Had a coolant leak. Traced it to the lower radiator hose. Replaced it, clamped it down. Still leaks. So I'm thinking maybe it's the water pump instead, is that possible? Is it probable? What else could it be? And how big of a pita is it to change one?
Thanks,
Homer

 

maybe just the gasket between the water pump and block? I had the same ordeal n jus got a edlebrock victor jr water pump. No leaks now, i think it was just the gaskets that was leaking tho.

 

That makes sense. How many gaskets are used for the water pump?

 

2 gaskets, one for each side. Theres 2 holes in the block that go to the water pump

 

Yes water pumps can leak. Normaly when one goes bad it leaks through a little hole on the underside of the pump.

 

There's actually 3 gaskets used on a water pump. Two to connect to the block, and one for the back of the pump itself.

 

If you water bump is really really FUBAR it will leak through the shaft. Although I am pretty sure you would know it if your water pump was leaking through the shaft ; )

 

is coolant leaking through the weep hole or from the gasket?

either way its easy to take off / replace the water pump.

 

yes water pumps leak, almost always theu the weep hole after the inner seal/bearing fails. i'll bet 90% of the lower radiator hoses replaced on a SBC are because the water pump leaks and not the hose.

 

Sometimes you can tell if it is the water pump if you have a nice fan-shaped spray of water on the top of the engine...comes from the water pump flinging water as it rotates.

 

lol just go buy a 50$ pump :P

 

My water pump leaked through the weep hole when it was going bad. So long as the engine was running it wouldn't leak much, but when I shut it off it came out pretty steadily. (if it does turn out to be your water pump, might I reccomend Stewart's, they're pretty good quality and not too expensive.)

 

It might just be a gasket then and not the pump, but if I got to get to it, might as well replace it. I was going to go with the cheapest one I can get that had a lifetime warrantee. I will look into the stewarts as well.

 

Bought a reman pump from Napa today. I've talked to several people and they all tell me that remans work just as good as new ones.

Didn't manage to finish the job today before I ran out of daylight. I think I got all the bolts out (didn't GM want anyone to be able to access them?) I think the alternator bracket is in the way or something. Will have to try that at first light.

But as long as I'm into this part of the motor, I've noticed that my power steering pump belt is too loose. when the motor runs it kind of flops around. How do I get the belt off to change it? The power steering pulley has a 3/8" hex in the middle which only turns the belt when you put a wrench in it. Tried to remove the crank pulley, but again, only succeeded in spinning the crank.

There's obviously something I'm not getting here. How do I do it?

 

Haven't had vbelts in a while so I forget exactly how, but there has got to be something holding the power steering pump in place. Find that, loosen it, and you'll be able to slide the pump and remove the belt. You may need to remove other belts to get to it, sorry, I don't remember. What you're looking for is on the pump itself, not the pulley. Just look for somewhere it could slide.

 

You need a pulley remover, they sell them at tool stores but I just borrowed one from Autozone. They loan all kinds of tools, some of them not the best quality but the pulley remover worked fine. You just leave a deposit and when you take the tool back they give you all youre money back. As far as the hex nut hole in the middle, it is really not used when removing or installing the pulley. That's the first thing I did was try to loosen it with that, but the pulley is just pressed on the shaft. Also the same tool put's it back on.

 

Actually that was with a serpentine belt set up. Dont know if yours is the same I just assumed when you described the hex nut hole. Youre pump may come with a pulley on it, mine did not.

 

the hole in the middle of the pulley that resembles a hex key is for a pulley installer (basically a nut bolt and washer) to remove the pulley you need a puller... but this would not be nessicary to replace a belt, but if the belt is just loose why not tighten it? loosen the nut on the back of the pump put a little more tension on it and tighten it back down..