Well, I decided my '85 12A needed some cooling system attention, so I proceeded to replace the water pump. Unfortunately, the manual (Haynes) didn't suggest replacing the water pump housing to engine gasket and I got a little paranoid about coolant leaking there, so off went the pump and housing again. I noticed however, the pump to housing gasket I had replaced and sealed with 3 Bond (grey, semi-drying) had squished its way past the pump casting about 3/16"!

The next time around, I replaced both gaskets, buttoned everything up, and again, the pump to pump housing gasket crept out about 1/16" at the bottom of the pump where the contour is curved, on either side of the lowermost bolt. (it looked flush with the edge before tightening)

Has anyone else noticed this, and is there going to be a problem running it this way? I had hoped to eliminate potential problems by replacing a marginal water pump, not cause more problems!

Thanks!

 

as long as there is no leak, then I wouldnt worry about it. BTW, I hope that you didnt remove the 2 thin washers betweeen the block and the water pump housing.

 

I made sure the thin spacers were there. (I actually even replaced them since I ordered new ones not knowing what they looked like)

I haven't started the car yet, but I think it will be leak free initially. I just don't want problems later down the road. (or on the road!)

 

What Two Thin Washers..... Does Any One Have A Picture Of These

 

I don't have a picture, but they're steel, about .8mm thick and 20mm dia. and go between the water pump housing and the front end housing of the engine, one on each of the two studs that don't have the water passage opening between them.

They basically take up the thickness of the gasket that is between housings on the other two studs, so when the pump and pump housing are bolted tight, the faces that the gasket (housing to housing) goes between remain parallel. (Whew!)