Thanks guys. That helps. Lots of fun projects to try! When I got the car I pulled the radiator hoses off, stuck them in buckets and cranked it to see if the water pump was working. The pump did circulate fluid but I didnt have any good way to check flow rate, etc. I might as well swap out the pump if I am going to go through the effort to take everything apart as a new OEM is about $80 bucks online. I didnt know you could flush the block. I will definitely try that! My guess is the block is full of crud from the old rad.
Be VERY VERY careful about a new water pump. As many in the Pontiac hobby have found out the hard way - you want a pump with the original style cast impeller, NOT the cheep stamped steel impeller.
You will have to go out of your way to get the good one, and ordering on-line is a great way of getting the wrong one. Some have gone to good parts houses like NAPA and had to go through the entire store's supply to find a cast impeller. Or go straight to a good Pontiac repro parts house like Ames who only sells cast impellers.
2012 Mustang Boss 302 #1918, Competition Orange. FGF replacement 2006 Mustang V6 Pony, Vista Blue. Factory ordered. 2019 BMW X3 (Titled to the wife, but I'm always driving it for her. So I'm claiming it) Old projects, gone but not forgotten: 1967 FB 400, original CA car. After 22 years of work, trashed by the guy who was supposed to paint it. I had to sell it. 1980 Turbo Trans Am 1970 Mustang fastback, 351C 4Bbl, auto 1988 Mustang GT, 5 speed 1983 F-150 4x4, built 302 1994 Chevy K2500 HD 4x4, 454 TBI
