Is it possible to ??????
 

Hi guys, once again working on my water pump situation . I have a 31 roadster and the water pump is a leakless rebuild. the pump shaft is moving about 1/4or1/8 in. and I have to remove it to check the collar, maybe loose? . I have the fake studs installed, and a one piece alum. 2 blade fan on it. can I remove the pump assembly without removing the upper and lower radiator hoses , and without removing the hood and radiator support bars?. IF THIS WAS A BREAK DOWN ON THE ROAD AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE PUMP WOUL THIS BE THE PROCEDURE ??. Right now i'm just getting started and before I go to far I figured the question has merit. and how can I check the shaft clearance once the pump is in hand?? thanks again for all the replies THE HOOCH

Re: Is it possible to ??????
 

This answer is multifold to address your question and problem.
1. Yes it is possible to pull the pump . Some radiators may be closer than others but for the most part if you remove the belt and drain the coolant below head level the pump should carefully swing out. This is true even with studs in the head. That is a common misnomer.

2 . The slight pump play you have may not be a problem . Is it leaking? If it’s a leakless style and a-sealed front bearing it is probably pressed in and to fix the play would have to be slightly repressed to fix. Do you have the ability ? Time to evaluate if you install another pump. Is the fan tight? It had nothing to do however with the pump end play .

Not sure what you other symptoms might be other than the slight end play.
Advise of any other issues.
Larry

Re: Is it possible to ??????
 

tHANKS lARRY , I WILL GIVE IT A TRY 1ST . IF THE PUMP GIVES ME A PROBLEM I'LL GO THE LONG ROUTE. AND YES I DO HAVE A PRESS AND CAN RE-PRESS THE BEARING. I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT. THANKS FOR THE FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

Re: Is it possible to ??????
 

You can easily remove your pump since you don't have to clear any studs. EZE PEZE! Don't even have to move the radiator if you are careful.

Re: Is it possible to ??????
 

You may have to detach the front rods at the top of the radiator/hood area to allow the rad to swing forward a little? I replaced a head gasket on the road once, never even removed the hood. We had been issued a challenge to do it in 45 minutes. There were plenty of guys standing around, so helped hold the hood, etc. And we were done in exactly 45 minutes! As an end to this story, the stud in the center row just behind the dist. wouldn't torque, so just snugged it. At home I removed that stud and found shaky threads at the bottom. I found a stud that had longer threads, cleaned the hole thoroughly with acetone, put JB weld on the threads and screwed it in, attaching the nut just enough to hold the stud straight, let it cure for 2 days, torqued it down, end of problem. All without removing the head a second time! It's a wonder what you can do when necessity requires it!

Re: Is it possible to ??????
 

Good input jim and great story. Have done the same in doing head with hood on. Not that big of a deal. Removed 2 in last week and they were both stubborn ones.
All the best!l to you guys !
Larry shepard