Re: 1935 water pump leak

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2008/11/11 0:32:06

When you say the pump body seems to be inside the block, it's apparent you have a senior car, and Eight or Super Eight. Pretty simple matter to remove the pump. Remove the fan blades, drain the cooling system, loosen the 5 nuts on the pentagonal retaining ring, rotate the pump body to slacken the fan belt(s), remove the belts, and then the pump body.

If the packing nut is stripped, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a used one, or try Byron York in CT for a new one. Assuming the shaft, impellor and mating threads in the body are OK, you just need new packing. You can either buy the original split ring packing, or just pack the cavity with graphited industrial packing cord and tighten the packing nut to form it into the cavity. It may require some further tightening after the pump has been in service for a few miles, but don't overtighten, an occasional drop from the packing is expected. But while your pump is apart you might want to inspect the two ball bearings. They are very common numbers as are the seals, readily available, and you can replace the bearings with open bearings as the originals and again rely on the seals, or you can buy sealed bearings and just put the seals in for show. All in all, a pretty easy job but do also check the shaft for galling which will make short life of the new packing if it's bad. If you need one, any good machine shop can make one, don't have it made of stainless, go for tool steel.