Any tips on replacing the water pump on a '68 for a newbie?

[tdskip]

And so it starts...

Pulling the radiator to have it checked on the long dormant '68 I just picked up, so now would be the time to pro-actively address the water pump. Anything to be aware of before I dive in? Any tips or coaching to be aware of?

Thanks!

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Does your '68 have that big electromagnetic fan clutch on the end of the water pump shaft? My '69 did, and I found that if this heavy chunk of metal gets even the slightest bit off balance, it will chew through water pump bearings pretty quickly. My solution was to install an electric fan and just the normal (much lighter) pulley on the end of the water pump. I seem to recall that I had to go with a different model year water pump as well (mid 70s or the like). Oh, and I also recall that you had to remove that electromagnet clutch to get at the water pump bolts, which can also be a pain.

Another source of drama is the bolts that secure the water pump to the block. Quite frankly, they're undersized, and with the hot coolant in the vicinity, they often corrode and break as you try to loosen them, leaving you with a mess. My only suggestion is to be very gentle with these, perhaps tightening ever so slightly first, then backing off just a bit, then retighten, then loosen a bit more, etc. I'd probably also put new bolts in rather than reuse the old ones, and if you can find some high grade steel bolts, that'd be great. The same story goes for the 4 bolts holding the thermostat housing to the top of the cylinder head, by the way.

Other that cleaning up the mating surface of the block really well and using a new gasket, that's pretty much it. Hope this helps.

-Bryan

[tdskip]

Hi Bryan, thanks for the very helpful response.

I do have the magnetic clutch fan assembly still. Let me get researching on that.

Thanks for the heads-up on the bolts, will be extra careful.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Sounds like a plan. I don't remember what year Fiat got rid of the big electromagnetic clutch, but my '69 spider had it while my '71 does not. I'm not sure about 1970. I guess Fiat realized that spinning a large counterweight at a few thousand rpm was a recipe for disaster, at least as far as water pump bearings...

-Bryan

[tdskip]

Good morning - just to ask a follow-on confirmation;

-pull fan
-pull pump
-clean it all up
-replace with water pump from, say, a 1971
-need to source a pulley from a 1971 to mount on the above

-source an electric fan that is a properly fit and CFM
-wire up fan to thermo switch in lower driver side bottom of the radiator

Look right?

Thanks!

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Yep, that looks right, tdskip. Just make sure that the pulleys are all aligned (same vertical plane for the math wizards out there) for the new pulley on the water pump. Crankshaft, water pump, alternator.

-Bryan

[tdskip]

Excellent, thanks!

[18Fiatsandcounting]

One other thought: Check to see that your radiator has the mounting tabs for the electric fan. Two on the driver side of the radiator and one on the passenger side if I recall. I seem to recall that my '69 already had the mounting tabs for an electric fan, even though the original setup was that ungainly electromagnetic clutch. Almost like Fiat knew that later models would have an electric fan and so they just started making all radiators with the mounting tabs ready for the electric fan at some point.

I don't know what they did in 1968, though. So it'd be good to check.

-Bryan

[spiderdan]

Here is my experience with my 68. About 15 years ago (about 70k mikes ago) my car was overheating. Took it to my Fiat guy "Canadan" and he said the problem was my clutch fan thingy. He also said the water pump was worn and should be replaced at the same time. He replaced the pump and then tightened the clutch fan bolts to it so it ran all the time. He warned me that the water pump would probably wear out sooner because of this but that my car would run cooler and should no longer overheat. That was 15 years/70k miles ago. Never overheated and never replaced that water pump....yet Knock on wood. It's good to have a Fiat guy.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Dan, I think you're right in that if that clutch fan thingie is well balanced and not wobbly, the water pump may be just fine. In my case, my '69 had been in a front-end accident (before I got the car), and the radiator had been pushed into the front of the engine. It's likely the clutch fan thingie got bent as a result and was never true from that point on. So, moving to an electric fan seemed the logical step for me, as the electrical contact to the clutch fan thingie was also problematic.

That, and I probably gained a horsepower or so not having to spin that large mass around on the end of the water pump shaft!

-Bryan

[spiderdan]

Bryan, I think I just got lucky with an EZ fix. I am told that the water pumps are different on the 68-69s (longer shaft spindle thingy) and I might have to upgrade when my current one goes. Some parts for my car are getting "unobtainium". I hope I never have problems with my torque tube. But that's part of the fun and challenges of owning a classic sports car.

[tdskip]

I ended up ordered bits for a '71 and will convert to an electric fan.

[spiderdan]

Let me know how it goes. Might have to do it too someday. Would love to see pics of your 68. Not many of us around.

[tdskip]

Will do Dan, need to dust off my photo sharing account....

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Wow, torque tube, I had forgotten all about that. I have never even seen a '68 spider, let alone owned one. My dad bought my '69 new (and he was actually the one that bashed in the front end), but it became my car once I went off to college. And still is to this day.

Yes, I also would like to hear how the water pump and fan modifications go on the '68. And pictures. On my '69, I have a 2L engine, and man, there is very little clearance between the fan housing and the front of the engine. Maybe a half inch. Fortunately, never seemed to be a problem.

But I digress.
-Bryan