Leaking water pump with spacers
#1
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Leaking water pump with spacers
Any of you guys ever use water pump spacers?
I'm using a SWP on a 400 block. I have to use spacers because the water pump hits the timing cover.
I've had this apart 4 times and I keep getting leaks at the bolt heads. I've thread sealed the crap outta the bolts, RTV'd all four gaskets. Let it set up over night. It still leaks.
I can't run a long water pump because I run a driver side alternator, which is not available in a long water pump.
I cannot run the short water pump without spacers, because my timing cover (with integrated roller cam button) hits the water pump before it's seated.
This is driving me insane.
-- Joe
I'm using a SWP on a 400 block. I have to use spacers because the water pump hits the timing cover.
I've had this apart 4 times and I keep getting leaks at the bolt heads. I've thread sealed the crap outta the bolts, RTV'd all four gaskets. Let it set up over night. It still leaks.
I can't run a long water pump because I run a driver side alternator, which is not available in a long water pump.
I cannot run the short water pump without spacers, because my timing cover (with integrated roller cam button) hits the water pump before it's seated.
This is driving me insane.
-- Joe
#2
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Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
Thread chase the block. Use thread sealer not rtv on threads. Rtv gaskets in place. A small o ring under the bokt head may help also.
If it's an aluminium pump tig weld the spacers to it
Another trick is to dimpke the surfaces with a punch so they dont float/move
If it's an aluminium pump tig weld the spacers to it
Another trick is to dimpke the surfaces with a punch so they dont float/move
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Car: '88 Formula, '94 Corvette, '95 Bird
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Transmission: T5, Zf6, 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.42, Dana44 3.45, 3.23
Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
I can tig the spacers to the pump, but it will warp and I ave no way of milling it flat again.
This whole thing is pissing me off. I've had this pump on and off a number of times now.
-- Joe
#6
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Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
I can't recall; are the water pump mounting bolt holes blind or thru into the water jacket?
If they're blind, could the bolts be just a tad too long and be bottoming out and giving the appearance of being tight?
If they're blind, could the bolts be just a tad too long and be bottoming out and giving the appearance of being tight?
Last edited by paulo57509; 02-25-2017 at 03:14 AM.
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Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
I don't think it's walking up the threads, they are sealed. I feel like it has something to do with the spacers.
-- Joe
-- Joe
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Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
#11
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Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
i never use the gaskets, just RTV on the block and waterpump. let it set up for 5-10 minutes then install. maybe try it without the gaskets and see if it works out for you?
#12
Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
How about using 4 studs instead of the bolts. Using RTV on both sides of the gasket usally causes gasket to slip or split or leak. Check flatness on all surfaces. Try putting together with gaskets only no sealer or sealer only and no gaskets.
Joe
Joe
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Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
Those gray paper gaskets suck. Try the good Fel-Pros. 4 of them.
If you have a machine shop near you, have o-ring grooves cut into both sides of those spacers.
If you do this, don't forget about the bypass channel hole.
If you have a machine shop near you, have o-ring grooves cut into both sides of those spacers.
If you do this, don't forget about the bypass channel hole.
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Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
So, On attempt #2 I tried RTV (the right stuff) without gaskets. Still leaked.
I used Felpro gaskets on attempt #1, 3, and 4.
I have not tried studs. I bought an actual water pump bolt kit.
I don't understand how it's leaking. The thread sealer should prevent coolant from walking up the threads. I just wonder if it's not a port misalignment thing and it's spilling coolant into the bolt area. It just doesn't make sense to me.
If I could trim the cover on the water pump, and replace the cover bolts with very small flat head screws I bet it would clear the timing cover so I could omit the spacers. But I can't seem to find replacement water pump cover gaskets, so I don't want to take it apart.
-- Joe
I used Felpro gaskets on attempt #1, 3, and 4.
I have not tried studs. I bought an actual water pump bolt kit.
I don't understand how it's leaking. The thread sealer should prevent coolant from walking up the threads. I just wonder if it's not a port misalignment thing and it's spilling coolant into the bolt area. It just doesn't make sense to me.
If I could trim the cover on the water pump, and replace the cover bolts with very small flat head screws I bet it would clear the timing cover so I could omit the spacers. But I can't seem to find replacement water pump cover gaskets, so I don't want to take it apart.
-- Joe
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Car: '88 Formula, '94 Corvette, '95 Bird
Engine: LC9, 355" LT1, LT1
Transmission: T5, Zf6, 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.42, Dana44 3.45, 3.23
Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
When the car is running, the drip is very minimal and evaporates down by the balancer. But you could smell it. When the car is on the lift over night, you will get a few drips of green on the balancer itself.
I just don't get it. I've used two different thread sealer compounds, both high temp and PTFE based. Chased the holes. The block was cleaned with my air tool and pads. It's CLEAN. Tried two aluminum water pumps, thinking maybe the first one was warped. It HAS to be the spacers I guess. Maybe they just are not machined flat?
-- Joe
#17
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Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
is it possible that your still making slight contact with the timing cover even with the spacers?
i think i'd have to pull it off and lay the pump and spacers on a very flat surface,..use a feeler gauge or light and see if something isnt mating correctly. give it a very careful look over. something isnt right. very well could be a bad port alignment on the spacers.
i think i'd have to pull it off and lay the pump and spacers on a very flat surface,..use a feeler gauge or light and see if something isnt mating correctly. give it a very careful look over. something isnt right. very well could be a bad port alignment on the spacers.
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Car: '88 Formula, '94 Corvette, '95 Bird
Engine: LC9, 355" LT1, LT1
Transmission: T5, Zf6, 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.42, Dana44 3.45, 3.23
Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
is it possible that your still making slight contact with the timing cover even with the spacers?
i think i'd have to pull it off and lay the pump and spacers on a very flat surface,..use a feeler gauge or light and see if something isnt mating correctly. give it a very careful look over. something isnt right. very well could be a bad port alignment on the spacers.
i think i'd have to pull it off and lay the pump and spacers on a very flat surface,..use a feeler gauge or light and see if something isnt mating correctly. give it a very careful look over. something isnt right. very well could be a bad port alignment on the spacers.
I'm gonna tinker with it this weekend. I've got a sled in the shop right now that I was supposed to rebuild this weekend but they sent me the wrong gasket kit. Once I get that out I can jump back on the firebird. I just wanna have a plan.
Ideally, if I could somehow clearance the back of the pump so I could omit the spacers that would be great. The cover itself doesnt hit the timing cover, the bolts do.
The timing cover is a cloyes 9-221 . It's supposed to fit behind a short water pump, but again the bolts on the pump whack it.
-- Joe
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Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
Bolts are probably too long and are bottoming out. I checked two non-400 blocks and only the lower drivers side bolt is fully open to water. The other three are blind holes, with the upper passenger bolt hole being fairly shallow.
Next time pump is off thread the bolts in until they bottom. Measure the exposed length of each bolt and compare it to the water pump thickness and the spacers. With everything here being aftermarket (bolts, pump, spacer) who knows how far off they are.
RBob.
Next time pump is off thread the bolts in until they bottom. Measure the exposed length of each bolt and compare it to the water pump thickness and the spacers. With everything here being aftermarket (bolts, pump, spacer) who knows how far off they are.
RBob.
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Car: '88 Formula, '94 Corvette, '95 Bird
Engine: LC9, 355" LT1, LT1
Transmission: T5, Zf6, 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.42, Dana44 3.45, 3.23
Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
Bolts are probably too long and are bottoming out. I checked two non-400 blocks and only the lower drivers side bolt is fully open to water. The other three are blind holes, with the upper passenger bolt hole being fairly shallow.
Next time pump is off thread the bolts in until they bottom. Measure the exposed length of each bolt and compare it to the water pump thickness and the spacers. With everything here being aftermarket (bolts, pump, spacer) who knows how far off they are.
RBob.
Next time pump is off thread the bolts in until they bottom. Measure the exposed length of each bolt and compare it to the water pump thickness and the spacers. With everything here being aftermarket (bolts, pump, spacer) who knows how far off they are.
RBob.
All 4 are open to water though, I don't know if they were drilled at one point. It's a mid 70s 400 block. When I cleaned the holes prior to chasing I could get the brush in about an inch plus haha.
Thanks
-- Joe
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Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
Good move on using SS bolts, keeps the rust down. I wasn't sure if the 400 block hits water on all four holes, which is why I mentioned them not being one.
Maybe they aren't tapped deep enough? As for the pump rear cover bolts, just swap them one at a time and don't worry about the gasket.
RBob.
Maybe they aren't tapped deep enough? As for the pump rear cover bolts, just swap them one at a time and don't worry about the gasket.
RBob.
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Transmission: T5, Zf6, 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.42, Dana44 3.45, 3.23
Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
Good move on using SS bolts, keeps the rust down. I wasn't sure if the 400 block hits water on all four holes, which is why I mentioned them not being one.
Maybe they aren't tapped deep enough? As for the pump rear cover bolts, just swap them one at a time and don't worry about the gasket.
RBob.
Maybe they aren't tapped deep enough? As for the pump rear cover bolts, just swap them one at a time and don't worry about the gasket.
RBob.
-- Joe
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Axle/Gears: 3.42, Dana44 3.45, 3.23
Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
Easier to just fix the leak.
What I should have done was kept it serpentine, and just fabricated a tensioner to my supercharger bracket, but that ship sailed.
-- Joe
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Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
There is no way a short pump is going to clear this cover. I spent some time on it tonight.
I'm going to have to use a long pump, but that requires me to change my pulleys, and accessory brackets.
I guess I could stick a third gen serpentine setup on it and just make an tensioner off my blower bracket.
What a pain in the ***.
-- Joe
I'm going to have to use a long pump, but that requires me to change my pulleys, and accessory brackets.
I guess I could stick a third gen serpentine setup on it and just make an tensioner off my blower bracket.
What a pain in the ***.
-- Joe
#28
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Car: '88 Formula, '94 Corvette, '95 Bird
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Transmission: T5, Zf6, 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.42, Dana44 3.45, 3.23
Re: Leaking water pump with spacers
Ok So I yanked everything off and found a serp bracket. I'm going to run a factory fbody serp bracket and 140 amp alternator (have them), reverse rotation water pump.
The only thing I need to do is make an tensioner. I have a nib mopar tensioner that I believe just requires a single center bolt and hole so that would probably work.
-- Joe
The only thing I need to do is make an tensioner. I have a nib mopar tensioner that I believe just requires a single center bolt and hole so that would probably work.
-- Joe