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Water Pump Main Seal

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Tinkerman

Tinkerman

Darth Vader
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The "new old stock" bug just reached up and bit me! I bought a NOS water pump on ebay some number of years back and put it on the engine during the rebuild. During it's years of storage the water pump seal dried out and is now not sealing anything.
My question is how big a job is it to replace the water pump seal? The water pump is an $80 unit, seal is $13. If I can fix my problem with a $13 seal I sure would like to.

Thanks, Tinkerman
 
The BIG question is whether the seal you can buy will actually fit the pump you have. Last time I heard of anyone attempting this, they turned out to be incompatible.

The book shows the process, not too big a job if you have the right tools on hand. Of course everyone should have a Churchill FTS 127 plus S4221 hanging on the wall. :laugh:

PS, the original seal runs against the surface machined into the housing. If the surface is corroded, you may have to either bond in a new surface, or remachine the one that is there.
 
Thanks randall. You know I just checked my tool box and the space's I have for those two Churchill tools are empty. Must have loaned them out, heh. The pump I have has the grease nipple on it so I'm leaping to the conclusion that it was original and a true NOS from StanParts. A long jump of course. But for $13 + shipping I will take the chance. If I have to I can always buy another pump and return the seal.
The Haynes manual shows it as a straight forward task, but I've been around that block a time or two so we'll see. At least I'll be working with clean parts :smile:

Dick
 
Tinkerman said:
But for $13 + shipping I will take the chance.
Click to expand...

Check those bearings while you're at it.

Without trying to bad-mouth anyone; at this point I believe 99% of any truly "NOS" parts are "unused" for a reason. Someone, some time, found a reason not to use them and put them back on the shelf. Time passes, someone else buys the stash, maybe the box with "BAD" written on it got lost or faded to illegibility ... whatever the reason, the defective part eventually shows up for sale as "NOS".

Not to mention that grease and elastomers from the 50s simply did not last 60 years. Sure, there's a zerk on there, but it doesn't flush out the old grease that has hardened into chunks nor do anything for the bellows on the seal.

PS, I'm pretty sure an ordinary bearing separator + puller will make a suitable substitute for FTS127 plus S4221.
 
Agree that the parts are not as easy to come by as you might think, and that NOS may be over rated. A few years ago I wanted to fix water pumps and searched out bearings of the proper size, seals from an old diesel (for a school bus) that were the same, and bronze thrust washers to repair the damaged face for the new carbon seal. All in all it was a fun project. I NEVER used any of my resurrected pumps. I chickened out and bought a new one.
 
I rebuilt mine. It was a straight forward job...as long as you have a press. I took the bearings and seal to Purvis Bearing supply and they pulled replacements right off the shelf.

The only problem I had is when I pressed the pully back on, I went a few thousand too far...so there is a slight rub between the pully and some flashing on the pump body. Makes my car sound quite unique!

John
 
Well I'm wimping out and buying a replacement. I will save the pump I have and may rebuild it after my car is running. Right now I just want to move on to the start test!
Thanks for all your input!

Dick
 
Path of least resistance: No harm; no foul!

Press on!

:cheers:
Mickey
 
A man's got to know his limitations.
 
"A man's got to know his limitations."

Couldn't agree with you more Randall. Trouble is sometimes I get myself in trouble by thinking that my limitations are further out there then they really are and I get brought up short by the problem I'm working on. Course my wife quite often reminds me of those limitations, heh!

I will indeed press on Mickey as soon as the part gets here.

Dick
 
Am planning on heading your way soon, Dick. Wanna try to grab lunch or coffee?
 
Tinkerman said:
Trouble is sometimes I get myself in trouble by thinking that my limitations are further out there then they really are
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with that either; it's how we grow. The "limitations" quote was just a joke, in support of your decision to buy new and move on. That is very much in line with my personal approach, which is I mostly only work on the car when it's broke. If it will run, drive it! Then I alternate with crazy things, like the differential I'm working on now (the temporary one in the car howls something awful).
 
I took it that way Randall and got a chuckle out of it. I was really laughing at my self for getting into trouble by thinking "sure no problem you can do it". I agree its how we grow, especially with the hobby we all find so interesting. Any how I just got an email that the new pump will be here on August 2, YEA!


Sure Mickey, give a holler!

Dick
 
John I just sent you a PM.
Dick
 
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