There's a heinous oil leak on my car...toward the top of the front cover the gasket is blown out and weeping badly anytime above idle...so I got to pull it to fix it. I've never specifically pulled a front cover so I'm just looking for a bit of clarification. It looks like part of the front cover goes up and under the overhanging portion of the water pump housing...will I be able to clear the water pump when I pull the cover off or will I need to pull the water pump housing as well?

Trying to keep as many parts still on the car as possible.

 

The water pump is attached to the water pump housing and that water pump housing is attached to the front cover. All of your accessories and water pump/pump housing have to come off. Sucks, but that is what has to be done.

 

hmmm...the oil leak is right below the water pump...if the pump was bolted to the front cover there wouldn't be a seam there, I wouldn't think. I thought the pump was bolted to the block...

Either way, I suppose it will be easier to get it done if I just pull the pump off.

 

The water pump is attached to the front plate. You can take them out as one piece.

 

Actually no. I just borrowed a manual. The water pump is bolted to the front PLATE...not the front COVER. Manual says to pull the water pump, though, so there likely isn't enough room to clear the water pump while getting it off the crank shaft.

 

I'll just make this short.

If you unbolt the water pump completely, the water pump housing will also loosen. You WILL have to replace that gasket. I have been there, done that.

If you want to try and take it off one piece, go for it, but be ready for some serious issues after reinstall.

Too add, the studs that hold the water pump are also the same studs that hold the water pump housing. Once it is all loosened, the gasket on the water pump housing goes bye bye.

 

If you have P/S and A/C, they'll present the biggest challenge. There are 2 long studs on the front cover that go into their bracket. You'll have to unbolt it all and try to get it out of the way so the studs will pull out. Or you might try double nutting them to back them out w/ a ratchet.

Also, at least the front 10-15 oil pan bolts will need to come out, if not the entire pan.