Water pump replacement

[Done Deal DR]

See that's what I was wondering, I've taken it off and back on several times and its just 4 nuts that hold it on. I figured it had to be different on a Vortec from my TBI because nobody, no matter how limited their skills are, could have trouble with it.

 

[AtomicHoe094]

The mechanical fan on a TBI and Vortec are a little different ...

nice to know! lol how soo tho?

 

[99Yuk]

Keep the four bolts...
Use a hammer to give the wrench a good whack.

Vortec fan mount...

 

[AtomicHoe094]

looks the exact same to me besides the center threaded thing.. :/

 

[Done Deal DR]

Yeah I don't have that center thing either.


Nice gatorback belt BTW. I have the same one, super quiet.

 

[99Yuk]

That center threaded thingy is where the mech fan is bolted to the pulley.
The four bolts hold the pulley, center thingy and the fan to the water pump.

I know this first hand because the guys in our shop played a trick on me by having me remove the four bolts first when I did my e-fans.
BTW, don't remove those four bolts. You'll end up putting them back on before you can remove the fan and it's a PITA.

Gator's? Ya, I like em. That one is from an 07 5.3l Avalanche. The UD pulley kit didn't come with a belt, and it said to use some no-name belt. I had to google a cross-reference to get my gatorback.

 

[Motown 454]

Guys I know this is an older thread but I just did mine. I tried with just the tension from the belt and it slipped. So I went to Harborfreight and bought a cheap set of rubber strap wrenches. $3.99. When I got home it took 5 minutes to get the strap wrench over the pulley and part of the belt and then 10 seconds and one tap on the crescent wrench to remove the fan clutch. I hope it helps someone.

 

[schube1255]

There is an easy way to remove that fan bolt without rental.
first spray some teflon lube or blast or something on the nut - let it soak
then put some duct tape around a pair of big vise grips and lock them to the bell housing. the belt must stay on. I even tightened the belt from the tensioner as I unscrewed the fan with a big pair of channellock pliers.
It turned easily and the rest is pretty simple.
Buy a new pump and make sure you have a good seal.
replace the thermostat as well. USE AC DELCO parts only.