help with my ls1 water pump gaskets

**torker** · 12-11-2011, 07:39 PM

hi I have a couple of questions .. here in my country I cant find water pump gaskets for my 98 z28 , sounds dumb but not ever the dealer sells them so Im bring in them as alway, the questions are
meanwhile.. the are here and because it is my DD car..

im thinking in using one of those sheet for making gasket and rtv sealer
or just rtv between the pump and block ?

Seems to be 2 kinds of water pump gaskets..

98 ones are made of fiber/paper and the 99 up are made of aluminum/silicone ..

is it true that the 99 up are reusables?

which ones should I buy?

heres a pic of the bad gasket
1a299d30.jpg

UPDATE: read last post

**cpop98ws6** · 12-11-2011, 07:45 PM

I would go with the aluminum gaskets, they seem to hold up a lot better. I personally wouldn't reuse any gasket, I always put new ones on what ever I am working on.

**98maro** · 12-11-2011, 08:57 PM

That sucks man.
When I was in my country everytime we had a problem like this. (no gasket) I remember my uncle used to make them.
He used to go to the auto parts store and buy a sheet of gasket.
Don't remember the name of it. But to me it looked like piece of thick paper.

Just giving an idea man.
Or I'm sure you can buy it only if you have no other choice.

**0rion** · 12-11-2011, 09:00 PM

I personally would just rtv it if you're having trouble finding a gasket.

**torker** · 12-12-2011, 09:59 AM

Hey Good news have found a new set of these
part number 12630223
Attachment 23449

same in tsp page http://texas-speed.com/p-2271-gm-ls1...ls3ls6ls7.aspx

have to install them without rtv sealant right?

**cammed goat** · 12-12-2011, 10:03 AM

When I replaced a water pump on an 02 Suburban, I didn't use RTV. Just the supplied gaskets. The aluminum gaskets already have silicone around the holes so RTV isn't needed.

**torker** · 12-12-2011, 01:28 PM

thanks for the reply man,!

LS1 rocks! Im also in another LS1xxxx forum asking the same questions and people arent this friendly

thanks again

**0rion** · 12-12-2011, 03:00 PM

glad you found the gaskets.....much better option than just rtv. You don't need rtv with the gaskets although I always put a little bit around them just to hold them in place while seating everything. Won't hurt anything either way though.

**TA98** · 12-12-2011, 06:05 PM

^^^Agree. I use a dap of weather strip adhesive to hold them to the block so they dont move when i line the waterpump up

**torker** · 12-13-2011, 12:52 PM

done, I did put just a thin layer of rtv on block and water pump just to be sure and no leaks for now , hope it stays that way

torqued Water Pump Bolts (First Pass)to 11 lb ft & (Final Pass) 22 lb ft

**cammed goat** · 12-14-2011, 08:52 AM

Glad to hear.

**TA98** · 12-14-2011, 10:08 AM

shouldnt have any problems

**JayTA98** · 12-15-2011, 08:22 AM

I had also a hard time looking for the gaskets. I ended up just getting a new water pump because of the amount of work to pull the old pump out and the old pump had 115K so I figure might as well replace it. I still got the old pump. Was thinking of selling it or rebuild it. I did put a little RTV to just hold them in place like Orion said.