Lost Water Pump and Alternator on Same Drive - Need Rebuild Recommendations

[Jace H.]

Last night I lost both my water pump and alternator in my 64 Coupe while out driving. Barely made it home after dark with no lights. Who do you all recommend for rebuild of these two parts. Is a water pump easy to rebuild? Never done one myself. I want to send the alternator out. Thanks in advance!

Jace

[Dan B.]

Re: Lost Water Pump and Alternator on Same Drive - Need Rebuild Recommendations

Ron Burke, ChevyCool (Driveline advertiser) does excellent work as do others on here.

As the water pump and the alternator share a common belt it would be important to find out what caused this. Did you loose the belt after the pump failed? If so, there probably is nothing wrong with the alternator itself and you could just fix the pump and install a new belt and all should be well again. Good luck, Dan

[Dan D.]

Re: Lost Water Pump and Alternator on Same Drive - Need Rebuild Recommendations

Ron Burke did my 57 several years ago. Perfect. Couldn't be more pleased.

But Dan has a good point. Rarely do two things like this fail at the same time. Can you tell us just what the failures were? You should have had lights for some time - until the battery went dead. But if the pump failed, or the belt failed, then you have but a very few minutes until it would overheat. Or is the pump just leaking?

A little more info would help.

-Dan-

[Jace H.]

[Jace H.]

[Jace H.]

[Joe R.]

Re: Lost Water Pump and Alternator on Same Drive - Need Rebuild Recommendations

Bill Mock is the ace rebuilder on Water Pumps.

JR

[Rick G.]

Re: Lost Water Pump and Alternator on Same Drive - Need Rebuild Recommendations

Jace,
Regardless of who you use to rebuilt your pump and alternator, you may want to consider having them do only a mechanical restoration on your survivor.

[Frank D.]

Re: Lost Water Pump and Alternator on Same Drive - Need Rebuild Recommendations

Sounds like you let marginal components go too long and it caught up with you all at once. I can understand doing that on a survivor, but if you're gonna drive 'em you have to stay on top of things.

Bill Mock does a first rate water pump rebuild; any electrical shop can rebuild an alternator. I just had my spare "628" original 63 alternator rebuilt and upgraded to 70 amps (to support aftermarket A/C).

HOWEVER, if you have a true survivor car that's a different matter; e.g. if your year car has "dated" alternator diodes, etc. then not just any outfit should rebuild it. If it were me, I'd also get the starter rebuilt (I just did on my 63 as well since its been down for a rear end overhaul anyway).

The issue with the starter is retaining the original solenoid...
I would think the NCRS Driveline magazine would have a good rebuild source for alternator/starter...

[Garry B.]

Re: Lost Water Pump and Alternator on Same Drive - Need Rebuild Recommendations

Jace, I replaced the water pump on my original 70,000 mile survivor first thing. I spoke with https://hartbroscore.com and decided to not rebuild the original because when considering the shipping and parts he could send me one exactly like my original completely rebuilt for less than what it would cost to do the original. No date, correct part number, etc. I am sure he could skip the paint finish as well if asked. They have thousands of cores and can find you a perfect match. In speaking with the owner, they do most of the rebuilds for Bill Mock (can't confirm this). All in cost for a my unit was around $110 delivered. You can't beat that. That was about three years ago, so there may have been some increase. No core charge, so keep your old unit for posterity and get a identical unit in a few days. I know you have a special car and want to keep it that way. Good luck. Garry

[Joe L.]

Re: Lost Water Pump and Alternator on Same Drive - Need Rebuild Recommendations

Last night I lost both my water pump and alternator in my 64 Coupe while out driving. Barely made it home after dark with no lights. Who do you all recommend for rebuild of these two parts. Is a water pump easy to rebuild? Never done one myself. I want to send the alternator out. Thanks in advance!

Jace

Jace------


Alternators are easy to rebuild. It's even possible to rebuild them using all new internal components with the original case halves. That way, one can have a functionally all new alternator with original appearance. It's also possible to rebuild one using just new wear parts (bearings, bushings, and brushes).

[Terry M.]

Re: Lost Water Pump and Alternator on Same Drive - Need Rebuild Recommendations

Jace------


Alternators are easy to rebuild. It's even possible to rebuild them using all new internal components with the original case halves. That way, one can have a functionally all new alternator with original appearance. It's also possible to rebuild one using just new wear parts (bearings, bushings, and brushes).

Joe is, as usual, spot on. The internal alternator parts can be sourced either on-line or in some cases at your FLAPS and instructions for rebuilding are in most Chevrolet Overhaul Manuals. If you don't have Service and Overhaul Manuasl for your year Corvette, they are a worthwhile investment anyway. Lots of good instructions, data, and pictures.

We used to teach how to overhaul alternators and starters in Automotive Electrical 101. About 15 years ago that stopped and Automotive 101 became how to read a scan tool and use it for diagnosis. About that same time alternators and starters began to contain components that made it difficult to rebuild them without proprietary tools. Thus began the days of diagnose and replace. Unfortunately that has lead to replace and diagnose, but that is another subject.

Take advantage of the information in the overhaul manual and never let those original components out of your sight.

[Jace H.]

Re: Lost Water Pump and Alternator on Same Drive - Need Rebuild Recommendations

Rick, very good point. A freshly painted water pump would stick out in this original engine bay! Thanks!

[Jace H.]

Re: Lost Water Pump and Alternator on Same Drive - Need Rebuild Recommendations

Thanks Terry and Joe very good advise from two pro's! I do have the manuals and will dig in! Thanks!

Joe is, as usual, spot on. The internal alternator parts can be sourced either on-line or in some cases at your FLAPS and instructions for rebuilding are in most Chevrolet Overhaul Manuals. If you don't have Service and Overhaul Manuasl for your year Corvette, they are a worthwhile investment anyway. Lots of good instructions, data, and pictures.

We used to teach how to overhaul alternators and starters in Automotive Electrical 101. About 15 years ago that stopped and Automotive 101 became how to read a scan tool and use it for diagnosis. About that same time alternators and starters began to contain components that made it difficult to rebuild them without proprietary tools. Thus began the days of diagnose and replace. Unfortunately that has lead to replace and diagnose, but that is another subject.

Take advantage of the information in the overhaul manual and never let those original components out of your sight.

[Terry M.]

Re: Lost Water Pump and Alternator on Same Drive - Need Rebuild Recommendations

Rick, very good point. A freshly painted water pump would stick out in this original engine bay! Thanks!

I didn't think about an NCRS Chapter near you. Many Chapters will have someone who has rebuilt an externally regulated alternator, or even an S10 internally regulated one. They are not that different to get to the internal parts. This is one area in which Chapter membership can be a great asset.