VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 37 Water pump

Can anyone tell me if there should be an oil cover at the arrow? Is there any trick to oiling the pump, other than get the longest neck possible and expect spillage? Not exactly the most convenient location. Thanks for any input.
[image]http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/1...c8da58d1_zps67e57525.jpg.html?state=copy

Eli I am able to relate. My 1936 Standard's water pump has the same oil point location. I use a small metal oil can with a long neck to reach the oil point with a light. Harbor Freight sells the old type small metal oil cans with the long neck. My Delco Lovejoy shocks are also a blast to add hydraulic jack oil to as well. Plus I get to lay on my back.

As I expected, thanks, nothing is ever easy. Do you have a hinged oil cover on yours? I have a hard time believing it should be open like that, but I also suspect putting one on will make it all that more convenient to get oil in there.

I have a hinged oil port on the front of both my '36's. Manual says put three drops of 30 weight oil in every 500 miles. But it is your fault if you do not oil enough and it wears out!!

Nice coupe,great color.

I hear ya...Only time I get to take a nap, too...

My wife already yells at me for spending too much time in the garage the way it is, if I start napping out there, I'll be banned for life.

The original pump had a short necked filler with a spring loaded cap. That oiler lubricates both the front and rear bushing. In 1937 is was to be lubricated every 1000 miles. The original style 1937 and 1938 water pumps gave a lot of problems. Chevrolet sold the 1939 sealed bearing style pump for replacement which was a big improvement.

Thanks for the data. I keep it oiled and hear no alarming noises nor have any overheating even here in Texas. I have a spare with sealed bearings but would like to stay as original as possible.

Hi Eli,

Gene helped me sort out water pumps and fans for the '37 cars. There could be one of 3 different designs on your car.

1) When the '37 was first introduced it had a bushing type design with the oil cup for lubrication.

2) During that model year Chevy upgraded to a similar design pump but 1/2" longer to increase the distance between the bushings. They did this to decrease the load on the bushings and increase pump life.

3) Near the end of the '37 model year they introduced the longer pump with the sealed bearing design. Most aftermarket pumps are also this design.

The key point is that the longer pump (#2 or #3) requires a different fan so there is adequate clearance to the radiator.

Based on the picture you linked to I think your engine still has the original style fan which means it also has the first generation pump. Your sealed bearing pump is probably the longer style.

If you need I can provide more details and part numbers for the 2 fans.

I would appreciate the additional information, thanks Rusty. I can see without the need to measure that the spare pump I have is stubbier by a good couple inches, which means I must have a later model, so anything you have on original numbers will be great.

Hi Eli,

I'll put some information together this weekend. My '39 parts catalog also shows a different diameter fan for a GA compared to GB.

It's also interesting that your second pump is visibly shorter than the one on your car. The difference between my 2 pumps was only noticeable after I had installed the original fan on the replacement pump. There was almost no clearance between the fan and the radiator.

The GA is a car - the GB is a truck which always had a wider and longer (and much noiser) fan blade.

Never thought I would be saying this to Gene and I am a little frightened about it, but I don't think so. GA=Deluxe Master, GB=Master. No?

Probably just hit the wrong key.

Thanks Tiny, that will make my next challenge a little less daunting.

Allow me to start over . The Master Deluxe used a 15 3/4" narrow blade fan.
The Master and trucks (GB,GC,GD.& GE) used a wider blade 16 1/4" fan blade. The Master used a larger fan and a radiator core with longer fins due to the 3.73 axle ratio. The taller ratio and slower reving engine worked harder on hills, etc.
Install a M>D> fan on a Master and you will think the engine isn't running at higher engine speeds.
I did make an error because the CC, DC, EC, and FC was the Standard model in 1933-1936 and the trucks were FB, etc.

When I installed the 3.73 gears in my '39 I saw no difference in operating temperature, even in mountain driving.

Hello Eli,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

These parts catalog pages are probably the best direct reference to show the differences in the 3 pumps as well as list all the fans and pumps.

It can be a little confusing because there are 3 pumps designs and 4 different fans (2 diameters and flush or offset mounting).
1) You must use an offset fan with the longer pump or the fan blade will be too close to the radiator
2) The smaller diameter fan (15 3/4") is for the Master Deluxe series.
3) The flush fan is 2 pieces riveted together in an "X".
4) The offset fan is 4 individual blades riveted to a center stamped hub.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_41/41cp023.html

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_41/41cp024.html

Hope this helps,

Thanks for the references and explanation, a big, big help.

Hi Eli,

These are photos I took to show the differences in the fans for my GB.

In this picture the mounting faces of the hubs are sitting at the same height. The pump shaft is 1/2" longer yet the fan offset is about 3/8" so the blades are a little closer to the radiator.



This picture shows the big difference in construction of the fan. I can only image how much the Chevy engineers struggled with the costs to make the pump longer and design the offset fan. It is 5 pieces to assemble (center and 4 blades). the original was 2 simple stamped long blades.

These are excellent, thank you. Any chance I can get you to email them to me so I can zoom on them-1923wk at gmail dot com.

Hi Eli,

Check your email. I added a 3rd picture(not the best quality).

Let me know if your email server lets them through. Each file is about 2mb.

Rusty

They came through and they are spectacular, thanks for the effort.