Get to have some fun with the wifes car again. Last time I drove it was at the meet in May. So I guess I need to take it for a ride more often. But the water pump bearing then seal went bad. A long time ago, based on how it was flopping around... Low on coolant, only 2 ribs left on the belt, and making an awful grinding noise...

I've spent too much time around every other FWD 3.8, and expected a 2 hour job (max) to change the water pump.

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It's kind of like working on a 3.3l grand am only worse.

The amount of dis-assembly required to change a water pump on this is insane. I'm looking for a good reason to not change the power steering pump, alternator, heater hoses, radiator hose, battery wires, switching to the LG3 motor mount, modify it to use the series 2 pulleys and a single serpentine belt so I can toss the stupid bracket that holds it all on and causes this nightmare to begin with....


But more seriously, the bracket that holds the power steering, altenator, etc... has a 'tab' that covers one of the water pump bolts. As far as I can tell, there is no good reason why that tab is there, and I want to cut it off to turn a 6 hour job into a 45 minute job. Because despite buying the expensive replacement I already know it won't last more than a few years (lifetime warranty means free replacements though), and want to make round 2 a lot less annoying. Cutting that tab off and using the LG3 motor mount and bracket (series one should have the same A/C as the LG3) eliminates the T/A mount, which means 20 minutes to change the water pump. Has anybody tried this before? I can't be the only one that re-engineers things.

_________________
Boost addict


The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67

Looks like I'll be talking to myself again

_________________
Boost addict


The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67

thats not quite as bad as the 8-9 hours it took to install my friends headlights on his 99 avenger, and the 6 hours to change the starter, anddddd the 5 hours to change a wheel bearing......i want to kill that car.

_________________

-Austin-
1988 LE, Intercooled L67 loading......

2000 SSEi R.I.P. Dead now :( INTENSE FWI, polished LIM, P&P supercharger, custom radiator, standalone trans cooler, trans-go shift kit (donating to the 88)

2002 2500HD Silverado with the 8.1 Vortec and Alison tranny. Likes to eat GT Mustangs and lots of tires, and all while stock!

That sounds like more work than changing the pump. But since you obviously plan to keep the car forever I'd say go for it.

_________________
Will
88 Cutlass Ciera Brougham International | 120k mi | White w/ Dk Claret Int. | Roller to be S2 L67/4T65E-HD | 1 of ~5100 3.8 FE3 Int'l series
91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
92 Lumina Z34 | LQ1/4T60E | 177k mi | Torch Red w/Grey Int. | Rusty In Odd Spots
99 Tahoe LT | L31/4L65E | 276k mi | Spiral Grey Metallic w/Grey Int. | Truck for Truck Things and Portable Concert Hall
03 Park Avenue Ultra | 212K mi | White Diamond Met. w/ Shale Int. | Southern Time Capsule
05 Acura RL | 155K mi | Carbon Grey Pearl w/Ebony Int. | The Super-Hooptie Daily

Well, I couldn't grind the tab off without sacrificing structural rigidity on the idler pulley mount. So everything goes back in the way it was. For now anyway. Ended up as an 8-hour job as I had to fix a few other things in the process..

_________________
Boost addict


The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67