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Post Info TOPIC: LT1 Water Pump Replacement
SShink


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LT1 Water Pump Replacement
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We picked up a '97 Trans Am last Fall with 89K miles on it, and it was a 3 owner all original car other than the Corvette ZR1 rims.  I discovered on the first cold day that the heat didn't work.  So of course I did a simple heater core flush and walla heat works!

Then I noticed on the next drive the water pump was puking orange Dex Cool all over the place, so flushing the heater core must have pushed some crap through that the original pump didn't like.  The pump had a lot of evidence that it had been weeping for awhile, so with my shoulder finally at about 80% I decided to tackle the replacement over the weekend.

One thing about F bodies is to expect a LOT of reaching over the fenders and 2.5 ft long front end of the car with the engine set back so far.  banghead

Anyway, after removing all the air intake stuff, air pump/brackets/coil (the worst part of the whole job), and the water pump, the old one was out.  The new one went in without much trouble since I had figured out the disassembly of what felt like half the engine.  

Looking at the old cam driven pump, it was clear the seal had blown out of it.  I guess 89K miles and a lot of sitting in 23 years will do that.

I'm gambling the Opti-Spark distributor is going to live awhile since I didn't replace it ($350-500 depending on where you buy it), so may regret that later but thought I'd give it a shot.

It has both heat and No leaks now.  thumbsup



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Stan S.-Twin Cities 'South Metro'

1972 Malibu Convertible 2nd time around 

1999 SS Camaro LS1-6 speed

Forum influenced terms: 'Link Paste', 'Stanitized', & 'Revolving garage door...' 

 
Derek69SS


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Doing the work yourself, it's not a huge gamble to reuse the optispark.
If you were paying the labor, it would be foolish not to do it all at once.

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Derek Kiefer - Mantorville, MN

69 Malibu Pro-Touring stroker LS1-383/T56 - 69 SS396-325/3spd project
67ss


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You can replace the cap and rotor on the optispark without having to do the whole distributor.



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Chris P
East Central, Mn

66 Chevelle 300 deluxe
Lost in the 60s


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Wow, if you got a rebuilt water pump that didn't leak on the first try, you are living a charmed life. From reading many other's experience with them, they all leak for a while on initial install and then seal up for a while before leaking again in a short time.
May the force be with you on longevity.

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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

Some Assembly Required

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS 350 rs
SShink


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Lost in the 60s wrote:

Wow, if you got a rebuilt water pump that didn't leak on the first try, you are living a charmed life. From reading many other's experience with them, they all leak for a while on initial install and then seal up for a while before leaking again in a short time.
May the force be with you on longevity.

I installed a new AC Delco pump, so hopefully that helps.  Although, of course it was Made In China so we'll see.

Yes, I hope the force is with me so that the Opti distributor lives longer.  But I guess I can now do the R&R in about half the time since now I know how it all comes apart.  angry 



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Stan S.-Twin Cities 'South Metro'

1972 Malibu Convertible 2nd time around 

1999 SS Camaro LS1-6 speed

Forum influenced terms: 'Link Paste', 'Stanitized', & 'Revolving garage door...' 

 
dashboard


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I took one look at your water pump project and thought.....dealer job. Mines the same deal, the engine is about three feet back from the bumper.

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Kevin

Northwestern Ohio
SShink


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dashboard wrote:

I took one look at your water pump project and thought.....dealer job. Mines the same deal, the engine is about three feet back from the bumper.

I had that thought a few times the deeper I got into it. But then it became a personal challenge that I pushed myself to finish it. I guess that's when being a stubborn old goat kicks in. clonk



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Stan S.-Twin Cities 'South Metro'

1972 Malibu Convertible 2nd time around 

1999 SS Camaro LS1-6 speed

Forum influenced terms: 'Link Paste', 'Stanitized', & 'Revolving garage door...' 

 
Lost in the 60s


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SShink wrote:
dashboard wrote:

I took one look at your water pump project and thought.....dealer job. Mines the same deal, the engine is about three feet back from the bumper.

I had that thought a few times the deeper I got into it. But then it became a personal challenge that I pushed myself to finish it. I guess that's when being a stubborn old goat kicks in. clonk

 We are NOT STUBBORN !!!!

We're Persistent...thumbsup



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

Some Assembly Required

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS 350 rs
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