In the interest of accuracy, honesty, and fairness, here's the REAL problem with the water pump.
There are 14 10mm bolts holding the water pump onto the engine. One was not installed at all, and two were in the wrong place resulting in only two or three threads holding them in.
I made the decision to have the job done by non-professionals and I take full responsibility.
There was nothing wrong with the water pump I got from Zims.
I'm still going to replace it with a Porsche rebuild.

As to the missing bolt, isn't one of the bolts that hold the center or left cam belt covers threading into one of the holes in the water pump? I have always advised that before removing the water pump a tracing of it should be made out of cardboard, using the new one as a template so that the bolts can be punched into the cardboard in their correct positions making accurate reassembly nearly fool proof.

Or you can always lay the new waterpump on the intake and place the bolts in the appropriate holes as you remove them. When you get the old pump off, transfer the bolts to the old one then install the new one. You'll know right away if you are a bolt short or long.

Works for me!

Dave

All 14 bolts stick out the same distance from the back of the water pump and there are only two different lengths. The problem with transferring bolts from one pump to another is that they may fall out before they are tightened. The simple way to do it is to outline the new pump on a piece of paper and outline the 16 holes on the pump. Two are marked "pin" for the two locating pins, and the rest are marked either "S" ot "L" as the case may be.
In any case, short, long, fat, or thin, it won't work if ALL the bolts are not placed!!

I meant to say to use the new WP as a holder for the bolts as you remove them, then transfer them to the old WP (as a holder) and install the new pump one bolt at a time. I don't have enough manual dexterity to try & hold the bolts in while ensuring the gasket stays put. (Does anyone?)

Dave

You're right, it would work that way.

thanks for the ideas I am replacing my water pump tomorrow, I have everything off and have to get new bolts for the timing marker. I used the cardboard with the gasket traced and place the bolts in it as I removed them. thanks for the ideas.

Richard

Here's a picture of the pump and where the bolts and pins go. <img src="http://web2.airmail.net/newfie1/Cameras/Pump.jpg" alt=" - " />

Man,

that just sucks

Excellent post on the water pump ErnestSW!! I could have used that about a month ago when trying to figure out the 14th bolt. I did the transfer the bolts to the new pump as I took them out routine, but then bumped the water pump with 4 bolts left to replace...

I did mine the same way Dave did, with an extra step of cleaning and inspecting them as they came off the old pump.

Ernest,

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Precisely why I do all my own wrenching. Can't blame anyone but myself.

Ernest,
Thanks for the picture.
Richard

Ernest,
Did you use any type of sealant on the gasket? If so, what brand?
Thanks

Ernie,

I'm very sorry to hear the procedure did not go very well. Having done this job on my own car (S4), I can see how reassembly may be a bit more difficult. I certainly do not speak for everyone else in the group who volunteered their Saturday and their work in helping out a fellow 928 owner, but as for myself, I would suggest you take your 928 to the nearest Porsche dealer next time you need some work done. Being the "professionals" that they are, I'm sure they would never have anything go wrong following service. As far as this whole bolt thing goes, I saw the guys take each bolt out and transfer them from one pump to the other. And please correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you decide not to install any sealant on the pump after I suggested you do? And didn't you decide not to remove the pump after you read in Pirtle's procedures that this indeed needed to be done? Ernie, you kill me!, I drove a total of 6 hours to go help you out.

Oscar,
I was very gratefull for your help.
Sealant is not necessary on the gasket. The pump leaked where a bolt was left out. The bolt placement was not identified when the new pump was placed.
Why the defensive response? I'm not blaming you especially since you were not involved in the pump replacement.