lets see what does the dealer charge $100 per hour for Corvette labor. I saved $150 doing it myself. That aint to bad.