How to Replace the Water Pump on a 1995 Camaro LS1

The 1995 Chevy Camaro was offered with a 3.4-liter six-cylinder in the base model and a 5.7-liter eight-cylinder for all other models. As time progressed after the fourth generation Camaro car enthusiasts would transplant the 5.7-liter LS1 into the base Camaro for a considerable performance and horse power increase. The water pump on your 5.7-liter is driven by the camshaft gear, but is mounted and located much like the earlier small block Chevy engines. Your Camaro was filled from the factory with traditional green coolant, however it is possible it was converted to Dexcool if the cooling system had been serviced after 1996. If your coolant is green in color you will need traditional green coolant, if it is orange in color you will need Dexcool coolant, but do not mix the two types of coolant.

Instructions

Coolant Draining

1

Park the vehicle on a level surface and set the parking brake. Lift the front of the vehicle into the air with a floor jack and place jack stands under the front sub-frame rails. Lower the vehicle until it rests securely on the jack stands and remove the floor jack. Lift the vehicle hood and support it with the hood prop rod. Allow the engine to cool completely before continuing.

2

Loosen the radiator cap about a quarter turn to the stop position without pressing down on the cap. Allow any built up pressure to vent from the cap, this is complete when the hissing noise dissipates. Press down on the radiator cap and rotate it counterclockwise and remove it. Remove the coolant reservoir cap. Locate the air bleed valve that is on top of the thermostat housing at the watter pump. Rotate the bleed valve three full turns with a socket and ratchet.

3

Place a drain pan under the passenger side corner of the radiator. Rotate the radiator drain cock counterclockwise and allow the coolant to drain. When the coolant has finished draining rotate the drain cock clockwise to the closed position.

4

Slide the drain pan under the passenger side of the engine and look just below the exhaust manifold to find the right block drain plug. Loosen the drain plug with a socket and ratchet. Remove the drain plug by hand and allow all the coolant to drain.

5

Move the drain pan to the opposite side of the engine and look in roughly the same place to locate the engine knock sensor. Squeeze the plastic tab on the sensor harness and remove the harness from the knock sensor. Loosen the knock sensor with a socket and ratchet. Remove the knock sensor by hand and allow all the coolant to drain.

6

Clean the threads of the coolant drain plug and knock sensor with a wire brush. Apply a coat of thread sealant to the threads of the drain plug and knock sensor. Install the drain plug and knock sensor to the engine block hand tight. Tighten the drain plug to 13 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Tighten the knock sensor to 15 foot-pounds. Push the knock sensor wiring harness into the receptacle on the knock sensor.

7

Remove the coolant drain pan. Make note of the color of the coolant. Green coolant is traditional and Dexcool is orange. Replace the coolant with the same type at the end of this procedure. Store the coolant in a safe place away from children and animals until it can be disposed of properly.

Removal

8

Loosen the clamps for the air intake tube at the throttle body and air filter housing. Disconnect the intake air temperature sensor connector and position the harness aside. Remove the air intake tubing from the engine bay.

9

Squeeze the locking tab and disconnect the electrical connector for the passenger side radiator cooling fan. Squeeze the harness retainers with pliers and carefully pull the right harness wiring away from the radiator. Position the harness for the right cooling fan aside.

10

Remove the bottom two bolts for the right cooling fan from under the vehicle and set them aside. Loosen both upper mounting bolts for the right cooling right with a socket and ratchet. Support the right fan assembly by hand and remove the top mounting bolts. Lift the right cooling fan out of the engine bay. Store the fan mounting bolts and fan together in a safe place.

11

Follow the upper and lower radiator hoses to their respective connections at the water pump. Squeeze the pressure clamps for each hose and slide the clamps six inches down the hose and release the clamps. Twist each radiator hose slightly and pull them off of the water pump. Bend the upper and lower radiator hoses to each side of the engine and out of the way.

12

Examine the water pump further to locate the two coolant heater hoses that run from the throttle body to the water pump. Squeeze the pressure clamps at the water pump and slide them back down the hose about six inches. Remove the heater hoses from the water pump with a slight twisting motion.

13

Squeeze the locking tab for the coolant sensor electrical wiring harness and pull the harness off of the coolant sensor. Squeeze the locking tab for the air injection pump electrical connector and remove the harness. Remove the hoses from the air injection pump. Remove the three air injection pump mounting bolts. Remove the air injection pump and set it aside.

14

Remove the bolts securing the thermostat housing to the water pump with a socket and ratchet. Lift the thermostat housing off the water pump. Remove the thermostat from the water pump. Make a note of how the thermostat was position in the water pump for aid in installation later. Clean the mating surface of the water pump housing with a wire brush. Clean the threads of the water pump housing bolts with a wire brush and replace as necessary.

15

Loosen the bolts securing the water pump to the engine with a socket and ratchet. Support the water pump by hand and remove all the water pump bolts, make note of where each bolt is removed from as they are different in size. Pull the water pump straight off of the engine. Remove the shaft coupler from the water pump shaft and store it in a safe place.

16

Remove any left over gasket material from the two mating surfaces with a wire brush. Clean around the edges of the water pump hole with a wire brush. Clean the water pump bolt threads with a wire brush and inspect the bolt threads. Replace any bolt that shows any type of damage or deformation to the bolt threads.

Installation

17

Place the shaft coupler onto the shaft of the new water pump. Inspect the o-ring came on the new water pump and make sure it is free of defect. Place the appropriate bolts through the bolt holes for the two mating surfaces on the water pump. Place the new water pump gaskets over the bolts and against the water pump.

18

Set the water pump into position on the engine, make sure the shaft coupler extends of the shaft inside the engine. Tighten the bolts hand tight. Install the remaining water pump bolts and tighten them to 30 foot-pounds with a torque wrench.

19

Set the air injection pump into position and install the mounting bolts. Tighten the air injection pump mounting bolts to 50 inch-pounds. Connect the air injection pump hoses to their respective nipples on the air injection pump. Connect the electrical wiring harness to its connector on the air injection pump.

20

Install a new thermostat into the water pump spring down. Place a new gasket onto the thermostat mating surface on the water pump. Place the thermostat housing over the gasket and install the housing mounting bolts. Tighten the thermostat housing bolts to 21 foot-pounds with a torque wrench.

21

Connect the two heater hoses that run from the throttle body to the water pump to their respective nipples on the water pump. Squeeze the pressure clamps and slide them up the hose and release in their original position. Route the upper and lower radiator hoses to their respective connections on the water pump and slide them over the nipples. Squeeze the pressure clamps and release them in their original position.

22

Lower the right electrical radiator fan into position and loosely install the upper mounting bolts. Install the lower fan mounting bolts and tighten them snug with a socket and ratchet. Tighten the upper mounting bolts with a socket and ratchet. Route the fan electrical connector around the fan and push the retainer pins into their respective holes.

23

Install the air intake tubing to the throttle body and the air filter housing. Tighten the clamps with a screwdriver. Connect the wiring harness to the intake air temperature sensor.

Coolant Filling

24

Ensure the radiator drain cock is closed and the engine drain plugs and properly installed. Place one end of a 4-foot section of 3/8-inch clear tubing onto the coolant bleeder nipple on the thermostat housing. Direct the opposite end of the tubing into the drain pan. Lift the front of the vehicle off the jack stands and remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground and remove the floor jack.

25

Begin to fill the radiator with a 50-50 mixture of fresh Dexcool or traditional green coolant depending on what the vehicle was previously equipped with. Watch the clear tubing as you fill the system and close the valve hand tight when the coolant traveling through the tube has no air bubbles. Remove the clear tubing and tighten the valve snug with a wrench. Add two cooling system sealer pellets to the coolant reservoir.

26

Continue to fill the radiator until the coolant level holds steady and the radiator fill neck. Fill the coolant reservoir to the full cold mark. Start the engine with the radiator cap off and allow the engine to idle until it reaches operating temperature. Continue to maintain a full radiator as the engine warms up. Install the coolant reservoir cap.

27

Feel the upper radiator hose as the engine temperature reaches operating range; the hose will become hot when the thermostat opens. Top off the radiator and install the radiator cap when the thermostat opens. Allow the engine to continue operating an additional five minutes. Top off the coolant reservoir to the hot full mark as needed.