Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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PapaJoe
Joined: 09 Nov 2020 Posts: 73 Location: Massachusetts USA
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Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 2:52 pm Post subject: One-Armed Water Pump Woes |
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Last August, I injured my left shoulder which compelled my wife to forbid restoration work until the injury was resolved. A few weeks before, I had noticed the water pump on the '32 Chevy was leaking and needed replacing. Of course, the new pump arrived a few days after the injury. So, I waited for a day when my wife would be visiting her sister to secretly perform the swap.
The old pump came off easily with the gasket sticking to the pump-side facilitating the clean-up process. The new pump, a thing of beauty, slipped right into its port just behind the radiator. It was at this juncture I realized my damaged left arm could not support the weight of the new pump, especially in such a confined space. So I added a layer of Permatex to both sides of the gasket to glue the pump in place, then tried to get one of the three bolts to catch using my good arm. Not one thread would engage.
So, I stepped back to reassess the situation, and the pump fell out of the port lodging itself between the block and radiator. The sticky Permatex-smeared gasket landed under the car in a pile of speedy-dry granules. Simultaneously, my wife and her sister pulled in the driveway to retrieve her forgotten sunglasses. She did not offer any assistance or words of encouragement.
After dislodging the pump and cleaning the gasket, I built a stack of shop towels between the block and radiator to support the pump. I slipped it in place and tightened the bolts. The rest of the job went smoothly.
Last week, my surgeon performed shoulder-restoration surgery using original parts. I hope it turns out as well as the water pump project. _________________ Owned: 1917 Ford Model T Touring
1929 Ford Model A Roadster
1967 Harley (Aermacchi) Sprint SS
Coveted: Ford Model Y Saloon |
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Keith D
Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 1129 Location: Upper Swan, Western Australia
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Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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Joe,
Have you noticed that these health bans only apply to car restoration or repairs, never for work needed in the house or garden?
Keith _________________ 1926 Chrysler 60 tourer
1932 Austin Seven RN long wheelbase box sedan
1950 Austin A40 tourer
1999 BMW Z3
Its weird being the same age as old people.
You are either part of the problem or part of the solution |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22447 Location: UK
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PapaJoe
Joined: 09 Nov 2020 Posts: 73 Location: Massachusetts USA
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Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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Keith, Now that you mention it, that does seem to be a trend. Although, in this case, I will give the bride credit for having better judgement .
Regards,
Joe _________________ Owned: 1917 Ford Model T Touring
1929 Ford Model A Roadster
1967 Harley (Aermacchi) Sprint SS
Coveted: Ford Model Y Saloon |
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V8 Nutter
Joined: 27 Aug 2012 Posts: 587
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Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 11:11 pm Post subject: |
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Looking on the bright side you could have had a water pump fail on a '32 Ford. |
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PapaJoe
Joined: 09 Nov 2020 Posts: 73 Location: Massachusetts USA
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Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 11:54 pm Post subject: |
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True. The dreaded '32 Ford pump "hidden bolt" would certainly have complicated the repair. _________________ Owned: 1917 Ford Model T Touring
1929 Ford Model A Roadster
1967 Harley (Aermacchi) Sprint SS
Coveted: Ford Model Y Saloon |
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V8 Nutter
Joined: 27 Aug 2012 Posts: 587
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Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2020 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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PapaJoe wrote: | True. The dreaded '32 Ford pump "hidden bolt" would certainly have complicated the repair. |
Many years ago I was caught out by the "hidden bolt" that was on a British built Ford V8 Pilot. Once I had discovered the bolt the next problem was finding a socket to fit the corroded bolt head |
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PapaJoe
Joined: 09 Nov 2020 Posts: 73 Location: Massachusetts USA
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Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2020 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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I doubt the Ford Engineer who put that bolt there was thinking we might be attempting to remove it decades later. I haven't rebuilt a flathead (yet), but it seems like all my car friends have. Getting accustomed to the ribbing I receive for running a Stovebolt 6. _________________ Owned: 1917 Ford Model T Touring
1929 Ford Model A Roadster
1967 Harley (Aermacchi) Sprint SS
Coveted: Ford Model Y Saloon |
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V8 Nutter
Joined: 27 Aug 2012 Posts: 587
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Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2020 9:46 am Post subject: |
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I have re-built both and the Chevy was the easiest. |
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