Water Pump Overhaul; Radiator; Coolant Reservoir - Pontiac TRANS AM 1977 Service Manual

ENGINE COOLING
68-1 3
6. Refill cooling system with coolant.
Remove
1. Disconnect battery negative cable at battery.
2. Remove engine fan and spacer.
3. Loosen (but do not remove) the two timing cover
lower screws
-
cover is slotted to permit easy removal.
4. Remove the two cover upper retaining screws and
withdraw cover from vehicle.
5. Drain engine coolant and loosen water pump bolts to
relieve tension in timing belt.
6. Remove radiator lower hose and heater hose at water
Pump.
7. Remove water pump retaining bolts and remove pump
and old gasket from engine.
8. Clean old gasket material from water pump and
cylinder case.
Install
1. Install a new water pump gasket to water pump,
position water pump to cylinder case and loosely install water
pump retaining bolts, making sure that "V" grooves in timing
belt are aligned with grooves in water pump.
NOTE: Apply an approved anti-seize compound to the
water pump retaining bolts before installation.
2. Position Tool J 23654 in gage hole adjacent to left side
of water pump.
3. Apply 15 ft. lbs. of torque to water pump. Tighten
water pump bolts while maintaining torque on side of pump.
4. Install radiator lower hose and heater hose to water
Pump.
5. Position engine front cover between accessory drive
belts and water pump and over water pump hub.
6. Position screw slots on lower portion of cover over
screws and tighten loosely against cover.
7. Install the two, cover upper screws and torque upper
and lower screws to specifications.
8. Install fan spacer and fan
-
torque bolts to
specifications.
9. Fill engine cooling system, connect battery negative
cable, start engine and check for leaks.
WATER PUMP OVERHAUL
V8 ENGINES Y, P & Z
Disassemble
1. Remove water pump.
2. Position pump on arbor press with impeller facing
upward.
3. Press bearing out of pump body and impeller with one
pressing operation.
4. Pry seal from pump body and discard all parts except
pump body.
5. Clean gasket material and other dirt, grease, etc. from
pump body.
Assemble Using Special Service Tools
1. Position new bearing and shaft assembly on arbor
press.
2. Position pump body on bearing with gasket surface
facing up.
3. Press pump body down onto bearing until it bottoms
out.
4. Place new seal assembly over bearing shaft and slide
it down to the pump body.
5. Press seal assembly into pump body.
6. Place new ceramic seal onto bearing shaft with the
rubber up. (Lubricate rubber seal with anti-freeze before
placing on shaft.)
7. Position new impeller on bearing shaft and press on
until gage legs contact pump body gasket surface.
NOTE: Impeller may rub on pump body if pressed too
far. (Clearance should be approximately 1/8 inch.)
8. Install water pump.
RADIATOR
REMOVE A N D INSTALL
Figs. 68-1 5, 68-1 6, 68-1 7, 68-1 8, 68-1 9, 68-20
Replace
1. Drain radiator.
2. Remove fan.
3. Disconnect upper and lower radiator hoses.
4. On vehicles equipped with automatic transmission,
disconnect and plug transmission cooler lines.
5. Remove fan shield assembly if applicable.
6. Remove radiator and shroud assembly by lifting
straight up.
NOTE: The radiator assembly is held at the bottom by
two cradles secured to the radiator support.
7. If installing new radiator, transfer fittings from old
radiator to new radiator. 8. Replace radiator assembly by
reversing the above steps, checking to assure radiator lower
cradles are located properly in radiator recess. 9. Refill
radiator. Run engine for a short period of time and check for
leaks. If automatic transmission radiator, recheck
transmission oil level.
COOLANT RESERVOIR
REMOVE AND REPLACE
Figs. 68-21, 68-22 and 68-23
NOTE: On some models it may be necessary to remove
charcoal canister to provide clearance for reservoir
removal.