E24 Pontiac water pump replacement, best tip on preventing overheating issues 326 350 389 400 455

[@ArrowheadGarage]

Great job on the new water pumper!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thanks 👍and whichever engine you build check the gap on the impeller. I learned that tip years ago and it just stuck.

[@browser90]

Thanks for the water pump tip. Def looking forward to the power top vid!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Me too, I am waiting on the last piece before I can finish. Seems parts are a little slow to get

[@twobeards6714]

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. Found a solid 66GTO roller. Rebuilt 389 is gonna have a new home. I sent the 400 Trans to the builder and didn't mess with the turbo 350. Mama wants to drive the Cat.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Nice, 389 in a 66 GTO is right at home. Are you leaving the Catalina together as is then?

[@twobeards6714]

@@VinylVillageGarage gonna find the oil leak, fix it and drive it. The Goat needs some love.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Need some love is fine, its worth it. You going to make the hood scoop functional? If I had a 65-67 GTO I always thought it would be cooler if it was functional.

[@twobeards6714]

@@VinylVillageGarage it's a project that's kind of open ended. I don't have unlimited funds so it's gonna be engine and drive train first. I bought a barn full of GTO and Chevelle parts about 5 years ago. Seats headliner material upholstery, padding and ton stainless but a lot needs to be done before it's a driver. I didn't even consider the air intake through the hood. Now you got my mind going again!
👍🧔
Never enough time is there?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Wow that is quite the stash. Pontiac invented Ram Air and it’s a cool option or addition in my opinion
Time is limited I agree so do what you love and if it brings joy to others a big bonus too

[@johnfletcher2493]

i never thought about the water pump clearance been fighting my over heating problem , installed dual fans and a .750 tube two core rad. i might give that try before i go two number 3 radiator

[@VinylVillageGarage]

It’s worth a shot for sure. Radiators are not cheap, water pump gaskets are way less expensive.

[@FunkyBangagong]

Good Video. Just subscribed and believe you will be up to 1,000 subscribers in no time.
I wasn't aware you may be selling the Red Bird. I would like to be second in line just in case John falls off.
Good luck to you!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

First off huge thanks for subscribing!! 👍And compliments. I will list you as runner up if John decides it’s not for him.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

if you are still interested it seems John informed me he purchased a 1970 Nova with his bird funds so the car is available and for sale now.

[@FunkyBangagong]

@@VinylVillageGarage I just saw your message. Thank you for letting me know! I stumbled across another opportunity and made the purchase already. As time passed I thought that John would most likely buy it. I know you won't have any difficulty finding a buyer and I am having a case of remorse right now. :( Thanks again for thinking of me.

[@yafois988]

I did the WP rebuild on my OEM 69 400HO, A local shop went thru it for me and put a better impeller design on it.
Was able to achieve just over 0.030" gap on the plate/impeller spacing.
Engine always ran out 180-195-ish generally even in Hot summer so About the same afterwards. Then had the Rad refitted W a 4 core on the OEM tanks , that made a nice difference in cooling too.
Very satisfied with this little projects results.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Nice, 1969 water pumps are a one year only part. Good call fixing the original. It used To be how all parts where fixed, now it’s more common just to replace.

[@jamesforehan2809]

Does this bearing have a water system seal on the wet side of the bearing. Most due, it keeps the bearing from getting wet, so assuming this does too I will continue. The bearing for the pump is steel ball bearing and races. When the seal leaks those bearing parts get washed or steam cleaned grease free by the coolant. So the steel readily rusted. Now we operate the engine some more and the bearing starts to wiggle and rattle. As well as any flow through the bearing carries rust particles and crud through there making the display on the inside of the pulley.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

It was bad enough and volume of water bypassing it was hitting the ground as rust stains.

[@josephbob3252]

Hello-
This is Joe from Houston Tx. I love your videos. I'm changing my Father-in-law's Water pump on his 1976 Pontiac Firebird trans AM. The long bolt on the driver side broke off leaving about an inch of thread inside the engine. Any helpful suggestions on how to remove it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks and KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Hello Joe! this long bolt that broke what comes to mind is I am assuming the timing cover is still on the car if so the next step would be remove it and hopefully there is still some bolt to get ahold of to extract it. If not for me the next step is to weld a nut to the bolt then while it’s still warm work the bolt out and as a last resort drill out the bolt. I do love my Pontiacs but downside is the aluminum timing cover and steel bolts they just don’t get along and corrosion is an issue that happens a lot for those long bolts unfortunately

[@bfmcarparts]

3:53 Looks like a post-'68 timing chain cover. the earlier covers do not have the insert sleeves. Must be a 1969 or younger unit O-p-e-r-a-t-i-o-n.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Good eye. The entire engine is 1975 minus the accessory drive, fortunately it works and no belt alignment issues. I have had issues with my 1969 bird and gto with wrong water pumps installed from previous owners. To tall, 1969 one year only odd ball water pumps are shorter in height.

[@bfmcarparts]

@@VinylVillageGarage Hello again,
If you need a 'short' '69 Pontiac water pump, contact Ames Pontiac Performance in New Hampshire. They stock new or remanufactured water pumps.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thanks and yes they do that is where I purchased the one for my 494 build.

[@timg8045]

Great video! Which leads to my water pump question. I have a 68 Firebird with the 350, Edelbrock 4 barrel intake. My water pump is good however I have the dreaded leak where the water pump and the intake meet. I have coolant dripping from this area onto my valley pan and from there it dribbles downward making its way to my garage floor. Research tells me there is an intake to water pump seal that causes this and that the intake needs to come off along with the water pump and then reassembled for proper installation of the seal. Have you ever done one of these on your other Firebirds?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

First thanks for checking us out!
. Yes I have had a leak between the rear of the timing cover to the intake a few times. Super common issue. There is a few things or schools of thought. First check for pitting on sealing surfaces of the intake and timing cover. I would only remove the intake at this point to inspect These parts are 50 years old so it’s going to happen. If pitted best to replace damaged parts. If no pitting clean it then add some sealant on the replacement seal. New intake gaskets then lay intake on start all bolts by hand on engine and torque the bolt that goes from the water pump to intake first then secure the intake bolts. That is how I have had success in stopping that leak. There might be some other thoughts on the topic hope this helps. Gotta save them birds!

[@timg8045]

@@VinylVillageGarage Thanks very much for the detailed response. I will follow your steps for this repair. I want all parts on hand before I start the repair so I’m gonna search for the Edelbrock Performer intake manifold gasket kit. Pretty sure that the intake to timing cover seal will be part of that kit. I assume that the Edelbrock Performer gasket kit will be a universal fit for my factory heads.. I will keep you posted on my progress. 👍🏻

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Yes please keep me posted! and I agree have all your bits ready before hand. There is two different style intake gaskets for factory heads depending on year. Most gasket kits come with both. The area of difference is the heat cross over. The center port on the gaskets are different height opening so match up to the head when replacing. Good luck 👍

[@shawnbaird2015]

This guy should be a teacher... 😂

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Not sure if I should be, i always got in trouble for sleeping in class. Can’t imagine how the the students will behave

[@johnkeegan5448]

You didn't sell my red Firebird, did you?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

No sir, you are first on the list when it is ready to sell. It will be very soon.

[@vet6822]

64 has 2 gaskets

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Good to know. Does it have a thin metal divider that goes between the gaskets?

[@midgetmack5344]

How did you charge to replace that water pump?

[@VinylVillageGarage]

The answer was nothing, I used a water pump I had left over and found a gasket in my spare parts. If you are wondering how much a shop might charge to replace it, my guess would be three hours of labor plus parts. I wouldn’t be surprised if the total bill was close to $500 with tax, coolant, parts and labor. Why do you ask?

[@midgetmack5344]

Someone asked me if I can change it to there car and I do this for hobby but he wanted me to charge him and I didn’t know how much to charge

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Got it. 4 hours labor is fair as long as all the bolts Come out but these cars are notoriously bad with corrosion issues and breaking bolts.