Water pump weep hole leaking

**psubill78** · 09-09-2012, 09:23 AM

On my '98 5.7's, both engines have a small leak out of the weep hole on the water pump. After doing some research, found a great deal for 2 of them ($85 a piece), they should be here this week.

Is the replacement of these as simple as it looks? Remove serp belt, take off the hoses, 4 bolts, and reverse?

Anything special to be aware of? How can I be sure to get the belt 'right' other than trying to mark the bolt positions...

Thank you!!!

**techmitch** · 09-09-2012, 09:45 AM

If you want it to be perfect, here ya go.

http://www.powersportsplace.com/part...FclM4Aodky0Aug

If it was already perfect, then marking the bolts would be acceptable

**fwebster** · 09-09-2012, 10:02 AM

Paint the timing covers while the water pumps are off..............

**psubill78** · 09-09-2012, 10:33 AM

Paint the what?! :)

**cod** · 09-09-2012, 10:46 AM

Timing cover is the irregular oval shaped pan behind the water pump. Also, try breaking the bolts loose on the pulley before you remove the belt as the belt helps to keep the pulley from spinning

**psubill78** · 09-09-2012, 04:35 PM

So the new pumps won't come painted/ready to install?

**fwebster** · 09-09-2012, 05:01 PM

The pumps might or might not, depending upon who you got them from, but count on having to paint them. You need to paint the timing covers because Mercruiser paints the engines after the water pumps are installed. That means paint cannot get to the portion of the timing cover that is blocked by the water pump. Paint them while you can so they won't rust thru in the future.

**psubill78** · 09-09-2012, 05:04 PM

Excellent, great info. I love this site.

Any recommendations on which paint?

As for the pumps, I got the Sierra one, which looks black in all the pics I see of it.

Bill