Topic: OMFG how hard can it be!

[Jeffy]

Well, pretty hard it turns out!     I was working on the '96 Blazer again.  It's a 4.3L Vortec.  This time the waterpump went bad.  It's actually been leaking for a while from the seep hole on the pump.  The owner of the truck thought that by checking the overflow (Factory recommends this) that you'd get a good idea of how full the radiator is/was.  Well, it doesn't work!  I took the radiator cap off and the radiator looked pretty dry.

Now I've got a FSM for the truck so I thought it would be an easy job to swap the pump.  It's not.  The FSM has vague instructions and the pictures were of the 2.2L.  There was one generic picture of the 4.3 but it wasn't very helpful since they showed it with the clutch off.  It was like looking at a kids art book.  You know the ones I'm talking about.  There is usually a circle then one or two lines and the next box is a finished and colored drawing.  The FSM just said remove the waterpump.  Yeah, well how?!?  It wasn't one of those with the 4 studs that you loosen.  This one had the bit nut on the end of the waterpump.  Every time you try to turn the whole pulley rotates.

Now I've read some sites that say tap the wrench with a hammer.  This was a no go.  I read another person say to put a socket on the alternator and rotate it the opposite direction.  I was able to loosen the nut on the alternator.  Too bad that's not what I wanted to do.  The FSM mentioned no tools, not even proprietary tools.  Oh then there was the tensioner.  The FSM had it in a different location.  Not only that but it showed a completely different arrangement of the alternator, AC, etc...  Were they that cheap that they used a OLD 4.3L from the 80's?  If that wasn't bad there was more...  I was looking for the drain for the radiator.  Well, the FSM showed the exact opposite of what I saw in front of me.  WTF!  On and if that wasn't bad the drain was wedged in this small tight corner.  There is usually a hose that routes the drain out the passenger side wheel well.  Well off course that is missing.  The radiator was replaced once years ago which caused a bunch of other problems but that's for another day.

SO, I spend several hours looking at the engine.  Not turning wrenches but just looking.  I should of had it swapped out in a matter of a couple hours.  So now what.  Well I think I have two choices.  Either rent a tool to hold the pulley or make one.  I've got the steel but I'm not sure if I want to waste it on a tool, I'll only use once in a lifetime.  I could buy one for $30 too.  I could buy bar stock for that a fraction of that.  I hate working on this engine!  The Jeep is oh so simple and everything is easy to reach.  It's like someone actually say down and planned it to all be accessible.

Anyone else ever replace a PITA waterpump and have tips?

[Jesse-James]

Haven't had the pleasure of doing mine yet, but yeah the 4.3 is a nightmare to work on. Be happy this is a Blazer, I couldn't imagine doing the pump in my van.

[aw12345]

You need a U shaped wrenchs that goes around all the 4 bolts of the waterpump pulley this will hold the pulley so you can turn the fan clutch with a wrench or get a bit tough and zipp it loose with a air hammer looks ugly but works well. Just look at the new waterpump to see if its left or right hand thread and some of those buggers can be tight. My prefered tool for this at work is the airhammer with a pointed punch knocks em loose in a heart beat

[Jeffy]

You need a U shaped wrenchs that goes around all the 4 bolts of the waterpump pulley this will hold the pulley so you can turn the fan clutch with a wrench or get a bit tough and zipp it loose with a air hammer looks ugly but works well. Just look at the new waterpump to see if its left or right hand thread and some of those buggers can be tight. My prefered tool for this at work is the airhammer with a pointed punch knocks em loose in a heart beat

I was thinking about taking some flat stock and drilling two holes in it then bolt it to the waterpump and use that to hold the pulley.

[aw12345]

Actually some of the part stores might be able to rent you the tool also leave the belt on while removing the fanclutch, it makes it a little easier

[Jeffy]

Actually some of the part stores might be able to rent you the tool also leave the belt on while removing the fanclutch, it makes it a little easier

I bit the bullet and rented a tool from Kragen.  (same place I bought the water pump at.)  $6 a day with $108 deposit.  I started working on it a hour ago.  Clutch is off and now I have to decide what mess I want to clean up.  Either try to get the drain open and have it drain on the front part of the frame or take the hose off the pump and have it drain onto the cross member. 

Btw, I put the tool on and it took barely anything to get it to twist off. 

[Oilsmoke]

Jeffy Remeber 6 bucks is worth a Bloody knuckle anyday.

[chardrc]

ya they squeeze those 4.3ls in there pretty tight to have to work on it. my s10 always leaks antifreeze tell it has none left in the reserve. just changed radiator last year cuz that leaked but now it apparently leaks somewhere else. but it doesn't overheat so ill keep driving it. the worste thing on them is that damn remote oil cleaner under the front of the truck. 1st the damn line going there busted in the winter and tried to make the motor commit suicide. then it took 2 nights to put the new one in cuz we put it in backwards and now 2 years later we cant get a damn oil filter to seal on the stupid thing so it leaks oil

now this all makes me wonder why im thinking of putting a 4.3l in my jeep

[aw12345]

because its actually a pretty good engine, especially the vortec has a balance shaft and roller lifters

[Jeffy]

Well, it's done...OK mostly done.  Rented the tool and returned it just before they closed.  Filled up the radiator with water and it seems to be holding OK.

When I went to drain the radiator, the drain cock turned but it only dribbled out.     So I ended up loosening the lower hose at the pump and had a coolant fountain going on.  Of course the truck is too low to be able to fit a bucket under there.  I filled my oil pan with a quarter of it going on the driveway.  Pump was fairly easy to change though.  I did notice all the plastic used on the engine.  Intake, cam chain cover, etc...

OK so heres the fun part.  While putting the upper fan shroud back on I lost a screw.  I used a air ratchet to put them in and stuck them all in my hand then zapped them in.  Well, as soon as the one tightened up it kicked out the screw next to it and I saw a glint and that was the end of that.  I think it was teleported to some other place.  There was no sign of that screw anywhere.  It wasn't on the ground.  Of course since the engine is crammed in there and it has enough wiring to go around the world once, it's hard to see much.  I'm gonna have to go look for it tomorrow and hopefully, it will return.   

I've got to drain some of the water out later then refill it with dexi-cool in a week when I know it's not leaking.

[aw12345]

Just make sure that the way ward screw is not laying inside the fan shroud if it is there is a good change the fan will suck it up smack it and bounce it of the radiator causing a leak. Ti check it for leaks run it till its presurized ie the upper radiator hose gets hard check for dripping underneath then put a big piece of cardboard under it and let it sit, check after awhile for leaks

[Jeffy]

Yeah, I'm sure the screw got flung back towards the exhaust manifold/ pass. side engine mount.  They just cram so much crap in there though.  There are at least 2 large looms that sit on the valve cover.  Then there is some shielding on the manifolds since they are so close to everything else.  It's like trying to take a peak at a baked potato that's wrapped in aluminum foil while its in a bowl of spaghetti while sitting in a cave.

I haven't had a chance to run the engine much yet.  I've done the water pump on my Jeep and that was really a dream compared to this.  I've got to see if I can find that screw though.

[Jeffy]

Sucess!  I found the missing screw(s).  Yes, two of them.  As I was putting the shroud back on again, my hand bumped into the A/C line and I dropped another screw!     I spent 10 minutes just looking for it.  I gave up and asked my GF to look for it.  Well, she found not one but BOTH of them!     So it's all back together.  I still need to drain the system again and refill it with dexi-cool.

Interesting things I noticed.  With it being mild out, the engine would idle below the temp of the thermostat.  I had to drive it around the block and could watch the temp gauge drop and the thermostat opened.  Then I parked it, still running and checked it.  The thermostat closed so there was no pressure to speak off in the upper hose.  I think I'll investigate that once I flush and refill it.

[chardrc]

ive found that my s10 takes forever to warm up unless its is like 90 degrees outside. so that may be normalish for the 4.3l... if that makes any since

[aw12345]

You can also block the radiator of with cardboard to get it to heat up just keep an eye on the temp gauge