Dwayne

Sounds great! So if the test is successful next week, are the tools and inserts available now for purchase??

byrdman454

Is this tool going to be for sale for rent? I also had this failure on the way back from SITM 2008. I will be interested come winter time.

My car is up and running, but does run a little hotter. It is only marginal, but that may be due to my C&R radiator and 928MS dual fans.

Are you planning on just using a hand drill and special cutter to clean up the block?

Marine Blue

Incredible work.

Maybe one or two of our big suppliers can step up and buy the rights to the design and tooling to recoup your costs, time and equipment.

Great work and thank you for taking the initiative.

svp928

I would like to see a dead pump and try to figure out a way to mechanically stop the bearing pack from moving in the housing and the shaft/impeller from moving in the bearings. Even if we have to partially dis-assemble a new pump to do this, it probably would be a worthwhile mod to make...Then, if the seal or bearings fail, you likely have plenty of warning and be able shut it down before it overheats. Hopefully... I know when my own pump failed, the noise it made and the fact that coolant was blowing out through the bearings made it very obvious, and I noticed it before anything got hurt.

So, if anyone wants donate an intact, but non-functional pump, maybe we can figure something out.

Steve

Mike Frye

This has been researched at length in the past. In addition to the developments that Roger from 928sRus mentioned in this thread, I know of one other company that has disassembled more than a few of these and is working on a solution as well.

Not that some competition isn't good, but I think you should do some searches and start from where they all started out, instead of from scratch.

ROG100

Steve,
I have plenty of good used cores if you want to check one out - let me have your address and I will ship one to you. Can't be bad thing for other people to look at the problem.
As Mike says someone else is looking at a fix but I have heard nothing latley.
The more the merrier in my book.
Roger

deutschmick

Very well done!

I pray I'll never need to use it.

Tom in Austin

What a drag ... so running too hot, leaking at the bearing and what else are warning signs to watch for?

Tom. M

So...devils advocate here... Would you buy a 928 from someone knowing that it has had this replacement/insert done on it...over getting one without the insert?

danglerb

Once it has the insert its forever immune to impeller creep, but I do kinda wonder what happens when the impeller gets to the securing bolts, what breaks?

Plastic impeller and no issues though?

Only time and miles will tell if the repaired block is improved, about the same, or less than a virgin block. I suspect when looking at a whole car it would be lost in the noise of everything else thats more important. Even just looking at two motors, other issues are likely to be the deciding factors.

Having the insert would not prevent me from buying a car or motor, but I am not sure if or how much it might effect the price.

ROG100

Tom in Austin - if your car turns a rasberry color that is a sure sign.

Tom M - probably not.

PorKen

It would be slick to have a waterpump plate made to accept those guide bushings, for drilling out busted WP bolts.

Stromius

I have a Laso that you are welcome to and would gladly ship even FOC to help out the cause. It hasn't actually failed but save for a paperweight, it's of no use to me. This is the gen1 Laso without the impeller bushing insert.

Stefan

svp928

Stefan- thanks for the offer, but I already talked to Roger about it.

Dangler- assuming you have the same failure with a metal impeller, it first cuts the screwheads off, then the insert will start rattling around making noise. If you don't hear THAT, then you get to do it over, with a thicker insert!

Ken, you are right- it would be no problem. When the core gets here, I'll look at that.

As far as buying a car with this repair done- I think it INCREASE the value, due to fact that car now has an upgraded impeller face with a better finish, and it adjustable/replaceable... Hows that for salesmanship

Keep in mind- this thing is still on its way to Greg, and he hasn't tried it to see if works with the engine in the car- It works fine with the engine out, and I think it will be do-able in the car, but we don't have that first run done yet. You may need to hire a contortionist who knows how to machine things to get it done...Or, saw off the front of the car...haha!

GregBBRD

Yes. Steve and I donated our time to built this. However, the inserts are expensive to make, considering you have to start with a 3" long piece of 3.5" 6061 to end up with that tiny chunk of metal. There's drills and taps that are going to wear quickly, due to the Alusil. Plus we need to try and pay for the tools. We'll come up with some something, once we know it is going to work.