[Vwdiesel] water pump fun (not!)

[MikeyBigFish at wmconnect.com]

Mike,
       I laughed when I read your post.
I too attempted replacing an H2O pump impeller, awhile back.
Having replaced domestic WaterPumps aplenty, but to no avail.
Yes, w/ similar results during a 3 hour window in sub zero temps.
I broke 4-5 pumphousing bolts before loosing my thumbnail.
Ouch that hurt!!!!  
My buddy's wife needed her garage bay back to park her SUV.
So, I threw in the towel and drove the '86 Golf 1.6L to the VW shop 
40 miles away for them to replace the pump.
Hey, for a leaky pump and 4-5 missing bolt heads I was surprised 
she didn't go into critical mass and meltdown during that 40 miles.
I have to compliment you on your "perspicaciousness" w/ the propane heat
and the old Trick Arc-Nut trick.
How fiendishly clever.
Thus, I ended up paying for not only a new impeller,
but also a new pump housing.
The shop said it was cheaper to replace the housing than 
for them to extract the broken bolts.
      The new pump dripped a tad for the first 1-2 thousand miles
and then self sealed. I reckon the parts ran under $200.00 for 
both impeller & pumphousing. Plus, coolant.
Labor @ $60.00 an hour.
Congratulate yourself, you saved about $400-500 and 10 fingernails.
Good going, 
Mike in 
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