47-55.1 Water Pump Disassembly Fatal Error(?) in 1954 Manual

[11Werner11]

I think I found a fatal flaw in the 1954 Chevy Truck shop manual this weekend while working on my mother-in-law's '54 3100 with a 235. If someone is knowledgeable on this issue, please let me know your thoughts.

The water pump in her truck went out and so I removed it for inspection. Following the instructions in this manual (https://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.co...4ctsm0681.html) I attempted to press out the pump shaft. I had it in my hydraulic press and, as I attempted to push it out, there was a little movement, then I heard a loud pop and the old bearings had started to crumble. I believe I had been pushing in the wrong direction. No big deal, I'm just going to buy a new pump instead of a shaft and bearing kit. I just wanted to take it apart to see how bad it was.

Today, I was watching one video in a series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQiiFAvWEcg) about rebuilding the water pump for a '49 GMC truck and the pump looked very similar to the one in the '54. I noticed the gentleman was pushing the shaft out from the opposite end that I had tried, which I found strange. What had I done?!?!

I went back to the manual and certain info in the manual is opposite of the video. After thinking about it, I believe two images have been mistakenly switched in the original manual with catastrophic potential. The picture supposedly for pressing out the shaft (figure 99, see link in prior paragraph) is actually an assembly photo, and picture for supposedly pressing in the shaft (figure 101 - next page in manual) actually shows the shaft being pressed out. The two are switched and it poses potential calamity for users of the manual, like me... Doh!


Again, if there is anyone knowledgeable about this, please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm no pro... just having fun!

[mr48chev]

I've never rebuilt one. In the early 70's a coworker used to rebuild Pontiac water pumps on warranty jobs In the dealers shop we worked in and I watched him a couple of times but I never have rebuilt one.

Looking at that for a while now and saving and expanding 101 that shows them pressing the shaft out of the rotor and the instructions saying that the machined surface that the seal has to butt up to has to be smooth and square and the seal goes in from the back I would say you are 100% correct.

Reading this from an Ebay seller selling a rebuild kit for a 53/54 Corvette water pump https://www.ebay.com/itm/16385202779...Bk9SR_bJgcrhZg
you read about the machined surface for the seal . Also the bearing retainer is pressed on the front to hold the bearing in.

First shot is a photo of the kit from that seller, the second shot is from another seller that is a better photo but not much for instructions.

[11Werner11]

Thanks for taking the time to look at this, think about it, and share some info. I really appreciate it.

Like I said earlier, I knew I could buy a new pump, so I wasn't crushed when the pump parts broke. But it really caused me to stop and think. I'm used to manuals that give unclear directions or have poor graphics, and then I try to find another resource. This is my first instance where a manual was just flat out wrong. And I've been messing around with machines and manuals for 40 years. I know it can happen, but now I see more clearly what could go wrong. In this case wasn't bad writing or wrong information, just mixed up photos.

[mr48chev]

Image 101 does not jive with the instructions.
They have the water pump upside down in the press according to how the instructions read. The rotor and seal can be pressed back on the shaft that way but you would risk having the thrust washer slip out of position.

[11Werner11]

I totally agree with you. I think that photo got swapped with 99.

I got the new water pump on the truck today and we're back on the road again. Thanks for taking an in-depth look at this issue.

[mr48chev]

It was a learning experience for me and that is always a good thing. I figured out the details of something that I new a little bit about from watching Billy Bates do the Pontiac water pumps on Warrenty work even though he wasn't the one who pulled the pump or put it back on. He was the guy who had the finess to do the job right and was the best Turbo 350/Turbo 400 mechanic I ever saw and sometimes did three transmissions a day from putting the car on the hoist to the test drive.

[11Werner11]

Yes, I agree, it's always good to be learning. It helps us stay sharp!

3 transmissions in a day? That's amazing. When I get together with my buddy to pull a transmission, it takes us a few hours just to get it out. Of course we're talking and goofing around, but I can't imagine working that fast. Truly amazing!

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by 11Werner11

Yes, I agree, it's always good to be learning. It helps us stay sharp!

3 transmissions in a day? That's amazing. When I get together with my buddy to pull a transmission, it takes us a few hours just to get it out. Of course we're talking and goofing around, but I can't imagine working that fast. Truly amazing!

Billy was pretty amazing in that department and pretty much all he was working on was Pontiacs that were usually less than ten years old. He could have the trans out and in th fixture that was attached to his bench in under 20 minutes.