I bought a Flowkooler water pump for my 72 Barracuda a little ways back and LOVE it.....so when it was time I bought one for our 1980 Plymouth Volare slant 6 project.

Went to install it today and was confused.

The pump has what I assume is called a backing plate...its a metal plate sandwiched between the pump body and the impeller, with a gasket in between the plate and the body. The original pump has that same type of plate setup.

The instructions with the pump say that if a backing plate is installed on the pump you should remove the plate and use gasket dressing on that gasket , then reassemble and then use dressing on the second gasket that goes between the plate and the engine block.

Problem is, HOW DO YOU REMOVE THE PLATE? The impeller is pressed on and there is no way to get the plate off to use sealer or dressing on that plate/pump body gasket.

We assembled it without sealer between the pump body and that plate (we DID use sealer on the second gasket between the plate and the engine block.....

I cant help but wonder if we will have leaks....

You don't for this install...
Not necessary, but a light skim of goo keeps the gaskets from sliding around.

If you torqued the attaching bolts per factory manual, it's all good.

...the FlowKooler site says their pumps have less clearance between plate and impeller (i.e. wider impeller for more flow). It might make it harder to get sealant between the plate and gasket/gasket and body of pump.

Anyway, it seems that pump manufacturers oftentimes say "no sealant needed" and some on these boards agree and have had no problems.

I use a light film of sealant.

brian

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