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Water pump - hole supposed to be there?

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Randy Harris

Randy Harris

Jedi Trainee
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'66 BJ8 - doing some on-my-back r&r on the Healey today. Inspecting beneath the engine reveals some modest rust beneath the water pump. Hmmm.... I take a closer look at the water pump and, what the.... there's a 1/4" long oblong hole in the top of the pump w/a slightly jagged edge like a rust hole might present. It's located about 2" inboard of the pulley on the top of the pump. I thought that years ago somebody told me that the pump should have a hole in it. But for what reason would there be an intentional hole in the water pump? Am I looking at a normal well-used BJ8 water pump or is a new unit in my future?
Thanks...
Randy
 
I believe that the "hole" is intentional. A vent or pressure relief if you will. It is located outboard of the shaft seal & inboard of the bearing. It's purpose is to relieve any leakage past the shaft seal to prevent the leakage from getting into the bearing which would ruin the bearing.

The first indication of seal leakage would be coolant at this vent hole. The bearing may still be good. With the belt loose, if you can move the fan blades & hub in relation to the pump housing it means that the bearing is bad also. Water pump failure usually progresses from slight seal leakage to more seal leakage, to bearing failure.

Since failure is a slow progression, it is time to replace the pump at your leisure before it gets worse. Or before you take any long trips.
D
 
--Hi Randy, Dave is correct and yes you are looking at a new, "unit", pump in the near future.---Keoke
 
randy, you can also lube the bearing in the water pump while your snooping around, looking at the engine from the front of the car youll find a srew head on the left side of the pump near the top just inback of the fan belt. #3 page 61,also page 63- # 19 in the owners workshop manual. "regrease the bearing by pushing a small amount of grease into the greaser and then screwing in the grease screw. under no circumstances should grease be applied under pressure as it could ruin the efficiency of the oil seal" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif
IFIN His pump is that old Anthony he need a new one NOW!---Keoke-- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif
 
I've not noticed any water beneath the car nor have I got a cooling problem of any kind. What I found is a small amount of surface rust beneath the pump and the hole that I described. But from what you guys are saying, it sounds like the hole is supposed to be there. If the purpose of the hole is to expel water before it can do damage to the bearings, then it's doing its job and the evidence must be the surface rust I discovered. So, you guys think I should be replacing what seems to be a perfectly fine water pump? More esplanations, puleeze.
Randy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
My apologies. I just re-read Dave's reply and it now makes sense to me. Presence of water at hole means seal leakage which means eventual bearing damage and ultimate unit failure. Got it!
Thanks guys for the help. Another little project for the weekend I guess.
Best to all,
Randy
 
Randy!
I guess I don't have to slpane now-Huh---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
This brings up a question. What is the difference between the old and new pumps? I hear from the Healey folk lore Dept that new ones have an integrated pully and originals are a two piece press-on with nuts gizmo. Seperate pully and pump. Are these interchangeable? Can I take a pully off a new pump and put it on an old pump.

Make sense??

Looking for a road spare. 1960BT7
 
I'll jump in with a little tid-bit... This hole is there for the same reason that there is a small hole on the bottom in older Chevys and Fords(can I say that here??), that performs the same function as described by Dave. When it leaks, time for a new one..Sort of an early warning system.. Ron
 
Well tracy, it seems that the old pumps that had the bolt on pulley for the six cylinder cars went the way of high button shoes.The most significant difference I see beween old an new pumps is the deletion of the grease fitting on the pump.Changing the pulley on a pump with the interference fitted pulley can be done using the correct puller.However, there are some that feel this may be counter productive given that less than a tight fit of the pulley on the shaft may result in its failure.---Fwiw---Keoke
 
So better to just get a new style rather than a rebuilt old one and play pully pulling games??
 
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