Water Pump Install - '89 TBI 350

[89Suburban]

Inspecting the old pump you can see where the antifreeze was seeping out of the weep hole, and I also felt a little play in the bearings.

 

[89Suburban]

Looking at the front of the block you can tell this pump has been on here a very long time....

 

[HotRodPC]

Inspecting the old pump you can see where the antifreeze was seeping out of the weep hole, and I also felt a little play in the bearings.

Its normal to see or feel bad bearings when you have leaks from the weep hole. The bearing race actually covers that hole, so when the hole is leaking, the bearing race is usally wore or damaged to some extent, whether it rusted from the outside in, or wore out from the inside out.

 

[HotRodPC]

Looking at the front of teh block you can tell this pump has been on here a very long time....

Looking at the block, you can tell its been in there for a long time too. Probably the OEM pump as is the OEM block.

 

[89Suburban]

Using a scraper and a heavy wire brush on my dremel I was able to clean up the gasket surface really nice.

Also to note, I had jacked the back of the truck up at least a half foot before I started this. Once I had the pump off, I dropped the truck back down so the motor would tilt back a little and antifreeze would not be seeping out of the water pump holes while I was trying to clean it and reinstall.

 

[89Suburban]

Looking at the block, you can tell its been in there for a long time too. Probably the OEM pump as is the OEM block.

Yeah man, looks like timing cover has never been pulled so this motor should be all factory inside.

 

[89Suburban]

Take advantage of the opportunity while you have it to clean off the timing tab and paint it for future use.

 

[89Suburban]

Here is the literature and new gaskets that came with the new pump. Note that this is a "Reverse Flow" water pump, which means it spins counter-clockwise, because the back of the serpentine belt drives it, so the crank rotates cloclwise, and the water pump and fan, counter-clockwise.

Very important to make sure you have the right pump!! Also important to remember if you are planning on installing an aftermarket flex fan!

 

[HotRodPC]

Take advantage of the opportunity while you have it to clean off the timing tab and paint it for future use.

Usually the tab isn't a big problem. Certainly a great time to clean the tab for eaiser reading. But to paint the line on the balancer is what you want to paint. I usually use something like white out or even a flourescent nail polish if one of your ladies has any laying around.

 

[89Suburban]

Usually the tab isn't a big problem. Certainly a great time to clean the tab for eaiser reading. But to paint the line on the balancer is what you want to paint. I usually use something like white out or even a flourescent nail polish if one of your ladies has any laying around.

Yes, that is something I failed to do.

 

[HotRodPC]

Yes, that is something I failed to do.

NO biggie, if the time ever comes you can't see it, you can lay on your back and do it from underneath.

 

[89Suburban]

Comparing the new pump to the old one. Notice that the studs for the fan are not included with the new pump and have to be switched over.

 

[89Suburban]

NO biggie, if the time ever comes you can't see it, you can lay on your back and do it from underneath.

That will be a good one for the quote thread, lol.

 

[HotRodPC]

Comparing the new pump to the old one. Notice that the studs for the fan are not included with the new pump and have to be switched over.

That's common. You're damn lucky they still give the gaskets with the pump. It won't be long and I don't think they will anymore.

 

[HotRodPC]

That will be a good one for the quote thread, lol.

Oh **** !!! At least I wasn't talking about myself. Sure glad I didn't add the part, I had to do that 1 time.