How To - mount a part and keep the gasket in place

I'm replacing my water pump. I have had several battles replacing the fuel pump and trying to get the gasket to remain in place while aligning the part and then trying to get the bolts started. Easy Rider2007-07-01 11:41:55

hubby puts paint on one side,seals and sticks on in place.

A shot of 3M aerosol adhesive also works great. Put it on the gasket and let it "tack up'' for a few minutes. Then put the gasket on the mating surface. It is a clean way of doing the job. By the way, I love your Vette. Riverside Gold is my favorite color on a C3.

Scott

Great ideas, but don't you need to put gasket sealer on both sides of the gasket? I always used Permatex.

Actually, the water pump gaskets go in dry. You an use a dot (real small dot) of grease to hold it.  Best thing is to start the top bolt and swing it down in to place.  The W.P. bolts are long enough to do that.

I got to do that thankless job last summer.  I smear one side of the gasket with that red "gasket cement"and stick it to the pump and remove it.... Let it air dry for a few minutes and then reapply it to the pump. It now is stuck in place!   I then carefully apply sealer/cement to the backside and like JimG say use a top bolt to aim it into place and then start the other bolts then snug it up.

Whoa!! Now I've got two conflicting messages! One says you don't need gasket sealer at all and the other one does!!!

JimG is correct. My '81 shop manual say's nothing about using sealer on water pump gaskets. The next paragraph talks about using it on a thermostat housing. johnu2007-07-03 07:25:08

Well, there you go - and I have a tube of black silicone material - I forget the name right now - but its something like Form-a Gasket and it says it should be used for water pumps, among other things!!! You simply put a bead on the part, let it gloss over, then mount the part - you don't even need the cork or fiber gaskets!