Good evening everyone. Does anyone have suggestions, on removing (46yr) old water pump paper gasket, of the block of a 72' Buick 350-4. Thank you!
A sharp scraper and lots of patience. Dont use a wizzy wheel. If you dig into the alumn you'll have a leak.
I agree with the scraper. They make some with what is a screwdriver type handle on it, which makes for easier scraping in hard to get to paces. I use that, & then follow up on the really stuck on stuff with a razor blade scraper. You still have to be careful on the aluminum because you can gouge the surface & cause leaking. Coat both sides of the new gasket with blue RTV sealer & put it on the pump with a couple bolts stuck through the holes for a few minutes to get it stuck in place before you put the pump on the engine. Less chance for the gasket to slide around while you're trying to bolt the pump on.
I just did this job a few months ago. I gave up, threw away the entire timing cover assembly, and carved a new assembly out of a piece of wood. It was easier.
We use a wizzer on parts like this all the time, but you gotta be careful. They make different wizzer pads for the different kinds of metal, just make sure you use the right one. Then I use a really light coat of gasket shellac and they seal, every time too! And if you need to remove it later on it will come apart fairly easy too. Been there with the LOW quality of parts these days ... lol Keith
Thanks everyone for your help, but I messed up!!! it was the timing cover lol. It was tough, got 3/4 of it off. Top water pump jackets to do, made a make shift scraper, from a piece of cooper tubing, since it is soft. I sharpen it on a grinder, several times, used CRC gasket remover, PB blaster and acetone. Some as a baby's bottom lol.:grin:
