Water Pump Problems!

[Dave350iTVR]

Got a new water pump and tried to fit it this weekend. All was going well until I got to the eighth bolt. It unscrewed half way out and then would not move any more. The bolt turns but will not come out or go back in! What a nightmare! I have to put everything back together without the new pump. The problem I have now is that one bolt is not properly fitted. How the hell do I get this bolt out and what could have caused this to happen? HELP!

[wedg1e]

It's likely that the bolt has come out of the thread, but got stuck on corrosion inside the hole it passes through in the water pump body. I had similar effects when I stripped my V8 recently, although in that case it was two very long bolts that pass through the timing chest. The pump will also be stuck to the gasket and maybe the two small locating dowels.
A trick I use to extract such bolts is to clamp a Mole grip or adjustable spanner around the bolt stem and clout the spanner with a hammer.... ;-)

Ian

[Danny Hoffman]

When you say it wouldn't move any more do you mean it wouldn't turn or it couldn't be pulled out after the threads had disengaged?

Be careful, the alloy threads are easily damaged, however there was a bolt missing from my watar pump when I bought the car and it didn't leak - so you can possible get away with one accident!

I would unscrew the bolt as far as you can and get some anti-seize spray in there.

Danny