Water pump shaft play?

[shadango]

So I am FINALLY getting around to swapping in the  non-AC pulleys  on the fish......while we were installing the water pump pulley we found that once installed the water pump had play in it.....hard to discern with teh fan OFF the pump but once its on there, you can rock it a bit, without the belt on.

I am pretty sure there should be ZERO play.....that said, I know it has been like this for a bit and no leaks.....

Any thoughts??

[Chryco Psycho]

Change the pump while you are in there or carry a spare where ever you go so when it does fail ....

[shadango]

Change the pump while you are in there or carry a spare where ever you go so when it does fail ....

Thanks CP.......Nah, you are right......its been OK so far but why risk it. Moght as well swap it out......stock, auto parts type good enough or are there upgrades out there worth having? Anything I need to watch out for??

ALSO --- One more question.......

Is it considered acceptable to shim out the alternator bracket from the water pump (top and bottom) to align the pulleys?

I am putting on the non -ac pulleys and alternator bracket setup and I have an (almost new) AC car alternator with the double pulleys (had to get that last year's carlisle trip when the one I drove on on blew apart).....so it looks like the alternator needs to come forward about 3 washers' thickness......seems like I have plenty of extra room on the two water pump bolts......picture below.....

I guess the RIGHt way would be to get the pulley swpped off for a non ac pulley.....but it sure looks like the 3 washers' thickness would bring the pulleys in line ......

Open to thoughts.

[Chryco Psycho]

no problem shimming it out just make sure the alt bolt into he heads is shimmed properly too or you can break the alt housing

[shadango]

no problem shimming it out just make sure the alt bolt into he heads is shimmed properly too or you can break the alt housing

Thanks!

I plan on using a couple washers behind the rear alt tab as well, plus the bracket for the heater hoses....but does the spacer setup I have between the ears look correct?   Doesnt seem to be slop there the way it is.....

[Chryco Psycho]

The spacer between the ears is correct , the rear ear has a floating bushing , The picture doesn't show the spacer between the head & the rear ear though

[shadango]

Thanks again.....the spacer is there....will have to see if I have another pic with it in there....

I ordered a Flowkooler 1700 pump and felpro gasket from Summit....ordered water pump pulley shims too just in case....

I have never opened up the thermostat housing to see what is in there....replaced hoses, including the bypass hose....but never checked the stat. 

I guess I should , and see what is in there.  It always ran fine before....a little hot at idle in the hot summer....but around 180 or so all the other times.

[burdar]

My water pump has the same play in it.  It's been so long ago that I don't remember where I got it.  Its a rebuilt pump.  You can grab onto the fan and feel a little play.  I check it every time I drive the car.  I only have a few hundred miles on it so it shouldn't be bad.  If it starts getting worse, I'll have to do something about it.