328 Water Pump HousingHoses

Need some help getting the hoses back on the WP housing. So far two days spent on this to get the housing back on so that when the rebuilt WP arives I can bolt it on.

This is the most frustrating thing I have ever done on a car. There must be some secret to getting the hoses back on. I can get them on eith the pipe or the housing but can seem to get them on both. There must be a secret to this. Apost on the other site archives has a post by someone who can take the wheel off and get the punp and housing off in 35 minute. Har d to believe.

Any thoughts anyone. Thanks.

post some pictures Russ as I don't fully understand the problem.

JRV. My old Nikon Coolpix gave up the ghost and I have not gotten a new Digital camera. Lets see if I can do this in words.

1. Got the housing off by removing the two hoses to the back of the housing. Now trying to get the back housing on.

2. If I attach the hoses to the pipe-not the housing-I find it impossible to get the housing pipes onto the hoses.

3. Seems to me that there is some trick to this or maybe I just keep maneuvering the housing around until they slip on. Its very frustrating given the limited access to the hoses.

If you have done this perhaps you could jsut describe how you did it.

Many thanks.

Hi Russ,

I just went through this process on my 308QV. It is tricky but not impossible. The trick I found was to attach the hoses to the hard pipe leaving them a little long, then wiggle the housing onto these two hoses until they slip on. I started with the hose on the botton and then the one on top. It helps to come at them at an angle and twist. Leaving the hoses a little longer than needed allows you to bend and twist them to help in getting them started. Wiggle, wiggle some more, and then wiggle some more...

As luck would have it, I did not take any pictures of this process.

A few more questions:

1 I also contemplate replacing the fabric covered hoses. Local hose supplier did not have fabric covered ones but did have rubber hoses that he said would do the job and resist the heat. Any thoughts on this?

2. When I put the housing back on should I put some sealant on the o-ring. NAPA recommended high temp RTV silicon.

3. By the way NAPA had the thermostat gasket in stock.

4. Should I put some sealant on the gasket between the WP and the housing.

Thanks again.

Russ,

I use a thin coating of sealant after wiping everything dry with Brake Clean.

The hoses are Gates "Vulco", availble many places or the Gates sight...I always use the cloth or Silicone hoses from Federal www.federalhose.com.

To reinstall I use vasoline or silicone spray to make the wiggling go a little easier.

Thanks JRV. That was helpfull as are all of your posts. Got the rebuilt WP and am having trouble getting the pulley nut off the old unit. Think I will get a torch and heat it. Think that will work or is there some other method that you would recommend?

I simply hit the nut with an impact gun!! While holding onto the pulley with a good shop rag.

Even an electric impact gun should work.

Then I use a puller with some light tapping to remove the pulley so as not to damage it.

Further to my attempt to replace the WP I am absolutely stymied by attaching the hoses to the housing at the pipe on the far end. Based on someone elses suggestion that the hoses should be replaced I took them out and bout new one. There must be a mechanics trick to getting them on in such a tight space. I have a small wrencg that fits on the clam but as soon as I get it on the clamp and put the slightest pressure on it the clamp turns because it does not yet have a grip on the hose. And since the clamp must be very loose to get it on the hose once the hose is on the pipe I don't see how to solve the clamp rotation problem. Have spent hours on this which I am sure a mecahnic does not do. Any suggestions?

Sounds like the hoses you got from your local supply may be a bit undersized giving you the hard time you are having getting them on. A cloth covered OE hose will grip the clamp better so it does not turn as easy when tightening it as well.