91xlt water pump replacement

[sherman]

hello everyone i hope all is well in your new year this is my first post and question im going to replace my water pump in my 91 xlt i have the rapare manule and it wants me to remove the radiatore and i really dont want to infact i really dont even want to drain it well if you think im heading down the wrong path and have any tips or advice let me know thanks

 

[Willard]

You might be able to remove the water pump without removing the radiator, but it would be hard.

You will definitely need to drain the system, it's going to happen anyways when you remove the pump. There's a little drain petcock on the passenger side of the radiator on the bottom, unscrew that and the coolant will drain. Once the coolant is out, it's not hard at all to remove the radiator, just the two big hoses, one little hose, two bolts at the top and it lifts out. I would do it if I was going to replace the pump. That will free up the few inches in front of the motor to make it much easier to get the bolts out. The biggest obstacle may be removing the fan clutch, mine was seized on the pump, and didn't come off (replaced the fan and fan clutch too, so it didn't matter).

For the fan clutch there is special wrenches you will need, they can be gotten through the loan-a-tool at autozone or the like.

It is definitely advisable to drain the coolant not just so you don't lose it when you remove the pump, but because it likely needs replaced anyways, especially if the water pump went bad.

 

[dogfriend]

You might be able to remove the water pump without removing the radiator, but it would be hard.

+1. Its not actually all that difficult to remove the radiator, and it will be much easier to work with it out of the way.

You definitely need to drain the coolant.

 

[preferdodge]

you dont have to remove the radiator or need any special tools. I did it in the parking lot of a advanced auto off of I-95 in holy hills aouth caralina while moving back to maryland from florida. did it in a total of 45 minutes taking it out putting the new one in and filling it up and driving away! very easy job and my motor was still hot when i did it! good luck

 

[MikeMurphyINC]

I agree with preferdodge. I have a 91 and I changed mine out without any special tools or removing the radiator. The only issues I had were getting the fan clutch off and my fan had some nice sized cracked on it which I put some superglue on and that seems to work just fine.