&*^$ water pump...suggestions please

[lightspeed240]

Hey guys, Im hoping someone can give me a recommendaion on water pump sealing. About a month ago, my waterpump was able to pull itself loose from the block on one side, causing a huge leak. Come to find out, the radiator fan was loose also, so I can only presume that the wobbling of the fan was enough to torque the waterpump loose. I went ahead and replaced the pump with a new factory unit. I used the new, paper-material gaskets, as well as a small bead of form-a-gasket gray on each side, when I replaced the pump. I also used thread locker.
Well, today, the same thing happened with the pump, only the fan wasnt loose. Needless to say, this has the potential for getting rediculous very quickly.
I am thinking that now may be a good time to do an electric fan, since the stock one could be causing or increasing the problem.
So, I had a few questions. Keep in mind that I just recently got the truck and havent had much time to get acquainted with it yet:
1. What is a tried-and true gasket material and process to use in mounting the WP to the block? Ive never had this issue on other cars, using this process.
2. Has anyone else had this problem, and have any idea what caused it?
3. If I go to electric fans, is this going to strain my stock alternator to the point it needs upgraded?
Thanks in advance for the help here.

 

[myclone]

Re: &*^$ water pump...suggestions please

1. What is a tried-and true gasket material and process to use in mounting the WP to the block?

Remove old WP
Thoroughly clean the pump mounting/sealing surface on the block with scraper and/or drill mounted wire brush.
Slather block mounting/sealing surface with gasket shelac(sp?).
Slather new water pump mounting/sealing surface with gasket shelac.
Place WP to block gaskets on WP mounting/sealing surface.
Clean the four WP to block bolt threads of old sealant.
Slather WP bolt threads with gasket shelac.
Insert a bolt in the top hole on either side of the WP.
Put WP/gaskets/bolts up to block and get each bolt started a few threads.
Make sure gaskets are where they should be.
Install lower WP bolts on either side.
Tighten all four bolts to ~45ftlbs or so (tight-e-nuff is what I go with).
Done.

2. Has anyone else had this problem, and have any idea what caused it?

Never heard of a SBC/4.3 WP coming loose after messing with a couple kabillion of them so this is a new one on me.

3. If I go to electric fans, is this going to strain my stock alternator to the point it needs upgraded?

More than likely.

 

[NecroWolf]

Re: &*^$ water pump...suggestions please

are the threads on your bolts good? did they get cross threaded into the block?

 

[lightspeed240]

Re: &*^$ water pump...suggestions please

Thanks for the suggestion on the shelac myclone, ill check that out. I did scrape and sand the area in the last go-around though.

Necro... The bolts looked good to me...no cross-threading or anything. Im just hoping the receiving holes in the block arent deformed somehow. Ill check that out when I get it pulled apart.

 

[Loeryder]

Re: &*^$ water pump...suggestions please

Just be sure to use some type of sealer on the threads of the bolts.

 

[QUICK STORM]

Re: &*^$ water pump...suggestions please

check runout of the harmonic balancer