Water Pump Drive Seal Question
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 91
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From: Rochester, NY
Water Pump Drive Seal Question Hello everyone! I have a question about the water pump drive seal. I watched a video that seemed to indicate that the grey part of the seal should be pointing towards the block and the yellow part should be pointing away. In the pictures below, both the yellow and grey parts of my seal are pointing away from the block. Does this look right or do I need a new seal?
I had the timing cover off and pressed in the seal. I'm not sure how I could have messed it up, but I'd rather make sure it's right now than after its back in the car.
Thanks in advance!
I had the timing cover off and pressed in the seal. I'm not sure how I could have messed it up, but I'd rather make sure it's right now than after its back in the car.
Thanks in advance!
I've had good luck with taking the cover off several times without changing out the seal. Just been really careful to seat it straight on when installing. Here's a good how to:
http://www.impalasuperstore.com/nais...TOPIC_ID=30984
The inner seal is pushed out. Yours is not.
http://www.impalasuperstore.com/nais...TOPIC_ID=30984
The inner seal is pushed out. Yours is not.
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When GM assembled the motors the seals were put in the TC before TC was installed. They used a Kent Moore tool....it is a plastic tapered one like the aftermarket "tool" available on ebay (pic)
Just putting a TC on with seal installed without a "tool" will almost 100% guarantee the inner lip folds over like OP's pic
Just putting a TC on with seal installed without a "tool" will almost 100% guarantee the inner lip folds over like OP's pic
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Just to clarify, the inner yellow lip should fold INTO/TOWARD the engine block?
EDIT: I just remembered. That inner seal has to be "flush" with the silver part. If it pokes out or folds, the seal is ruined....right?
We need higher-resolution pictures on this. I'll bust out my DSLR next time I'm working on replacing my Opti and seals.
EDIT: I just remembered. That inner seal has to be "flush" with the silver part. If it pokes out or folds, the seal is ruined....right?
We need higher-resolution pictures on this. I'll bust out my DSLR next time I'm working on replacing my Opti and seals.
Last edited by ShovelMan; Aug 3, 2017 at 11:05 AM.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 91
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From: Rochester, NY
To be clear, there are two seals--an inner grey and an outer yellow. From what I can gather, the outer yellow seal points away from the engine block, grey seal points inward toward the engine block.
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^^^yes
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Edit: I've had success using a filed-down Sharpie cap before I got the Kent Moore set. Give that a shot.
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This is the exploding wallet $ Kent Moore tool. Came with a KM hub install tool I bought
J-39087....and only $240.78...but wait, order now on ebay and you can get it for less than $75...that's right Chuckie, order within the next 20 min. and shipping is FREE!
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=j39087
The metal "clone" one generally available for $20 does the same thing
J-39087....and only $240.78...but wait, order now on ebay and you can get it for less than $75...that's right Chuckie, order within the next 20 min. and shipping is FREE!
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=j39087
The metal "clone" one generally available for $20 does the same thing
You can also gently massage the seal with a socket or your finger and expand the seal slightly so it slides on without folding over itself while you tap it on over the shaft. This is done while the TC is installed. I've had god luck doing it that way.
Gray faces the engine, yellow faces away towards the radiator.
Remember, no oil as well. It's a dry install.
Gray faces the engine, yellow faces away towards the radiator.
Remember, no oil as well. It's a dry install.
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you can use the WP drive coupler itself or a deep socket the same size
....but what really helps to NOT fold over the inner lip is using something that is tapered on one end like the "tool" or the Sharpie pen cap which allows the seal to slide on the tool easier without folding over the inner lip
and yeah this and the Opti seal are PTFE seals, install dry. Don't oil/grease the seal
....but what really helps to NOT fold over the inner lip is using something that is tapered on one end like the "tool" or the Sharpie pen cap which allows the seal to slide on the tool easier without folding over the inner lip
and yeah this and the Opti seal are PTFE seals, install dry. Don't oil/grease the seal
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Oh yeah, I say this because I took the pic.