Aluminum water pump - bolt heads hit pulley

[ExWrench]

I have a 1970 440 and I purchased a "Mopar Licensed" aluminum water pump housing and water pump. The pump mounting flange is cast thicker than a stock cast iron unit. The heads of the pump mounting bolts now hit the back of a stock steel water pump pulley. Has anyone else run into this problem and how did you solve it?

 

[RemCharger]

I've seen those with button head Allen bolts installed.

 

[beanhead]

I've not had this problem with aluminum pumps, but you can always take a flapper wheel and shave down the bolt heads a bit for clearance, won't hurt a thing.
Out of curiosity, who's pump do you have? It may be helpful for folks to know if they should steer away from that particular unit.

 

[4speed68rt]

Show us some pictures of the situation, please.

 

[JackpotJim]

If the bolts that interfere with the pulley have flat washers remove them. That should give you the clearance you need.

 

[ExWrench]

Show us some pictures of the situation, please.

 

[ExWrench]

The distance from the pulley mounting surface to the front of pump housing is shorter than on the OEM cast iron pump.

 

[ExWrench]

 

[ExWrench]

The flange is thicker on the aluminum pump.

 

[ExWrench]

I've not had this problem with aluminum pumps, but you can always take a flapper wheel and shave down the bolt heads a bit for clearance, won't hurt a thing.
Out of curiosity, who's pump do you have? It may be helpful for folks to know if they should steer away from that particular unit.

I believe its an Edelbrock pump. Same issue with a proform pump I got from Summit. They all look the same, (probably from the same Chinese manufacturer.)

 

[Fran Blacker]

Counter sink bolts if think you have the material. You don't need to make heads flush. Just an idea.

 

[Some Car Guy]

I put march wide belt pulleys on a 383 one time and the bolts on the eddy pump hit. I ground them down to where a socket just barely had enough of the one edge to catch to tighten. Was all proud of myself for that one. Then I went to toss the box and saw it came with a set of the Allen head bolts that would’ve cleared without issue.

 

[not so famous bob]

I have a 1970 440 and I purchased a "Mopar Licensed" aluminum water pump housing and water pump. The pump mounting flange is cast thicker than a stock cast iron unit. The heads of the pump mounting bolts now hit the back of a stock steel water pump pulley. Has anyone else run into this problem and how did you solve it?

I recall grinding the bolt heads off a little , but its been about 12ish yrs ago..

 

[Sinitro]

Another alternative is use the button head bolts, lower height profile...

Just my $0.02...

 

[440 Source]

Bolts - Water Pump to Housing (4) - w/ Billet Alum Pulleys-440 Source

 

[RemCharger]

Bolts - Water Pump to Housing (4) - w/ Billet Alum Pulleys-440 Source

Just so you know, they're a bit on the short side.

 

[Kern Dog]

I used header bolts a few times....7/16" hex.

 

[PRHeads]

Seems like a spacer behind the pulley would cure it.

Amazon product ASIN B000BW8W2U

 

[not so famous bob]

yo

Seems like a spacer behind the pulley would cure it.

Amazon product ASIN B000BW8W2U

u`d have to space the lower pulley/pulleys to get the belt to line up.
I did that for a while on my 505 , till I found the pulleys I wanted...