3b coolant leaks and water pump replacement

[shorty_f0rty]

Hey y'all..

ages ago (like 6mnths) my original mechanic mentioned my waterpump might need replacing sometime soon.. now i hvae just stuck my head under the bonnent looking for another issue and discovered a puddle of coolant on the block under the waterpump..

I have noticed for a while the overflow bottle had a habit of being empty regularly but haven't noticed any over heating issues (via stock temp guage)..

I'm no mechanic but would it be safe to assume that the waterpump is on its way out somehow? I have the max ellery workshop manual.. and it doesnt look like too much of a job.

Also would it be an ideal time to check/replace the thermostate at the same time? I have never had any temp issues.. so i have no real reason to suspect its not working (easy enough to test i guess once out)..

The manual mentions inspecting bearings, and fluid couplings.. should these be the first things i order now for the weekend or should i just get a complete new waterpump and replace the whole thing?

got a trip down to rover park at the end of the month so i would be very keen to get it sorted before then AND I would prefer to do it myself if not too hard to do..

so wotcha's think?

[plowy]

just get the replacement pump its quick n easy ,do the thermostate while you have the tools out there not that dear n you know its right
also check the belts n hose
with the hose your checking to make sure the hose is still soft not stiff n brittle good luck

[Modified Toy]

just get the replacement pump if you have a workshop manual it should be pretty straight forward thermostat nice and cheap and you should always change the thermostat at the same time.

Get coolant aswell concentrate is allways better than premix but usually costs more you need minimum of 33% coolant in the system and just make sure you get the car to warm up with the rad cap off and heater on hot to bleed the air out of the system.

[shorty_f0rty]

ok.. gave this a stab today.. and got the old pump out but have a few questions..

1) couldn't find the drain rooster on the radiator so just loosened the bottom hose.. couldnt find the drain rooster on the block either..
2) after removing the waterpump, i got a toothbrush and cleaned up where the new gasket was going.. when i did this across the middle section the toothbrush created a hole in the flat surface behind the pump.. i didnt touch anything else after that and HOPED it was the old gasket..
3) when i went to put in the new waterpump.. it was a tight fit.. i slid the waterpump into position and then slid the new gasket down behind it.. is there a better/easier way to do this?
4) after getting the pump into position i couldn't manage to line up any of the holes.. i htink i managed to get the far left one in but that was it.. all others are a few mm out..
5) once i get the waterpump in there its a very tight fit.. is this normal?

at the moment the pumps in position waiting to be bolted in but i cant figure out how to get it all to line up.. would i need to take it out and file a few spots to make it fit better?
any help appreciated!

[Ruggers]

take the pump back off and clean the block with a razor and smooth sand paper. the hole in the middle is ok its a welsh plug that gets covered by the gasket. to put the pump on put a couple of bolts though the pump and then put the gasket over this then put the pump on. the reaon for the the bolts no lining up is becuase the gasket has slipped down.
note check to make the the pump is the right one with bolts holes the ight spot.. also when i did mine i had trouble with ripping pulleys apart as the hub was on the shaft to far. so do a dry assambly first with the pulley and fan bolted to the hub and see if it pulls up tight. if not cut a little bit of the shaft.

[shorty_f0rty]

well im beat.. no matter what i did i couldnt get the new pump on.. i notice a bit was rubbing on parts so i filed them down... and i still couldn't get it in..

compare it with the old one and all the holes line up... anyway.. ended up putting the old one back in with the new gasket.. and it went in fine.. the pulley on it spins ok so it should be fine to use still..

just can't believe that thing has had me beat.. i'm gonna give it a go another time thats not a week before going camping.. it'll travel as a spare until then anyway..

so how often do you guys have to trim parts supposedly for your make and model? i must admit the casting on the new pump is a bit beefier.. but i wouldn't of thought that would stop it fitting..

anyway.. thanks for your help guys.