i am sure this has been discussed at some point so lets see some of those answers

i am currently dealing with this similar decision as this guy
http://forums.chevyhiperformance.com...ars/index.html

here is what i want to do though.

since i have an electric water pump i do not have a need for the water pump shaft that comes out of the timing cover of my 96 lt1.. i wish to just remove the shaft/gear assemble all together and not reinstall it. weld up the timing cover hole and that is it.

what i am wanting to make sure of since i can not seem to find this info nor have i had it off yet to see. is there anything else that the water pump shaft operates besides just the water pump and is it connected to anything else. i have the 2 torque bolts off and i am told i just have to use a lot of force to pop it out.

but will it cause any problems if it isn't reinstalled? meaning i assume there will be a hole where the water pump shaft used to be. and then just weld up the timing cover.

 

Your link is bad.

To answer your question, yes the WP drive shaft only operates the WP, so removing will affect nothing else. You are supposed to use a special puller to remove the gear though. But I would recommend a brass plug for the cover as opposed to welding, just in case you change your mind later. My $0.02.

 

mine tapped out from the back side no problem. I just left the hole unplugged.

 

Won't hurt a thing to leave it out; ditto for the retaining bolts. The freeze plug technique seems preferable to welding as well.

Good luck,

c

 

thank you everyone. if i remember correctly the timing cover is only around 50 bucks so if i needed to i could always just get another. although i was considering the freeze plug too.

 

I just replaced mine last night. A socket on the back side of the bearing will get it out easy.

 

I don't understand this. Wouldn't oil pour out the unplugged hole?

 

into the timing cover which has oil in it anyway. I dont think much oil collects up there though as it comes up through the lifters/pushrods.

 

Carolina,

The oil that accumulates in the valley area is not under pressure so there is no starvation issue. It is primarily oil that has drained back from the heads, just looking for a way to get back to the pan. Actually, the more quickly it can return to the pan, preferably without dribbling down through the rotating assembly, the better. There is no pressurized oil delivery to the water pump drive itself.

 

That makes sense. Thanks.

 

damn good info. i love learning this ****...

 

Why would you need another timing cover? It will have the same hole that needs to be plugged as you current cover.

Also, when removing the water pump's drive with the intake on, I attatch a Vice Grip to the pump's drive and tap it out with a hammer.

 

i wouldn't need another timing cover. but if i ever wanted to go back to a stock water pump i will only need to get another timing cover.