• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!

    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

TR2/3/3A TR3 Water Pump Rebuild

Mkutz

Jedi Hopeful
Country flag
Offline
Hi All -- I'm getting ready to put my engine back in my TR3 and need to either rebuild my water pump or buy a new one. I've heard less than savory things about the new, so am more interested in having the original rebuilt. Anyone have a good lead on a quality rebuilder? I recall seeing recently on Ebay a rebuilder in New Castle Delaware, but can't remember anything beyond that. Thanks so much!
 
I see that link is for a TR6 water pump. Though similar you may encounter a problem sourcing parts (seal &/or bearing) for a TR3A pump rebuild. Also, I vaguely recall a circlip inside the TR3A pump that doesn't appear to be in the TR6 pump.

There apparently was a time when the rebuild parts were available from a Ferguson Tractor supplier but I have not heard recently of anyone being able to find them that way.

I assume you have an original pump with a functional grease zerk. I haven't really had a problem with recent repros or repors in the past other than a bit of grinding may be needed on the pump body to allow the pulley to not drag on the casting. Easy enough to do if you trial fit the pulley while everything is on the bench.

Some repros (I've heard) have a non-removeable pulley and are mounted and discarded as a unit. I would avoid those.

Most recent pump I got has a functional grease zerk and takes the stock pulley. Looks fine but as it is currently my spare I cannot comment on how it works.

Of course it is easy to add a faux zerk on a repro pump, one of my cars has that and it would be very hard for someone to know unless they tried to grease it.
 
Geo Hahn said:
Some repros (I've heard) have a non-removeable pulley and are mounted and discarded as a unit. I would avoid those.
Any particular reason, other than lack of originality ? I've been running one of those for a long time (like 20 years) and it's worked perfectly for me.

And given how many stories I've heard of the pulley coming loose on the shaft (one of our club members had it come off and go through the radiator); I regard the press-fit pulley as an improvement. You do have to replace one bolt with a stud & nut, but that seems a small price to pay.
 
I have had a repo pump on mine that came from Moss for about 8 years now.

Don
 
Back
Top