Water pump leak after rebuild
I had my original 365hp water pump rebuilt by chevy cool in arizona and it has been installed on my car for about a month now, I have ran the engine for about 30 minutes since I installed it and checked for leaks and there wasn't any then I put a piece of cardboard on the garage floor and checked as time went by to see if there would be any leaks after running the engine, today I noticed a wet spot on the cardboard and of course it was anti freeze, it took three weeks of sitting after running the engine to start leaking, after checking it is leaking from the plate on the back of the pump or of course the only place you can't get to with the pump on the car, this is the last place I would have expected it to leak, it will have to sit for Quiet some time now, my knees hip and back are still killing me from bending over the engine compartment, if I would have picked one water pump out of a pile of 100 pumps and 99 of them wouldn't leak I can guaranty you I would get the leaker.
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JR -
Re: Water pump leak after rebuild
Jim------
A leak from the backing plate is fairly common. It's likelihood is greatly increased if you have a flat backing plate installed and you are running a 15 PSI cap.
The best backing plate to use is the style with the "curved back" perimeter AND impressed ridges between the bolt holes.
By the way, you don't think that GM changed the design of the backing plate because the flat plate worked just as well?In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: Water pump leak after rebuild
Hi Joe this pump has the plate with the impressed ridges between the bolts and a 13 psi cap.JRComment
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Re: Water pump leak after rebuild
Can you get in there with a small wrench and snug up those backing plate bolts ?
BillComment
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Re: Water pump leak after rebuild
If you need to get ready for a NCRS event, try some Bar's Leak radiator sealer. After event drain and fix.
That's why I use only water & lub instead of anti freeze - since it get's drained a lot.
Assume they returned your original, so what is the number?Comment
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Re: Water pump leak after rebuild
Not sure if I can get in there yet with a wrench it has the 8 inch balancer, the pump they returned was my original 326, when this pump does come off again I think I will just put a aluminum edelbrock on, I'm not having this car judged anymore and really just like driving it now.JRComment
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Re: Water pump leak after rebuild
Jim,
You are not the only one with a pump leaking at the same place, also from the same supplier in AZ. I am working with a friend here in Albuquerque on a 1965 FI coupe. We filled the radiator yesterday with water. After about ten minutes we noticed the puddle under the car. The leak is coming from the rear plate, which is slightly bowed at the top. Today we will remove the pump and attempt to correct this. Plan "B" will be to try and find a replacement back from a donner pump. Back to the garage! BillComment
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Re: Water pump leak after rebuild
Bill-----
Many original backing plates suffer from pitting-type corrosion damage. This can affect their ability to seal. However, I would expect that with the use of a good RTV sealer in conjunction with the gasket, that should compensate for corrosion damage.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Water pump leak after rebuild
Jim & Joe,
We removed the back plate, inspection showed the plate bowed between the six holes. A little hammer work and a new gasket and we were back in business. Back to the garage! BillComment
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Re: Water pump leak after rebuild
Bill--
Sent you a PM.
Thanks,
Rob Vanderhoeven (38355)Rob
SPEAK YOUR MIND, but ride a fast horse. -- AnonymousComment
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In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Water pump leak after rebuild
Jim,
The pump was well sealed, problem was the warped backing place. I strightened it, put on a new gasket and the leak is gone. Back to the garage! BillComment
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Re: Water pump leak after rebuild
Thanks Bill. JimJRComment
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