Wasser pump follies- dodging bullets in Macon GA (long)

[David Head <dave.head@worldnet.att.net>]

Did the holiday weekend duty of driving 2400 miles in 3 days from
Orlando-Fayetteville AR and back. Leaving Nashville and heading west on
Sunday morning the coolant overheat light starts flashing. Pull over and
shove the wire back into the multifunction connector (been broken a
while, tough to fix). Keep an eye on temps, they're fine. Light goes
out. 60 miles down the road, comes on again. I say screw it and keep a
close eye on the temps. Its running a bit hot, but heck - its 95 out.
Drop the boys off, fix their computer and start heading back to
Nashville for the next overnight - light flashing all the way. Next
morning I try fixing the darn thing before heading to Orlando - it the
process note the reservoir is also empty. Duhhh! Put 1/2 gallon in, run
the car to operating temps, no leaks.
Head out, get 45 miles down the road - light comes on. Put a quart in -
still no leaks. Drive to Chattanooga - with light on most of the way,
add a quart. It occurs to me at this point that the only time I've seen
this amount of leakage with no indication is a wasser pump dying...
Drive through Atlanta (98 degrees), and on the other side, fill up
again. Get 4 miles down the road on the interstate and the bearings blow
out. Limp in to the next exit after filling. Let her cool down. I'm in
mid nowhere - get directions to nearest motel - 4 miles back up the
interstate to Forsyth GA or 8 miles down to Macon where the shops are,
also. The drain time is now measured in minutes...
Fill it up, and nail it - 2 big hills to go over. Pull into the lot with
maybe a quart left. Spend the night, read Shadows by Woodward. Call
Autotech in Macon on Tuesday morning. Tow truck takes me to Macon, by
930 am we're pulling it apart. This is yer standard backwoods converted
3 stall gas station with 20 cars around it that will 'NEVER' run. The
little guy sez "Yep - them Owwdies 'r' no sweat." He goes in and sits
down - orders parts... Big guy looks at me, looks at engine. I said - ok
- get an 8mm allen and pull these two bolts - the bumper comes off.
disconnect the turn signal wires. Pull that trim piece off and remove
them 6 phillips head screws and we'll get the grill off. Then the
intercooler, then... He sez "you've done this before?"... "More times
than I care to count..." We discuss the Pepsi 400 so he can make sure
I'm all right even though I drive one of them there furrin' cars. I
think of Bucksnort TN... He knows I'm fine when I explain the Shogun
pump is really made to cool down a small block Chevy...
Between the 2 of us, we're down to the pump in about 45 minutes. Decide
to do the Tbelt too. Use the starter to break torque as the locking tool
is in Daytona anyway. Part comes and although the car is an early 89
single knock, it has the late 170 superbelt. None in Macon... Good thing
the old one is in good shape. The water pump shaft is bent at least 15
degrees off center and the bearings are totally gone - how the belt
didn't jump time is amazing to me. Luckily, rebuilt pump is correct for
the superbelt. 2 hour wait to find out there ain't another belt in
town... Finally hit the road at 2:45pm. Costs: 62.00 room, 70.00 tow,
189.00 repair. They only charged me 2 hours labor as I did 1/2 the work.
Of course the rebuilt pump was 83.00 and the AC belt was 19.00, so they
did ok. I considered myself lucky on many counts...
Car runs great all the rest of the way home...

Dave Head
87 tq - looks like its sold and sorry boys, the Fuch alloys and BBS
basket rims go with - along with the spare alcantara interior, the 120
amp alternator, and a mound of spare parts.
89 200q - new wasser pump, V8 tail lights. The new stealth tq...