put new blue paper gaskets in a NOS waterpump and the thing leaks like a sieve with engine off. Water is seaping out of all the flanges.. should I apply sealant to the paper gaskets and reassemble?
Check that all faces are clean, flat and smooth. I often coat both sides of the gasket with a non hardening aviation goo (permatex #2 for example) and reassemble. Tony
If everything is clean and smooth the paper is all the factory used and all I have ever used. You have another problem. Not sure what blue paper is......
Have noticed water drops coming from under pulley which I assume water is coming out the drain holes.. I suppose this means the rubber thrust seal may not working?
That would be my assessment. I suggest that you just keep an eye on things. It might be that the seal will "wear in" and seal better after some miles on the pump.
I assume you are running an antifreeze/water mixture. Antifreeze is a better seal lubricant than just water.
Finally got off the chamber backing plate with a borrowed bit driver and found corrosion under the gasket. Went thru my stockpile of parts and dug up a rebuild kit but I see it doesn’t include the shaft bearing.. If I trash my bearing trying to press out the shaft I’m sidelined for the summer so I will take your advice Rusty and pray it wears in the seal with a new batch of antifreeze.
If it's only wet or a small drip, I'd just do the same as it could go many years without getting worse as long as it's not drawing in air and causing a temp change.
If you get stuck for parts Mike, let me know as it sucks to get stuff across the border. Been watching a couple rebuild kits on Ebay but shipping is double the cost of the kits to get them shipped to Canada.
1938 Canadian Pontiac Business Coupe (aka a 1938 Chevy Coupe with Pontiac shaped front sheet metal - almost all Chevy!) 1975 4-speed L82 Vette
Based on my experience you will probably ruin the bearing when you press the bearing and shaft assembly out. Plus that might ruin the impeller.
The design of the pump is such that you cannot press on the outside diameter of the bearing housing to remove it. You have to press on the back side of the shaft. So you are pressing through the ball bearings and races to remove the bearing housing. Not a good deal in my thinking.
