the water pump is starting to make some noise

[unclekacee]

I have a 1946 Plymouth with a 1952 engine, when I started it up today(have not run it in two weeks) it started to make some noise from the water pump, then it stopped making noise and ran as she always does, is there a preventitive procedure I could do i.e. run it more regularly, lubricate it, change my radiator water/fluid.

Any suggestions I'd apreciate.

Thanks

Kacee

[Plymouthy Adams]

by chance does your pump have a grease fitting?

[Brendan D25]

I'm not sure about the later water pumps but the 46-48 have a grease nipple. I use a grease that is normally used on lower shafts on outboard engines. The water doesen't affect it. You only need to use a small amount. I usually give mine one squirt in the spring.

[Frank Elder]

www.restorationstuff.com has water pump grease, but I would like to hear what type lube you use Ed.

Frankie

[TodFitch]

When driving cross country in 1978 my water pump bearing started knocking. Lacking my spare parts and even the correct grease, I got by by simply giving the pump a shot of chassis grease every time I filled up the gas tank. Drove it about 2000 miles that way before I got back to where I stashed my spare parts and put on a different water pump.

In my experience the biggest reason the pump bearings fail is too much tension on the fan belt. Once I figured that out I stopped having the pumps fail. I did go through a fairly large number of rebuild cycles on my two pumps before I figured that out.