water pump

32Gnu

Senior Member
There is a small passage at the top of the water pump housing and for some reason someone has plugged them.... what are these small passages for?

Thanks
 
Which Year Water Pumps are we talking about?

The 21 stud engines with the pumps in the heads had provisions for a grease fitting. Is this what you are talking about?

The block mounted pumps have in internal passage for engine oil. This is so the bushing will get lubrication.

Chris
 
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I'm sorry.. 8ba with the truck pumps.. They must have run a 59ab type pump and blocked off the port and I am putting the pumps that cover the hole and need to know if I should open them up or not..
 
In 48 & 49 the truck pumps may have still been bushing types. I know the 49 Merc had bushing types too. Many were changed out for double row sealed bearing types or converted during a rebuild years ago. You will have to determine which ones you have(ball bearing or bushing) to know whether they need the oil hole opened up or not. Bushing types have small port that maches the oil port in the block if they are the oiler bushing type.

Kerby
 
If you are running the 8BA style pump on a an 8BA engine with the 8BA heads I'd unplug the holes. If you running 59AB pumps on a 8BA engine you will have to plug the hole in the front of the block. Walt
 
Yes Walt, I am running the 8ba pumps to get the clearance for the Distributor.. The hole is at the top of the pump.. What does it cool? something in the head?
 
Seems to me that small passage on the 8BA pump is to allow coolant to circulate through the heater in the period of time before the thermostat opens. ..B.
 
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