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5/27/2021 8:45 PM  #1


New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

I installed a new Flowkooler pump on my 427 stroker the week before the bash.  I drove a total of around 750 miles and now it is leaking again..  I did not lose any apparent water from the radiator on the trip.

Granted, my alternator belt is pretty tight to keep the 3G alternator belt from slipping, but this is ridiculous.  These pumps have a one year warranty.  I hate to have to keep working on stuff that should stay FIXED.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
 

5/27/2021 8:49 PM  #2


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

I changed the plain vanilla Summit pump that had over 30K on it when I built the new engine.  Hope the new one gives as good of service.  It's a GMB ?  GHQ ?  ICU812 ?  Something like that.  Reasonably priced from Summit.  Nothing fancy, works great.


"you get what you pay for, good work isn't cheap, and there are NO free lunches...PERIOD!"
 

5/27/2021 9:01 PM  #3


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

Might be time to look at a double belt on the Alt. (do they make those?)
Sounds like EXtreme tension on the alt. is playing havoc with the WP bushing/bearing hickey!? Don't axe me how I know...
6s6


Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
 

5/27/2021 9:15 PM  #4


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

That’s what I had to do,
https://i.imgur.com/SXJ74ul.jpg


Good work ain't cheap, Cheap work ain't good!   Simple Man
 

5/28/2021 10:23 AM  #5


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

MS wrote:

I installed a new Flowkooler pump on my 427 stroker the week before the bash.  I drove a total of around 750 miles and now it is leaking again..  I did not lose any apparent water from the radiator on the trip.

Granted, my alternator belt is pretty tight to keep the 3G alternator belt from slipping, but this is ridiculous.  These pumps have a one year warranty.  I hate to have to keep working on stuff that should stay FIXED.

MS - I have a Flowkooler on my 351W with over 9K miles in 12 years with no issues.
An item I'll ask is are you using anti-freeze as it provides lubricant for the water pump's shaft seal.  Years ago, I ran just water and the water pump started leaking a short time later.
 
Regarding the alternator V-Belt, I had issues with replacement 3/8" wide V-Belts (Gates 25-7400) for the alternator.  I had to make this V-belt tighter than I ever remember having to do in my past and it still didn’t stop the squealing, usually just on start-up.  I changed pulley on the alternator with no success.  I did fell that the belt was riding deep in the pulley groove and thought maybe the belt was bottoming out in the groove, this could stop the belt from getting any tighter in the groove.  I found that the Gates 25-7400 belts are made to mm dimensions and are slightly narrower than 3/8”.  So, last year I installed a 1/2'’ wide belt (Gates 25 9400) that appears to me to sit better in the pulley V groove.  I have not had a squealing problem since this installation.
Hope this helps
 


65 Fastback, 351W, 5-speed, 4 wheel discs, 9" rear,  R&C Front End.
 

5/28/2021 10:39 AM  #6


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

Bullet Bob wrote:

I changed the plain vanilla Summit pump that had over 30K on it when I built the new engine.  Hope the new one gives as good of service.  It's a GMB ?  GHQ ?  ICU812 ?  Something like that.  Reasonably priced from Summit.  Nothing fancy, works great.

GMB is also who makes the pumps for Milodon.  Same pump for $70 less.  I have two, both have been fine.
 

 

5/28/2021 10:49 AM  #7


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

The flowkooler pump is a gmb with a billet machined, highly improved impeller.  I am using anti-freeze. I have a 4” BOSS 302 steel pulley. Also steel wp pulley and March aluminum crank pulley. The 1/2” belts seem to ride too high in my pulleys for my taste, so I use the 7/16” version. No squealing now, but leaking pump.

If any changes are made, I will probably convert to a serpentine belt system.

Thinking of selling the car and letting someone else enjoy it. I have sights on another one... or two.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     Thread Starter
 

5/28/2021 2:28 PM  #8


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

MS wrote:

The flowkooler pump is a gmb with a billet machined, highly improved impeller. I am using anti-freeze. I have a 4” BOSS 302 steel pulley. Also steel wp pulley and March aluminum crank pulley. The 1/2” belts seem to ride too high in my pulleys for my taste, so I use the 7/16” version. No squealing now, but leaking pump.

If any changes are made, I will probably convert to a serpentine belt system.

Thinking of selling the car and letting someone else enjoy it. I have sights on another one... or two.

   Were's it leaking?  All the bolts and hoses tight.  I had a Flowkooler  and when I switched to serpentine belt system I took it off and went with a O'reillys  auto pump.   Don't sell it!   
 

 

5/28/2021 3:34 PM  #9


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

Electric cooling fans relieve the need for super tight drive belts........cause without that big old airplane prop...one less thing for the engine to spin.
Jus thought I'd  "throw-that-out-there"!!!
6sally6


Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
 

5/28/2021 3:55 PM  #10


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

6sally6 wrote:

Electric cooling fans relieve the need for super tight drive belts........cause without that big old airplane prop...one less thing for the engine to spin.
Jus thought I'd  "throw-that-out-there"!!!
6sally6

And he could convert to EFI too...

 

5/28/2021 4:29 PM  #11


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

MS wrote:

Thinking of selling the car and letting someone else enjoy it. I have sights on another one... or two.

Man! I never thought I would hear you say that. I need to sit down after reading those words and wonder if you might need to go take a nap and reconsider things (ha, ha)


1964-1/2 D Code Coupe - 289 V8, 4 Speed Toploader, 3.00 ratio rear, Autolite 4100 Carb, 15" tires, Pertronix ignition
 

5/28/2021 4:46 PM  #12


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

Anytime I super tighten (let say an a/c) belt, it turned inside out just before it turned in to cotton. Cheap as I am, I've rebuilt a few w/p  to save a penny and peace of mind it's done right. Them barrel bearing are tough. A seal would fail first most times. So I would say a seal or cracked housing.

Now I'm going to get myself in trouble here and say, maybe it's leaking somewhere else up front. 

Last edited by red351 (5/28/2021 4:46 PM)

 

5/28/2021 7:29 PM  #13


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

red351 wrote:

Anytime I super tighten (let say an a/c) belt, it turned inside out just before it turned in to cotton. Cheap as I am, I've rebuilt a few w/p  to save a penny and peace of mind it's done right. Them barrel bearing are tough. A seal would fail first most times. So I would say a seal or cracked housing.

Now I'm going to get myself in trouble here and say, maybe it's leaking somewhere else up front. 

Maybe you are right. That drip IS coming from the harmonic balancer, not the water pump...


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     Thread Starter
 

5/28/2021 7:36 PM  #14


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

How much for a package deal with the 56? 😀

 

5/28/2021 7:59 PM  #15


Re: New Flowkooler water pump leaking AGAIN

MS wrote:

red351 wrote:

Anytime I super tighten (let say an a/c) belt, it turned inside out just before it turned in to cotton. Cheap as I am, I've rebuilt a few w/p  to save a penny and peace of mind it's done right. Them barrel bearing are tough. A seal would fail first most times. So I would say a seal or cracked housing.

Now I'm going to get myself in trouble here and say, maybe it's leaking somewhere else up front. 

Maybe you are right. That drip IS coming from the harmonic balancer, not the water pump...

 
Time for jock itch spray!


Good work ain't cheap, Cheap work ain't good!   Simple Man
 

Board footera


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