[Healeys] Water pump recommendations

[Steven Kingsbury]

Leaking! And leaking a lot!! Here's how I know, I had a water pump fail on a trip to Oregon, I was going to see Steve Pike, let him know I was going to be late and why, when I arrived by tow truck, Steve had gotten one of these new pumps from BPNW and it was waiting for me. Next day I told out the old, put this pump in, hooked everything up and fired up! Lots and lots of leaks that threaded hole. Went through all kinds of jumps, hoops, and bends and made it good enough to drive home 365 miles. Then I fixed it with a "new" Permatex product and it's been great ever since. Drove it to LA, 840 some miles, drove it around Europe 2500 miles, and back home from LA. No problems. Bottom line, it appears the threads in the casing are straight threads and not pipe threads, And from what I've been told, straight threads are not water tight. So yea, that hole's purpose in this water pump is to leak. It can be worked around and knock wood, has been not leaking and working great for over 4K miles. I do check it quite often still though. Steven Kingsbury '55 BN1 On Dec 21, 2023, at 5:26 PM, Michael Oritt <michael.oritt at gmail.com> wrote: Does anyone know what the large (plugged) hole is for? On Thu, Dec 21, 2023 at 2:51 PM Bob Spidell < bspidell at comcast.net > wrote: Yep. Many/most pumps do have a hole--usually, looking like a casting flaw--over the shaft between the pulley and the seal. It will weep coolant if the seal is leaking, but this is a big, threaded hole--half-inch or so--probably for some other inlet. You can see it in this pic: https://bpnorthwest.com/austin-healey/water-pump-uprated-bn1-to-bn2/ Bastuck, I believe, is a German company (Josef is familiar with them). Also, IIRC the threads on the shaft are a bit short, I used a thinner jamb nut to get good purchase. Those threads may be SAE, but I don't recall. bs On 12/21/2023 9:54 AM, Michael Oritt wrote: Thanks Bob-- It is somewhat discouraging that what should be easy--sourcing a good and dependable water pump--seems like such a daunting task. As I mentioned I'd like to replace my present pump--I believe the "uprated" version which I installed in situ several years back and is working just fine--with a new, dependable one with the hope that it will give several years of good service, and while that should not be a big ask I don't think I should have the feeling that I am merely changing cabins on the Titanic. All that said, most feedback seems to point to the AH Spares unit and that's probably where I'll go unless someone turns my head around. You mention that the threads are metric and I assume you mean the one for the shutoff valve. I don't have one of those--never had--and since it is pretty expensive and I can simply shut off flow via the tap on the right side of the engine I think I'll stay without one. As to the hole on top of the pump--isn't that supposed to be a weephole designed to be left unplugged to serve as a warning that water is getting past the seal in the engine--or am I misunderstanding what you are referring to ? Best--Michael On Thu, Dec 21, 2023 at 11:31 AM Bob Spidell < bspidell at comcast.net > wrote: I bought the 'uprated' pump by Bastuck from BPNW (the AHSpares offering appears to be an unbranded version, or maybe a copy). The impeller appears to be somewhat more effective design, and the gap between the impeller and the pump body is, I think, smaller than OEM so would likely flow better. The threads on it won't fit the OEM valve--I think everything's metric on it--and it comes with a barbed nipple. As previously reported, the hole on the top of the pump--anyone know what that's for?--comes with a plug that doesn't plug; I tried everything to get it to seal, and ruined a pump in my attempts. I finally found a way, and may use it to seal an O/D drain plug if it continues to leak. It works fine, but I haven't had the car out on a hot day. I don't think coolant flow is the cause of overheating, esp. at idle; it's mainly due to lack of airflow through the engine bay, lack of a shroud, etc. I was so desperate I even tried a County pump, bought from Tom Monaco but sourced by Moss. The bearing felt rough and and I didn't install it; I returned it, and Tom had to jump through hoops to get a refund but he came through. Tom knows a rebuilder in Oregon who rebuilt an OEM pump for me, but it's currently riding in the boot. I don't have the invoice, but Tom would tell you if you gave him a call. Bob On 12/20/2023 10:40 PM, Hank Leach via Healeys wrote: When I did my 100, in 2015, I took the original pump to a very good machinist who fashioned a seal out of delrin and he figured out the correct spring pressure using an original NOS part and the pump works perfect to date. AH Spares professes that they have the best pump. Many other aftermarket makers, including County, make junk. Using the original parts can work if you have someone who understands pumps.The proper spring pressure is critical to prevent leaks and the seal being made out of delrin resists wear from vibration. This machinist worked for an agricultural supply company. Hank -------------------- From: "Michael Oritt" <michael.oritt at gmail.com> To: "Austin Healey" <healeys at autox.team.net> Sent: Wed, Dec 20 2023 06:35 PM Subject: [Healeys] Water pump recommendations The engine in my 100 will be out soon and I'd like to replace the present water pump PROVIDED there has been a scientific breakthrough in the manufacturing of this often problematic piece of equipment. Is anyone making or reconditioning pumps that offer a real improvement of what is generally offered to us? Best--Michael Oritt _______________________________________________ Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html Suggested annual donation $12.75 Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys Healeys at autox.team.net http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/michael.oritt@gmail.com _______________________________________________ Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html Suggested annual donation $12.75 Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys Healeys at autox.team.net http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/airtightproductions@icloud.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/healeys/attachments/20231222/a0d5e8e6/attachment.htm>