Anyone put one of these things in? Ok, so first go around proform waterpump leaked from the pump to block off plate... Added rtv...then it leaked from the block off plate to timing cover... added rtv. This is without the vehicle running just pouring water in the radiator... Leaked fast as hell.... Torqued all four water pump mounting bolts again...and the ear snapped completely off. The cast aluminum broke clean through what a joke. Called summit and they are sending a replacement. This time Im using a thicker fel pro water pump gasket. WTF am I doing wrong that it leaks that much?
you get what you pay for with these parts none of the surfaces are flat i would guess causing your leaks
If the original hardware doesn't include washers under the bolt heads, add some. It will help spread the load. A better gasket might help too, since you mentioned a felpro, I think you're covered there. Watch your torque when tightening and do so in steps in a criss cross pattern or by the sequence they recommend. I usually start with everything just snug then work through the sequence
I followed the specs, but it came with cheap chinsy washer under the bolts, I have ARP bolts and washers I will try this go around. I think the gasket provided was very thing and may have been the culprit. It has a plate that bolts to the timing cover with the top 3 bolts, then the water pump has 2 bolts around each coolant hole. so 7 bolts total. You wouldnt believe how fast the water came out of the block off plate even with rtv.
Also make sure that the bolts on the back of the pump that hold the plate on arent hitting the timing cover.
Agreed. Not a proform fan. Had a couple of items and they were very poorly made. Cost me some real headaches on my fuel system.
Well...Im out of budget to be honest. If it does not start up once, I get the waterpump issues figured out, It goes into the back of the shop for another 6 months. I am looking over everything...the new gaskets I have for timing covers in my fel pro engine kit. The one I used last time was thin compared to this new fel pro one. I am going to try it with no rtv at first.. .Now I am worried about the timing cover gasket leaking water? Is that a common issue? I hate paper gaskets.
And aside from the cast aluminum being brittle, I am not sure if another style of waterpump would have solved the issue.
I seen where too long bolts bottom out and never pull the pump tight to the TC cover. I have better luck with Permatex #2 than I have with RTV on the bolts that pass through the water jackets.
I should update this, got a new replacement pump and put it in with using RTV this time, and no leaks at all. I think I just was not using the right sealant. I used GM engine sealant and zero leaks. Coupled that with a new tstat housing with the same sealant and not a drop in 150ish miles. I did notice the car runs a solid 210 uphill on the freeway (3200rpm's) in 90 degree weather. That worries me a bit, but on the flat it stays around solid 190. This is with a 160 degree tstat 3 row radiator and a unshrouded electric fan. I think removing the trans cooling from the radiator should help relieve some of the stress on the cooling system.
