Need help with water pump install

[jkoral]

OK, the water pump was easy to get off, but I have a coolant leak between the water pump plate and the block. I need to get that plate off, but have never done it before.

I see the obvious 5 or 6 bolts to pull the plate off, but see a couple underneath and see that if it does come loose, it will not come totally off unless I pull off the crank pully.

Is this true? Has anyone done this before? If so, please let me know the experience you had. I know it has to be done, but I have enough work to do on it before Cordova and do not want to do any extra work.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[rd]

If you are talking about the water pump backing plate, there are two bolts that hold it to the pump casting, located at the bottom. The plate and pump come off the car, or off the timing cover as a unit. The two bolts face forward, and have very thin heads. A new or rebuilt pump should come with the gasket, the plate and bolts. Or you can use the old ones, just don't bend it.

You have to assemble the thing in a specific sequence, ie, put the gasket and sealer, or rtv, your choice, on the pump/plate assembly, install the two bolts and tightnen them, then put the gasket, sealer, or rtv, etc, on the pump to timing cover faces, then assemble.

The rest of the waterpump attaching bolts clamp the pump and plate to the engine, and seal the rest of the pump to plate joint. it can be a mother to seal sometimes. I have done both gasket and sealer, and also just rtv. Both seal and leak equally, but the rtv is easier to clean to try again.

No clue who came up with this, but it has worked since 1961, I guess.....

 

[jkoral]

Actually, they are 2 separate pieces (93, 5.0). I got the pump off OK, it is just the plate that is connected to the block. There seems to be a lot of bolts that need to be taken off, along with the crank pulley and balancer.

I guess, I kind of know what to do, but just wanted to see if anyone else had any experience with this procedure.

Thanks for your help

 

[tcmustang]

water pump plate

Sounds like your talking about the timing chain cover...especially since you said "the crank pully must come off" There cannot be a leak between this cover and the block, since there is no water passage behind it. You must not have a good seal between the water pump and the timing cover . Make sure every thing is really clean, no left over gasket material.

 

[jkoral]

Are you sure about that? There is a gasket between the plate and the block. I attached a picture and you can see where the gasket is. And where I put the arrow is where it is leaking. So I need to get that whole piece off.

 

[xplo89gt]

the plate you are talking about is the timing chain cover. There is no water passage between it and the block, just oil. Your leak must be coming from some place else. and fyi yes you need to pull the harmonic balancer to get that cover off.

 

[jkoral]

Really? So maybe the leak is coming from between the water pump and the plate. That would mean that I do not have to hassle with taking off the plate.

This whole thing came up because I was cleaning the engine with a low powered pressure washer and I guess got a little too close.

So, if there is a coolant link, it is not coming from there?

 

[xplo89gt]

nope... it could however be dripping down from the water neck on the lower intake.

 

[PhLoBuS]

i remember doing the water pump. no fun!

 

[87'GTstang]

Could be what was just said, the weep hole on the bottom of the water pump, some of the heater hoses, or the backing plate of the water pump's impeller which just went on mine. It's a busy place up in there so you need to look carefully as it is quite a few things it could be.

 

[jkoral]

I am being told at another site that even though water does not flow through the back, it could still leak through that area if the gasket is bad. What do you think? Should I do it since I almost have it all off?

 

[xplo89gt]

Leak through from where? Unless oil is leaking from the timing cover, I do not see a need in changing it.

 

[BADSBRD]

Water passes through the timing cover to the block. So it is possible to have coolant leaking from behind the cover. However from where you have you arrow pointing it doesn't look like it would be that.

Rick