keller

I recall a source that offered a fitting that could be threaded into the water pump so that a weeping pump would not destroy the Opti. Can't seem to locate them on the 'net. Does anyone remember this? Or has anyone done this mod?

Looks like I'm going to be doing an Opti again, and I might as well do this while I am at it.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Being that the housing is cast aluminum, you could drill the hole whatever size you wish (within reason) and then screw an NPT threaded fitting in there and attach a small length of rubber hose to it.

SS#502

You can take some really small vacuum line and RTV it in place, that's what I'm gonna do to mine while the car is apart...

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

Getting an opti wet to the point the engine starts to misfire doesn't necessarily mean the opti is broke. Like a normal distributor it can be dried out and function normally again.

redtransam95

iTrader: (7)

that a neat idea never thought of that i just welded mine shut

fex77k

iTrader: (2)

Nice, teach that thing to leak again.

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

IMO, if you're going to waste all that time taking off the pump and putting it back in, why wouldn't you just put in a new pump? Seems frivolous to me.

SS#502

Cost? Why replace it when it's still good? I've had to pull mine off a couple times more than I wanted when I received some shitty optis...

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

By doing this "mod," you are implementing something to protect your optispark when it goes bad, right? So you're anticipating the failure (or possible failure) at some point of the water pump's life. Why wouldn't you just replace it then and there and be done with it?

See what I mean?

SS#502

Ya, I hear ya, but who's to say that even a new one isn't gonna **** on your new opti? Just a little extra security from having it happen... The first time I had to change the opti (original with 114k miles) I went through 3 "New" ones before I got a good one that ran. The waterpump was still good so I wasn't gonna buy a new one just because I was pulling it on and off. I now have 135K miles and the pump still works like a champ. I just had the RH head gasket blow out and put that waterpump back on with no probs. You know what sucks is that damn bleeder screw when you crack it open, it wants to throw coolant on your opti's plug connector anyway, I filled my connector on the opti full of dielectric grease to help keep the water out.

redtransam95

iTrader: (7)

yeah i tig welded the back, weep hole,and heater line hole after i pulled out the ac and heat.all for my electric water pump so it will never leak sanded it all down and polished the pump. if your going to buy a new pump you might as well convert to an electric pump

z28camaro1996

iTrader: (1)

just rtv around the distributor cap. it works for me

Spiers

iTrader: (7)

I did this when I replaced the opti originally. Just got a fitting and small length of hose at Oreillys. Drill and tap. But I wouldn't have taken the pump off just to do this "mod." You can find new pumps for as low as $50.

But if I had it to do over again, I would have just done an electric wp to begin with.

redtransam95

iTrader: (7)

amen thats the way to go when they die

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

Electric pumps (at least the Meziere) have weepholes too and they can leak.

1badzee

iTrader: (12)

So, I've taken my water pump and opti off numerous times and never once did I notice a hole. Nor has it leaked. This stupid water pump housing has like 200k miles on it as well. and yes the meziere has a weep hole.

redtransam95

iTrader: (7)

hole is on bottom side of water pump

Reaper-Z

iTrader: (9)

I can see a bit of coolant coming out of the weep hole. This means my pump is on it's way out? Car ran perfectly fine before I swapped headers in and had to replace my clutch. Car has only been down for say a month. Why would it just start leaking now?

What are the benefits to running an electric pump? What changes with the pullies?

fergymoto

iTrader: (129)

Yes if you have water coming out of the weap hole, your water pump is on limited time. I would replace it very soon.

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

It's probably just coincidental that your pump is failing. Changing the headers/clutch has nothing to do with the pump.

Nothing changes with the pullies - the pump is driven by a stub drive driven off of the camshaft.

Benefits of an electric pump include freeing up horsepower (up to 9HP dyno proven), being able to run a double roller timing chain, and you can run the pump with the engine off to speed up cooling, which is great for use in the pits. I also noticed slightly quicker revs when I installed mine.