Hello Ferrari Gurus, I'm going to rebuild the waterpump on my 79, any helpfull hints concerning R/R-ing? Thanks, Chris.
Rather than rebuilding your old water-pump, you might want to consider buying one of the newer style water-pumps that have the improved bearing and impeller. Other than that, you may have to remove cam-belt covers and move A/C compressor out of the way to remove old pump on your car. It might also be a good time to replace the thermostat if it is original, and put on a new WP/Alt belt.
You'll find quite a few WP rebuilding tips in the following thread: http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/282100.html The following thread has some vy good(IMHO) tips from while my WP rebuild was in progress a couple of years ago: http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/454.html This thread also has quite a bit of useful info: http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/184361.html The following web sites give WP rebuilding instructions: The Online Service Manual ( Go to www.ExpensiveCar.com, & click on 'Ferrari' for table of contents): http://www.cameragear.com/ec/water.htm The 308 GTB Register's TechTips WP rebuild procedure: http://www.r-design.net/308/ Click on [english], then LH menu's [Tech Tips], then [Tech Tip #6: Water Pump] Good luck!!!
In one of the links Verell provided is my rebuild of my small-bearing waterpump from two years ago and I'd like to update and say that at that time, I had re-used my old seal. I should've put in a new one, since over the last year, my pump has consistently weeped (but not in the first year after that rebuild). When I work on the car this winter, I'm going to install a new seal, plus add new bearings, just in case the inner bearing has suffered from being exposed to coolant.
If the car is a "keeper" you might want to consider replacing with a new large bearing waterpump, as used on the 328. It will probably require a new pulley or have your existing one modified (check the archives for details), but properly tensioned, the stock one is probably fine to rebuild and keep using. It is just that the large bearing model is (supposed to be) more durable and longer lasting.
Peter by any chance do you have the part # for the seal and where to get it? If you have the bearing #s I would appreciate that too. I may have the bearing #'s somewhere but I couldn't locate the seal. Thanks.
Suggest you go back & read the 3rd link in my post below, that thread has the seal & bearing part#s for the various wp varients. Suggestingly, Verell
We need an FAQ maintenance section, with posts like Verrell's in it. It sure would make it convenient for searching and lowering the number of reposts.
