Waterpump replacement for '96-'99 Vortec motors.

[cl1986]

Im not sure, but i may have changed the water pump for nothing. Ahh it would have went out anyway i guess.

But, just the other day i had the potmetal adapter on my intake crack and was leaking all over. Its the one coming from the heater core straight to the intake. The made some crappy slip in hose design with bad metal. The new part is all steel. Luckily i got the threads out of the intake with the easy out tool i borrowed from the local mechanic that claims these break all the time. So it only cost me $16 buck to get my truck going agian. Woohooo.

He did say that sometimes u cant get the remians out and having to pull the intake, that would have sucked. All kinds of crap on top of the intake.

[TribalVision]

Originally Posted by cl1986

Im not sure, but i may have changed the water pump for nothing. Ahh it would have went out anyway i guess.

But, just the other day i had the potmetal adapter on my intake crack and was leaking all over. Its the one coming from the heater core straight to the intake. The made some crappy slip in hose design with bad metal. The new part is all steel. Luckily i got the threads out of the intake with the easy out tool i borrowed from the local mechanic that claims these break all the time. So it only cost me $16 buck to get my truck going agian. Woohooo.

He did say that sometimes u cant get the remians out and having to pull the intake, that would have sucked. All kinds of crap on top of the intake.

Yes, that is a common occurrance with the vortec engines. I replaced my quick connect fitting with the old style nipple type. I wont have that issue any more..

[96chevymaniac]

Thanks for the instructions.

[kenman1717]

good info here. although 1 thing i can't figure out is why everybody has such a problem with the big nut holding the fan on. i have herd people say to leave teh belt on, or get the special tool to hold the fan, all i did was slide the big arse adjustable on and whack it with a very large hammer, i didn't need to hold the fan, no belt was on and i didn't have a holder. the summer of '05 was the first time the fan had been of my 97.

[kenman1717]

Originally Posted by TribalVision

Yes, that is a common occurrance with the vortec engines. I replaced my quick connect fitting with the old style nipple type. I wont have that issue any more..

i was stupid enough to go buy a factory replacement, i figured i might as well cause it was only $15 bucks, but it is still soft aluminum. when i did the water pump on my fathers 95, that same fitting is used in the top of the pump
i was smart enough this time to use a brass fitting, with an end for a hose on it, slid a rubber hydrulic hose over it and clamped and did the same to the metal line, not leaks, works perfect. it was a standard pipe thread on the fitting, don't recall the size, but it screwed right in and out, no cross thread.

[cl1986]

Originally Posted by kenman1717

i was stupid enough to go buy a factory replacement, i figured i might as well cause it was only $15 bucks, but it is still soft aluminum. when i did the water pump on my fathers 95, that same fitting is used in the top of the pump
i was smart enough this time to use a brass fitting, with an end for a hose on it, slid a rubber hydrulic hose over it and clamped and did the same to the metal line, not leaks, works perfect. it was a standard pipe thread on the fitting, don't recall the size, but it screwed right in and out, no cross thread.

NOooo, the new style connector is alluminum, the old factory original was potmetal. No need for copper fittings and hose clamps....

[cl1986]

Originally Posted by kenman1717

good info here. although 1 thing i can't figure out is why everybody has such a problem with the big nut holding the fan on. i have herd people say to leave teh belt on, or get the special tool to hold the fan, all i did was slide the big arse adjustable on and whack it with a very large hammer, i didn't need to hold the fan, no belt was on and i didn't have a holder. the summer of '05 was the first time the fan had been of my 97.

You just got lucky is all....

[Shraf2k]

just curious as to whether or not its a good idea to flush all the dex-cool out with water... im in the middle of it and decided i wanted to finally rid myself of this god forsaken liquid.

btw... i'm new and i really really wish i had seen this forum years ago.. you guys are an absolute wealth of chevy knowledge.

[cl1986]

well.....

i wouldnt get rid of dexcool unless the entire system can be completely cleaned or steam cleaned......other and older types of coolant might coagulated with the remaining dexcool....

its a possiblity and i myself would keep the dexcool for the current refill.....

its not a bad coolant.....just make sure it gets changed before or on schedule....

only thing that sucks is when you do your own flush your pumping the crappy mineral and chlorine water into the system coming out of your tap.....which is what causes problems in the first place....

[Ludivigo]

I can't get that big nut off for anything. Which way does it go? Someone said the fan action tightens it. Wouldn't that make it reverse thread?

[cl1986]

Its normal threads...alot of quick little taps should get it off.....like i claimed about 50 or so till mine gave in....

[Ludivigo]

I went down to the parts store and got a loaner fan clutch tool set. Mine was really torqued tight! Paid $50, but they'll refund it when I bring it back tomorrow.

[orange ss]

Originally Posted by hccp

I ordered a fan clutch holding tool from the tool truck. Works sweet! If need I can send you a template to make your own out of flat bar. Good tips though. Later

can i get one of those templates ?

[CKTA]

Originally Posted by Ludivigo

Wouldn't that make it reverse thread?

it has normal thread NOT reverse.

[Top Speed]

A template would be awesome!

[Rickdef17]

Barnicals! Mine started leaking today. It looked to me like the air cond. was in the way on getting off the pump. No one had to move the air?

[cl1986]

Uh...no

This is for vortec 350....not sure what u have as u dont have a sig

[Silverad04]

just replaced the one on my 96 5.0 about a month ago. I had a small leak coming from the bottom of the pump. took me about 2 hours. all i had to remove was the belt and fan/clutch and obviously the hoses. that 2 hours includes the drain and flush aswell. I was pissed b/c ive always had a small leak couldnt figure out where it was coming from untill 4 hours prior to leaving town to visit my girlfriend for the weekend and then it decided to show its ugly face. Havnt had a leak since i fixed it.

[Rickdef17]

Sorry it's a 5.7, 226.00 for a new pump from the dealer.

[cl1986]

Waterpumps should be around $30-$40 and labor i would guess the 2 hours or so.....even at $45 an hour thats only $120..........