I noticed that I had an oil leak that was coming from the seal in the timing chain cover for the water pump drive shaft. I am getting ready to install an ewp and a new seal (leaving the shaft and gear in), but I wanted to check something first. When I grab the shaft (unpervertedly ) it has some play in it; ie wiggles back and forth and I can see some oil squeezing out. I'm afraid this is the reason the seal is leaking. The seal that I pulled out of the cover looked good still and only has ~1,000 miles on it. Will I be alright with just putting a new seal in it and using the ewp (no strain on the shaft)? I planned on removing the gear and shaft, but I'm short on time and need to have it back together. Thanks for the help.

 

Since I just took mine apart yesterday and have the assembly sitting right here on my desk, mine does not wiggle at all with no seal to hold the front part of the shaft steady and there's no play in the bearing either and they should be seated firmly in the block. I would think any play in the shaft would mean there's also some play at the gears.
I'd wait till you have time to remove it completely if using an ewp, the shaft on the manual wp may have been keeping the gear from really banging around..if you remove the manual pump there's nothign to hold that shaft steady now if there is alot of play in it.

 

Well, ****. I definitely see your point. Looks like I need to just pull the cover and assembly off and do it right. I was trying to avoid dropping the pan and pulling the hub. I appreciate the help. Oh yeah, I don't remember my LT4 ED set coming with a different gear for the wp. I'll be able to tell you for sure in a little while. I just noticed I have an issue with my brand new opti.

 

Theres another thread here regarding what is the right gear. The wp gear that comes with the LT4 ED set has 3 holes in it. Stock has 6.

 

I just recieved my "How to Rebuild LT1/LT4" book from the Walmart $15 special they had....anyway, in there it shows them installing a new waterpump gear assembly..and it even states that the parts on the assembly cannot be serviced and you buy the assembly together..and guess what...the wp gear on it is the 3 hole version with the tapered edge theet just like the LT4 ED set...so maybe they changed the design somewhere for some reason...there's 2 part#s for that assembly and I just ordered one from the dealer today...will know in a week.

 

I just looked at my gear and it definitely has 6 holes in it. I didn't remember getting 3 gears when I got my ED set. I've had mine for a couple of years though. One quick question, the water pump gear is just held in with the two bolts, correct? I took those bolts out, and I can't figure out how to get the gear out. I didn't want to be too rough on it, but I'll do what I have to do.

 

The bearing is also pressed into the block...but you don't need a press to get it in/out, it is installed by tapping it with a rubber mallet.

So with that said, I took a claw hammer and put the claws behind the gear..you can just barely get a good grip if your claw on your hammer is thin enough..and then pried little by little switching sides on the gear after a few quick hard tugs...on about the 8th tug it popped right out.
Be sure the back ring retainer is still in the bearing holding the bearing in...I had read that it can pop out and then if your lucky you can fish it out of the galley with a pen magnet thru the shaft hole or the 2 side oil drain holes.

 

I'll go give that a try. I sure don't need any hiccups, like fishing **** out of the oil pan.

 

Ok, the hammer did the trick. I'm pretty sure my cam dowel is too long, which is awesome. BTW, it's about 20*F in my garage right now.