63 water pump autopsy and new pump observations

[Kim K Kaiser]

Got cover off of engine from car.  Water pump has the smaller propeller as in the gates models.  And, as you can see in picture, the propeller is set deeper into the cavity than the new pump.  [See  pictures].  However, the new pump has the propeller that is shown in owners manual..  

And,,,the new WP is significantly heavier.

Would the raised propeller cause any concern.

I never had a cooling issue w the one in the car that i just took off.  

The cardone unit that has been previuosly suggested is not available, at least were i hv looked.  Rockauto, canter. Etc..and has the larger propellar.  The new unit does not make any contact to the mating surface and spins freely.

Also put pictivre of timing chain as well for information.

[Tony and Ginny 429]

Kim 

Timing chain and gears look good and have been replaced before 

Both impellers in both kinds of WP’s will do the correct job of cooling the engine as I have had both in the past 

The question is weather the impeller is in the correct location on its shaft which I cannot answer 

Contact Russ as he was the one who noticed that some new WP’s coming out of the box were not in the correct location on there shaft 

That was about a year or so ago and may have been corrected by now but not sue 

He may be able to help as he has a good deal of experience with the subject so contact him to see if he can help 

Enjoy 

[Tony and Ginny 429]

You do want to install a new WP as there bearings  are the part that goes bad and it is a PITA to replace a WP with the engine in the car if you can do it now 

I am on my third water pump myself since my 64 was new but it may have something to do with the car sitting for months at a time the way I use my toy 

Do be sure that your fan belt tension is set correctly as it effects the bearing longevity 

The  fan belt should flex 1/2 inch at its longest span when you push down on it in that location when it is correctly set 

Enjoy 

[Kim K Kaiser]

I had sent him a picture of the new pump offset a while ago, and he thought it was fine, that was before I saw how deeply inset the old pump prop was vs the new. And the weight ddifference Just thought I'd throw it out as part of the journey.

Yes, I knew the engine had been rebuilt about 70k miles ago, 20 years I think.

[Russ Austin]

The replacement pump looks fine.  The front engine cover has the recess where the impeller sits.  Bolt it up and spin the shaft to verify the clearance.