Canary94GT

I replaced the water pump last night after having the old one off for a couple days while I painted it and bought some new bolts. I bought some grade 8 zinc coated bolts that were exactly the same size as the old bolts.

I started bolting on the water pump and was wondering why the top left bolt was getting so tight when it wasn't in all the way. I figured the old bolt must have deformed the threads or something. So I kept torquing it down and eventually broke the grade 8 bolt with just a small ratchet

After about 5 hours and $30 later for a stud remover, I got the bolt out and just decided I would either get a bolt 1/8 shorter or get a washer about 1/8 thick to put in between so the bolt wouldn't bottom out. I get the washer and put the water pump back together and realize I forgot the pulley belt. Not only that, but the alternator adjusting bracket......... which goes between the water pump and the top left bolt and is about 3/16 thick.

Durr!!!! That was all I needed so that the bolt wouldn't bottom out. I can't believe I forgot about the little bracket.

/facepalm.

THUMPIN455

That is called a learning experience... Its doubtful you will forget that particular bracket again.

4reboy

ouch, that bolt breaking sounds exactly like me a couple years ago. My dad bought stainless steel bolts for my water pump thinking they wouldn't corrode, well he apparently thought all stainless steel bolts were strength rated but turns out they aren't and mine definitely weren't. When installing them, I broke off the long bolt that goes through the timing cover into the block with my torque wrench... we had to get the engine back on the truck and take it to a "hole shop" where they were able to get it out with laser guided machines and stuff. None of our taps worked and in fact only made it worse.

Canary94GT

Man thats scary, we did not want to pull the block out, so we were really glad that the bolt broke off with like 1/2 inch stud sticking out. I was about ready to drill it until we found these really neat hammer-on bolt heads and used an air wrench to get it off.