Re: water pump woes

Posted by Daniel Leininger On 2010/3/23 19:08:38

Tobs,

Even w/o replacing freeze plugs, I would recommend flushing out the block as thoroughly as possible BEFORE replacing the waterpump.

1. Remove the drain plug on the driver side of the block. This will allow rusty water to drain out. Catch waste water with a bewpucket if you are not in a space where you can let it run to a drain.

2. If you have a garden hose with a long tube end that you can use as a nozzle, push it back and forth into the 3' cavity where the distribution tube fits. That space is 3' long. Keep moving the hose back and forth. If you can bend the end of the nozzle down a bit you can force water into some of the other ports.

3. If you have an air compressor, use air blasts with the water to make a pulsing action to break-up loose rust and dirt/crude. Even without removing the freeze plugs there is a lot of crude/rust you can get out of your block.

How much crude was in your distribution tube?
(I suspect there might have been an inch or two (5cm) at the back end of the tube).

I know you want to go drive and play Packard, but this will help your engine run cooler esp in summer heat.

DanL