Hey everyone, I have a 1970 Cutlass SX and I am replacing the water pump. I am an amateur mechanic at best, but I managed to get it out pretty easily. Now that it is off I am seeing all of this corrosion on the front of the engine. I snapped a few pictures of it. I am concerned because I know that when you put on a new part you are supposed to carefully scrape all of the peices of the old gasket off and make sure there is a nice smooth surface for the new one. I spent a good 15 minutes with a razor blade and I don't know what else to do. Should I get some sand paper? I am sure this is a relatively common problem, I just don't really know what I am doing. I am looking for some advice on what to do. Thanks for your help.



I am not so worried about that stuff in the middle as I am the stuff at the top.

 

The corrosion is common under the water pump, as long as it doesn't go all the way through. But your right, you don't want it where the gasket mates up to the timing cover. Be sure you have all the old sealant cleaned off and look for pits where the gasket will go. If you've already gotten all you can with a razor blade you might try washing it with solvent to get it really clean.
John

 

I also recommend using 2 water pump gaskets. Sometimes the aftermarket or rebuilt ones impeller sticks out a little further and could rub on the inside of the timing cover. Get a straight edge and put it on the back of both pumps and check for differences.

 

x2 on that....been there, done that, got the t-shirt!

 

After carefully razor blading it, use a brass-bristle brush during the cleaning-with-solvent session to help clean the crap out of the pits.
When i did mine, i used the #2 Permatex sealer on both sides of the gasket. The MFR of this stuff recommends a final surface cleaning with alcohol before application. I did that on the engine AND the water pump. (New water pumps are often lightly oiled to prevent rust in shipment.)
I tightened it down slowly in alternating bolt sequences and finally torqued it to specs.
So far, never a leak with Permatex!

 

I never knew about this - good stuff to remember for the next time, which I hope never comes... I guess i lucked out on all my pump changes so far!

 

To clean the gasket surface well, use a die grinder or drill and rolec discs. Then you can spray it off with brake clean.

 

X2

 

I've had good results with VersaChem (brand) TYPE 4 Gasket Remover (in a spray can). It helped to dissolve the hard-to-scrape gasket remains and made it much easier to razor-blade the crap off.

 

X3 ......Red scotchbrite only way to fly

 

Any quality auto spray can gasket remover, let set as directed scrape off with a sharp putty knife. Works well for me every time I have had the need

 

I agree with gearhead78 on the burgandy scotchbrite. Cut my work down to a fraction.