Water pump drive spline is all chewed up, and the drive socket coupler won't grab any of the teeth. Any ideas why this would happen? I know the WP bearings are good, there is no shaft play in the water pump, and it spins freely. Coolant never froze in the block either.

Has anyone replaced the drive gear? Any hints? Am I better off (for longevity and ease of installation purposes) going with an electric WP?

Thanks guys. I've been fighting with this for awhile now.

 

It's easier to just install an epump. Not sure how the splines got chewed. http://ken.lowrance.com/projects/CSI...mp/Default.htm

 

Maybe the shaft o-rings were gone and lots of dirt got into the coupling and gnawed it up.

 

Thanks.

Shoebox- I know when I pulled the coupler off the o-ring was in rough shape; it was pretty much flush with the top of the groove it sits in. I just hate to replace it and have the same problem again.

Might just go with a CSR.

 

I have heard of this when people install the LT4 HD kit wo replacing the waterpump drive gear but never it just hapaning

 

I'm in the process of installing my CSR electric pump and on the old pump my splines were chewed up too. Anyways, the coupling is stuck on the shaft from the engine. I sprayed wd-40 in it and tried pulling it off with pliers but it won't budge. Any ideas? Shouldn't it just come right off?

 

UPDATE - I pulled on the coupling again and since its stuck on there so good the whole shaft started wiggling out the front of the timing cover. I got scared, so I stopped pulling and lightly tapped it back. I just left the coupling on then and I guess it wont interfere with anything.