tell me, my settup is not doomed to selfdestruct PLEASE!!

[fiero-iwan]

Hello v6 people!
I have Engine cooling problem after fitting '86 fiero lower intake manifold (and up), and injection to 1980 or 1981 60degree v6.

I am now very worried that I will have to give up all hope of running this combo.
I read somewhere recently that there are 2 different versions of the older v6, with the difference being the location of the engine water outlet to the intake manifold (via which voolant returns to the waterpump).
I didnt know about these differences when I started converting all the fiero intake stuff to the older engine. I did notice that the engine's original 2bbl carb intake manifold had the thermostathousing located on the flyheel-side of the engine. Whereas the fiero MPFI intake manifold has it on the oposite (pulley) side.
I never thought much of it until now....I finally have it all installed in the Fiero and it runs great! FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, then the fanbelt snaps and the engine overheats. about 1/4 of the engine coolant comes squirting out of the coolant overflow cap. (the coolant is cold which surprices me)
Three fan belts later I am very worried that THERE IS A MAJOR FLOOR IN MY SETUP. Is the fiero intake manifold incompatible with the older engine prohibiting the coolant from circulating in the engine?? Is pressure building up in the engine from the coolant that cannot ciculate? Is that maybe causing the waterpump to temperarilly seize up, causing the belt to slip and snap??

Please someone with knowledge of the internal routing of the coolant channels tell me, my settup is not doomed to selfdestruct . I hope it is just a fauling waterpump. But at this point I am fearing it is not that simple.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!!!

Kind regards
Fiero-Iwan (From the Netherlands)

p.s. How can I tel my engine is 80 or 81, The waterpump housing is different suposedly.. How can I tell the diffence?

[Guest]

Ok, first you have to determine why the belt is snapping, this is not a coolant flow problem.

The blocks themselves are the same, AFAIK. Reversing the intake will not effect overall cooling, though some people will say that the tempurature distribution is more even when the inlet is at one end and the out let is at the other.

Now if you try and use a forward rotation h2o pump in a reverse rotation front cover (Or vise-versa) you will get stangant flow, meaning not much, if any. Check to make sure that is correct.

Which front cover did you use?

[geoffinbc]

It does not matter what intake you use or wht end of the block the coolant flows too.

Fix your belt thats a big problem and also make sure you have the correct rotation direction for your pump.

[fiero-iwan]

Thats great news guys!! takes a big weight off my shoulders!

The water pump was not replaced by me, maybe by the previous owner though. How can I make sure it is turning in the right direction without dismanteling it? Also wonder how I can see if my pump is the one where you need to remove the timing cover to replace it. This would also inform me of the build year of my engine as only the 1980 60degreev6 has this type of pump.

Now I know the engin internal cooling circuit is not blocked of or something catastrophic as that (by the reverced intake manifold), I can concentrate on the belt breaking and what is causing that. I put a spacer ring behind the alternator pulley today so it sticks out further, which hopefully will bring the pulley more in line. Hard to see visually if they are in line, any tips for checking the belt allignment?
(I havent run the engine yet today as it is to late 2AM for that amount of noise)

Maybe I dont have the correct belt.... The last one was worn on the sides to about half its width. evently though on both sides. The belts I have been buying have the same partnr as the one that came with the engine, though it may be incorrect I now start to think. I'll try to work that out..

The pulleys look like they are the ones that came on the engine from the factory. could the pulleys be to far worn, does that happen?

One last thing I'm wondering about, Is it possible the waterpump is seizing up while driving, thus making the belt slip over it's pulley accounting for the ware of the last belt. The new belt only lasted 10km of driving and by that time it had been worn to half its width, dumping incredible abounts of "rubber dust" in the engine bay. Without belt the waterpump and also the alternator spin without much friction (by hand).
So is it possible it comes to a grinding halt while driving (no slipping/squeking noise while driving), but will spin quitely while idling?

The idiot-battery light only came on when the belt actually snapped, so I asume the alt was spinning the whole time while driving. Correct assumption?

Thanks a bunch for the help so far hopefully with your tips and ideas I can finally get this baby rolling :P

[Guest]

Thinking about it, I don't think you can install the wrong pump on the wrong cover.

Belt alignment is hard to see soemtimes when the engine is installed, especially in such awkward quarters such as the engine bay of the Fiero.

Might take some trial and error, or doing something more drastic, like pulling the engine to verify alighment and that all bearings are good, along with all the belts spinning true.

[Scott205]

I would look at the water pump belt for alignment, the pump to make sure the bearings are wobbling (as they heat they will seize) and if anything else is being driven by that belt is easily moving.

I don't think it would break the belt but you could possibly be having a reverse flow in the cooling system, although I would think that would just make it run hot, or ruin a seal, radiator or hose. It could be a blockage, but hard to think that would effect a belt in 10 minutes.

I am thinking pull the water pump, if it looks straight.

Do you hear the belt spin before it snaps? or just snap?

[burnstorm]

You probably thought of this already but, I just got bit in the butt by a crack in the drive pulley on my power steering pump! I lost 2 belts before I found it.

[86euro]

So what year engines got the reverse pump? Or was it just the fiero pumps?

[BMC]

I dont think its possible to put the wrong pump on the verious covers but it is possible to put the wrong pulley on the pump which would make the pump turn the opposite of what its supposed to turn. I have had conversion cars in with the pumps having custom pulleys turning the pump the wrong way!

-BMC.