Posted by James Fuller-Devine on Tuesday, October 29, 2002 at 8:50PM :
rebuild kit for a water pump off a 61' W200 318 powered truck. Why a rebuild kit? I would like to keep the truck original and more importantly, I know I can trust this water pump! It finally is acting up after 41 years! I can buy a reconditioned one for 25$, but I'd like to stay with old reliable. The pump acted up once a week ago and hasn't done so since. I started the truck up and parked it on a steep decline with the heater going full blast one VERY chilly morning(Maine: the way life should be)and left it for 20 minutes. A noticeable puddle was left where I parked. The fluid dripped down into the pulley(steep decline) and got spun all around the engine compartment. The temp gauge reads the same it has for years and the heater works GREAT! Maybe it was a fluke but I thought I better check into it. As an aside, whenever a problem arises I consult with my Dad who's been a mechanic for 30+ years. Vehicles have become so complicated that he's forgotten how easy vehicles used to be to fix. He always marvels at the simplicity of my truck. To be honest I think he's at times envious of how easy and cheap it is to maintain. Can you imagine if WE(U.S.A.) went back to simple and parts lasted 20,30,40,50,60+ years? We would be building the best in the world again overnight. Thanks for any and all help.