water pump install to engine block

[johndallara]

OK guys, have tried to search this and not come up with the answer. Part way through the 60K, and have removed the entire old waterpump. the new one is ready for install, and I have the two O-rings.

with the small O-ring, the one that connects the back of the rear housing to the block, should I simply install this and torque the bolts? My gut instinct is to put some RTV on the O-ring and the adjacent facings. However, there is no gasket -- just the tiny O-ring.

Here is the shotimes link showing (bottom circle) the spot where the rear of the WP housing goes on.


http://www.shotimes.com/php-bin/images/36.jpg

Thanks for any suggestions.
Trying to avoid a hard-to-fix coolant leak later.

JD

 

[isusho]

I ran into the same thing with my water pump replacement. I just used some RTV to hold the o-ring in place from the pump to the block. The top I just installed the o-ring. My system doesn't leak at all and no loss of coolant in over 6 months.

 

[Eric VerValin]

x2 I just used enough to keep it in the groove, when you tighten it down, it'll seal nicley. Just make sure he stays in the groove and you'll be fine.

 

[93rev2sev]

If the block surface is pitted and nasty, you might want to wirebrush it really good and then apply a thin layer of RTV to the block(where the o-ring will seat) and let it dry before installing the pump with the new o-ring.

Or...
if you clean off the block and see it's really pitted badly, you can use some high temp 2 part epoxy to smooth over the pitting. Then it's just a matter of smoothing off the extra epoxy with one of those little black and decker mouse sanders. Or you can block sand it by hand.

I have never tried the epoxy method but it seems like the best way to ensure the pitting dosen't cause leaks later.

 

[johndallara]

waterpump mounting to engine block (photos)

OK, thanks guys for the help. Got the new pump mounted in place with a little RTV to seat the tiny O-ring in the back where it meets the engine block.

http://home.mindspring.com/~johndallara/sho/id15.html

The back of the old waterpump was very ugly looking and I am glad I took the time to replace it at this stage in the 60K.

JD