Hi everyone. The water pump in my SS is leaking or is coming from that area. I think it's original since my brother misplaced the paperwork/books/records for the car.

My questions are:

1. Is there a write-up on how to do a R&R? (remove & replace).

2. What parts am I going to need?

3. Special tools required?

4. Abort this mission & just send it out? I was quoted $600+ just for labor and i'd bust a few knuckles before I paid that.

Here is a list of parts I bought already:

1. New AC Delco water pump.

2. New AC Delco Optispark.

3. AC Delco plugs

4. MSD 8.5 plug wires.

Any & All help is greatly appreciated.

 

LT1 water pump change
1) disconnect & remove fans to get more room to work with
2) Drain coolant from block
3) Remove air intake
4) Remove radiator, heater, and throttle valve hoses from pump
5) Unplug wires from coolant sensor
6) Unbolt coil bracket & move coil & bracket out of the way
7) Remove AIR pump & bracket
8) Unbolt water pump
9) Remove water pump( Now would be a good time to change the optispark)
10) Remove & clean out old gaskets
11) Remove shaft coupler, if it came out with pump, and install it on new pump ( do not swap ends on coupler as it could result in oil leaks from the shaft seal on the front cover)
12) Put everything back in the opposite order, Torque pump bolts to 31 LB. FT.

 

Thanks for the info Pete. Any special tools needed?

 

No special tools, just socket wrenches, box wrenches, open ends.

 

If you have the money and can take the pump back go electric it realy helps out on wear and drag on the valve train.

 

I can always put the water pump on eBay. What kind of work are we talking about with the change over?

 

You use the old houseing take the fornt plate off and knock out the shaft in the center. put the brass plug they provide in the back put some sealent on the electric pump and attatch it where the front plat of the pump would go using the original bolts from the plat. A relay kit is avaliable for about $30(#prf-50106) to help wiring. but other than that it's just like a pump replacement. summit makes a budget pump for about $160(#sum-314351) meziere is$200(#mez-wp118) these are summit numbers if you order from summit.

 

Then that's where i'll get it from. Carguy, Thanks for the info & help.

 

No update yet. Still waiting for the optispark. The low oil pressure reading is really making me nervous (see other post). I swear I hear low end noises, but i'm probably just being paranoid.

 

Are you sure it's not just old lifters?