Michael Lint

I just bought a beautiful 71 convertible vette 30000 original miles both tops and I'm on day 3 of driving it home 2150 miles KY to CA. The water pump is leaking and I'm wondering if I can just put a new one in or do I have to have the original one rebuilt to keep it a numbers matching original vette? The A/C works but the blower/fan won't work when I move the fan switch from left to right. Any thoughts on why the fan won't work, fuse? bad fan? Thanks for your answers, Mike Lint, Sacramento.

oldalaskaman

put one in to get you home, save that one and rebuild it.

early shark

With the fan switch NOT engaging in any speeds, I'd first look at the fuse under the driver's side dash location to see if it has blown.

MakoJoe

The water pumps on a small block 350 are fairly easy to replace in about 1 hr of labor and do not require too many tools can be done in a parking lot for about $100 bucks of parts and fluids. A shop will probably charge about $200 bucks parts and labor. If I were driving cross country I would get it fixed soon as possible.

You do not have to worry about parts numbers matching on this part at all.

Roco71

If I am understanding you correctly the blower does not work on high. There is a separate power line from the horn relay (located in the engine bay on the driver side wheel well) that runs to the blower relay the line is orange with a inline fuse the fuse should be close to the horn relay. That may be the problem.

Early Shark may have you answer if the blower is not working at all. Something else to look at is the purple wire leading to the blower motor..is it lose or corroded?

MakoJoe

Will the blower motor work without the A/C on? If this car truly has only about 30000 miles on it then I would like others suggested look at the electric contacts as others suggested not only at the switch but also at the blower motor.

Cars sitting for long periods of time such as this low milage car in humidity like Kentucky will corrode. Many times you can just wiggle and remove the contacts and spray them with electric contact cleaner to remove the corrosion.

Ironcross

Don't worry about the water pump leaking....Unless the casting is broken you can survive the trip by filling with water and leaving the radiator cap loose on the first notch...as a result there will not be any pressure build up and forcing the fluid from the engine.....You can watch the temp gauge and check the levels at every gas stop......This worked on two occasions

From school {Miami} to Dearborn, 1450 miles in the 62 Vette....4000 RPM`s {70 MPH} and higher.....

From San Jose to Dearborn {2500 miles} in my 57 Bird with a crack in the pump casting....I just pressed on the gas both times and never looked back.....through Nevada across the desert, sometimes speeds of 100 +

Phil Zell

I personally would change the pump, stop at auto zone and do it on their lot, they will loan you the tools.

blk79nj

I would change it also... you don't want it to completely fail when you are in the middle of nowhere.

71scgc

Make sure it's a short nose pump.

Alan 71

Hi Mike,
You may want to keep your original pump to have it re-built.
The pumps have a casting number on them that indicates what year they are appropriate for. Perhaps 3991399 for a 71 sb, or one of several different numbers for a 71 bb.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

7T1vette

A leaky water pump is usually due to shaft seal wear. If it's not leaking badly, carry a 2 liter bottle of water with you 'just-in-case'. Whenever you stop long enough to let the engine cool, check the water and add some if needed (remember that there is no expansion tank, so the water should only be added to the fill line on the radiator tank).

If it starts leaking badly...or gives out altogether...have it changed. Otherwise, "keep on truckin'".

One thing for sure: When you finish a 2000 mile ride in an old car, you will know where ALL the trouble spots are.

P.S. The blower problem is either a switch-related issue or the blower resistor pack needs to be replaced.

Michael Lint

Thank you everyone for your info the vette is now in a shop in Reno having everything fixed, the front right wheel bearing froze up too, does anyone know where I can get a front right spindle and hub for a 1971?

joewill

how do you know it is the original water pump?... 42 years old.. I doubt it is...

7T1vette

You know that it is a factory-issue water pump if there is no pipe plug in the top face of the housing.

bop

If you lived close to me I would buy you a drink when I saw you. You are a brave man to buy a 42 year old car and drive it across the USA my hat goes off to you. I did drive mine to the Corvette homecoming in BG in 2009 but that was less than 400 miles one way.

Dan H.

I was thinking the same thing, bravo that's awesome!!!
I get nervous driving 30 miles to work