Water Pump Restoration

[Larry T.]

I need a water pump done correctly. Who does these? Looking for a couple of recommendations. Thanks.

[Joe L.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

I need a water pump done correctly. Who does these? Looking for a couple of recommendations. Thanks.

Larry------


Bill Mock (can be contacted through the "members list" of this board)

Arthur Gould (contact info can be found in the archives by searching on this name)

Joe Lucia (but rebuilds only water pumps owned by and used by Joe Lucia. NO exceptions)

[Timothy B.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

And where does Joe Lucia get his water pump overhaul parts?

[Joe L.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

And where does Joe Lucia get his water pump overhaul parts?

Tim------

It's been awhile since I purchased any. However, I have several sources:

1) My NOS stock (most of the parts were available from GM once-upon-a-time)

2) King Bearing (for shaft/bearing assemblies)

3) Salgado Automotive, Whittier Bl., Los Angeles, CA (all waterpump parts, including seal, seat, bearing/shaft, and gasket)

4) John Crane Co. (55-70 SB waterpump seals. Very high quality stainless steel seals with Viton bellows material but VERY EXPENSIVE; more than twice the cost of a BRAND NEW, COMPLETE WATERPUMP for a SB)

I recommend only cast iron impellers which must be salvaged from original pre-75 waterpumps ( I draw NOS examples from my own stock but most others won't have these available). For used impellers I recommend only use those that have no or minimal corrosion damage.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

Thanks for that information, Joe, I have a water pump to overhaul so I will check out those sources for parts.

[Joe L.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

Thanks for that information, Joe, I have a water pump to overhaul so I will check out those sources for parts.

Tim-----


Except for Salgado Automotive, the others are not suppliers to the automotive industry. So, you cannot contact them and ask for a certain part for a particular automotive application. They won't have the slightest idea of what you need even though they have some of the parts. You have to first determine the specific part number for the part you need and ask for that by number. Unfortunately, it's been so long since I bought any, I don't have the part numbers handy. They're around here somewhere but I don't know where at the moment.

[Bill H.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

Joe has way more experience than I do.

But I just did mine with the kit from Long Island. The bearing assembly & seals looked to be good quality, time will tell.

[Joe L.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

Joe has way more experience than I do.

But I just did mine with the kit from Long Island. The bearing assembly & seals looked to be good quality, time will tell.

Bill-----


The impeller appears to have more corrosion damage than I like to see. However, it will probably be alright. Commercial rebuilders, when they re-use impellers, commonly use them this bad and worse. The biggest problem area is the shaft orifice. If the orifice is "thinned" due to corrosion the stability of the shaft when installed will be compromised.

Most automotive grade waterpump seals use Buna-N as the bellows material. Buna-N has a temperature resistance limit of about 230 degrees F. Ever see coolant temperature get hotter than this?

[Terry M.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

Bill-----


The impeller appears to have more corrosion damage than I like to see. However, it will probably be alright. Commercial rebuilders, when they re-use impellers, commonly use them this bad and worse. The biggest problem area is the shaft orifice. If the orifice is "thinned" due to corrosion the stability of the shaft when installed will be compromised.

Most automotive grade waterpump seals use Buna-N as the bellows material. Buna-N has a temperature resistance limit of about 230 degrees F. Ever see coolant temperature get hotter than this?

I saw hotter than 230 on my 2008 in Los Angeles traffic just a month ago.

[Carl N.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

follow this link to your nearest dealer

http://www.johncrane.com/cgi-bin/jcaprod/pagepro_disp.w?clt=us&pagepro=usalocations

you may have to take a seal into them for a match - they manufacture more mechanical seals than anyone else

Joe is right - they are not cheap - but they can provide almost any material you can think of

[Bill H.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

Thanks, Joe. If I overheat the car I'll keep that in mind.

Bill-----


The impeller appears to have more corrosion damage than I like to see. However, it will probably be alright. Commercial rebuilders, when they re-use impellers, commonly use them this bad and worse. The biggest problem area is the shaft orifice. If the orifice is "thinned" due to corrosion the stability of the shaft when installed will be compromised.

Most automotive grade waterpump seals use Buna-N as the bellows material. Buna-N has a temperature resistance limit of about 230 degrees F. Ever see coolant temperature get hotter than this?

[Joe L.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

I saw hotter than 230 on my 2008 in Los Angeles traffic just a month ago.

Terry-----

So, you see my point.

[Larry M.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

I don't believe that the 230 F represents a failure point, but is probably the maximum SUSTAINED/CONTINUOUS temperature that the o-ring is rated for. For our older cars with the 180 F thermostat, this shouldn't be a problem. For the newer Vettes that are almost always running in the 220-230 F range, a better rubber compound is likely needed.

Larry

[Terry M.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

Terry-----

So, you see my point.

Of course Joe, I just wanted to drive it home -- your point that is.

[Bill H.]

Re: Water Pump Restoration

230 doesn't even kick on the secondary fan..............on my 92.