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MG MGA - Rebuilding the Water Pump

Has anyone had experience rebuilding their cast iron water pump and is this something the home mechanic can do? I have one that I want to rebuild and keep as a spare. I'd rather do this than buy a cast aluminum one.


Thanks,

Tom
Tom Baker

Hi Tom. Years ago it was quite possible to rebuild waterpumps, and was fairly common practice. Today, I'm not sure that all the water pump rebuild parts are even available. Moss sells a complete new waterpump. Moss also sells the waterpump seal, but no longer carries the water pump rebuild kit. Best of luck finding what you need to rebuild your pump! Cheers! Glenn
Glenn

Google Terry Jaguar, Benton , IL. Complete rebuild of your original cast iron for way less than half of the major supplier's replacement. ie about $40.00
Paul Hanley

Victoria British offers new MGA waterpumps at about $39.00 US, according to a fairly recent catalog. Glenn
Glenn

Current new replacement water pumps for the MGA are dis cast aluminum ane leave a lot to be desired. Among other things, the armm for mounting the generator is thin and weak. I had two of them break in one month. I have since been using good used original water pumps. If I had to I would have an original iron water pump rebuilt. I will never use one of the aluminum ones again until they strengthen the casting. This problem has been around since at least 1989, so I don't suppose it will be fixed unless people quit buying the junk.
Barney Gaylord

Paul, I contacted Terry Jaguar and they no longer rebuild MGA water pumps.

2 in one month, Barney? That is ridiculous. People have to buy the jank they sell us because they don't know what else to do.

The spare one I have seems ok, but only with a visual inspection. The shaft turns freely and there is no evidince of past seepage. Of course that means nothing. Why was the pump removed in the first place?
Tom Baker

I retained the original water pump when I rebuilt the original engine at 150,000 miles. At least all indications were that it was original. I bought a spare (aluminum) water pump in 1989, but never installed it.

At 250,000 miles I built another engine from a short block assembly and another head. That one got the aluminum replacement water pump because I didn't have an original one. The aluminum pump broke during the Alaska trip in 1997 with less than a month use, and was replaced with another aluminum one. The second one also broke shortly after the trip.

My final resolution was to take the 250,000 mile water pump from the first engine and install it on the second engine. That engime got another 40,000 miles or so before it was moved to the engine stand, but the water pump is still in good condition (at 290,000 miles)

I picked up a good used iron water pump, cast off by some unsuspecting joe who installed a new aluminum pump on his freshly rebuilt engine. I cleaned and painted the used pump and installed it on my third engine, which is now in service for another 5 years and 40,000 miles.

The two aluminum water pumps lasted a total of 18,000 miles. For the record, I have never had an original iron water pump fail in service. YMMV.
Barney Gaylord

Hi Barney. Are you telling us that they just don't make em like they used to? 8-) Cheers! Glenn
Glenn

Yes.
Barney Gaylord

This thread was discussed between 06/02/2006 and 07/02/2006

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