RonnieH
Well-known member
I had a water pump on my '90 that was making sounds like it was going bad. Since it sits in the garage for most of the winter, I thought this a good time to do the nasty job. I used an article from Corvette Fever as a guide. Their picture tutorial was great - until I started to tear into mine. The A/C bracket and air pump and bracket was nothing like the pictures/article. Just thought I'd post this for anyone contemplating a water pump change on a '90 (I don't know which other year Vettes are similiar). One thing I will share with everyone which may help speed up your process.
When removing the A/C compressor, there are 4-10mm bolts. The top ones facing out toward the passenger side wheel well were easy to get out and remove. The bottom ones were h--- until my dumb butt figured out the secret (after it took me about an hour to remove the bottom bolts before figuring out how to do it. Look in the passenger side inner fender - there are 5-10mm bolts and 2-5mm (I think they were 5mm) bolts. Take those out, remove the panel and you have ez access to the bottom bracket bolts for the A/C compressor. The list of tools mentioned in the Corvette Fever article was accurate (need a 9/16 socket additionally). One other thing I'd recommend - remove the front right tire/wheel. Bending over and working down in the bottom of the motor compartment is tough on the back after awhile. Not to mention all the tire dressing will ruin a perfectly good pair of jeans. Some of the bolts were a bear to break loose, and it helps the leverage to be able to get closer to where you are working.
I changed out the serpentine belt, thermostat, flushed the radiator, installed a new fan thermal switch (cuts the fan on at about 200 degrees vs. the 225 factory switch) from Mid-America. Added Water Wetter and new anti-freeze and all is well. I'll have to wait until summer to see how much difference the fan switch and Water Wetter have on the cooling system.
Hope this helps someone who may be contemplating a similiar job. Be patient - trying to figure out which hoses, electrical connectors to disconnect - not to mention whoever designed that system was a masochist.
When removing the A/C compressor, there are 4-10mm bolts. The top ones facing out toward the passenger side wheel well were easy to get out and remove. The bottom ones were h--- until my dumb butt figured out the secret (after it took me about an hour to remove the bottom bolts before figuring out how to do it. Look in the passenger side inner fender - there are 5-10mm bolts and 2-5mm (I think they were 5mm) bolts. Take those out, remove the panel and you have ez access to the bottom bracket bolts for the A/C compressor. The list of tools mentioned in the Corvette Fever article was accurate (need a 9/16 socket additionally). One other thing I'd recommend - remove the front right tire/wheel. Bending over and working down in the bottom of the motor compartment is tough on the back after awhile. Not to mention all the tire dressing will ruin a perfectly good pair of jeans. Some of the bolts were a bear to break loose, and it helps the leverage to be able to get closer to where you are working.
I changed out the serpentine belt, thermostat, flushed the radiator, installed a new fan thermal switch (cuts the fan on at about 200 degrees vs. the 225 factory switch) from Mid-America. Added Water Wetter and new anti-freeze and all is well. I'll have to wait until summer to see how much difference the fan switch and Water Wetter have on the cooling system.
Hope this helps someone who may be contemplating a similiar job. Be patient - trying to figure out which hoses, electrical connectors to disconnect - not to mention whoever designed that system was a masochist.
