Hi,I have a 1990 Camaro Rs with 305 v8. Yesterday coolant started spraying from tiny holes in the bolt on back cover of the water pump. Since the water pump itself isnt leaking is it possible to buy just the back cover plate and replace that? If so where can I find that piece

 

I don't think so.

Only way it would have holes in it is, it's rusted through. If THAT'S happened, imagine what the rest of it is like. The impeller (another piece of sheet metal) for example.

Time to just swap it out.

 

Yep,Thats what I figured. Im going to be selling the car soon so I didnt want to dump more money into it if I didnt have too. The new pumps dont come with studs. Any tips to getting the old ones out?

 

2 nuts

Or buy new ones; they're in the "Help!" section

 

I think I remember the back plate being available in the “Help!” section as well. I do know you can get them on that auction site.

 

Thanks for the tip. What is the back called? Cant find it

 

My pump has bolts holding the pulley on so it looks like it doesnt have studs in the water pump hub like some other models

 

I'm not able to get the bolts out of the pulley that's on the water pump. I left the belt on and decided to try and take the bolts out of the pulley first before I got the water pump off because I had a feeling it was going to be a problem and they will not budge for anything. I'm using a 20 mm socket and I can't get them to break free. Anybody else have any suggestions

 

Use an impact gun on those pulley bolts.
You can run the shaft of a pry bar through the bolts such that they can't turn while you're applying tq to one of the bolts.
You can use an oil filter wrench on the snout or even the body of the pulley to hold it while you're applying tq to the bolts.


A 20mm socket is probably too big. I think those are 10 or 11 mm.

 

Yes it's a 10 mm socket, 20 mm is a typo since 2 is right next to one. Anyway I got three of the bolts out but one of them was rounded and will not come out no matter what I do. I have tried gripping it with vice grips and typing it with a rubber mallet to see if I could break it free and the vice grips just slip and round off the head more. Anybody have any suggestions? Has anybody here ever tried those extractor sockets?

 

Weld a nut on/over the rounded off head of the bolt....spin it right on out of there.
OR, try grabbing a 9mm or 3/8" 12 point socket and hammer the bejeezus out of it, onto the rounded bolt head.
OR, get your vice grips on there the BEST that you can...some times you can clamp 'em, release them w/o letting them move, and re-clamp in the same jaw/teeth marks tighter....then snake the tip of a MAP gas torch back in there behind the pulley to get the flage/threads HOT....and break the bolt free using heat and what grip you can muster w/the Vice Grips.

At this point, might be easier to pull the pump off, since you need to anyway, and do ^that^ on the bench.

 

Tom is spot on with his recommendations on how to break it lose.

Yes, I have and with great success... they will get a much better bite on the nut or bolt head, to the point you will find the next weakest point and snap the bolt off. Heat and penetrating fluid are still needed.