Originally Posted by Calypso Red
The water pump is more problematic. My original pump is 14.3cm in length which gives a clearance of approximately 9mm to the crosshead. Just enough to get the fan belt on. .

Good post!. I especially liked your image and measurement. I shall use it to help others in the future. TY. Oddly, you have an earlier pump than the original. Or was your engine changed? The MMC moved to 3.9
[umps iwhen they switch from Rover to Land Rover as their supplier in 1986/7. I wonder if you have a 3.5 timing cover.

Plus 8s had a more than one water pump. Most are not interchangeable. There was a period where it was hard to find them new, during which the US Buick 215 suppliers filled the gap. Now they are all available
again, courtesy of India and China. They are very cheap though a bit less so every year. I stocked with 2-3 of them at 15 pounds each 20 years ago. Now they can be had at 35ish pounds. Beware, parts are only
cheap and perfect when you don't need them. Act accordingly.

1. 1967-1986ish. These are the Buick 215/Rover 3.5 pumps. All interchangeable

2. 1986ish - 2000 in the UK or 1996 overseas. It was occasioned by the switch to GEMS fuelling which happened in different places at different times for Morgan. The pump is different than the earlier pumps. With
a spacer it can be used on #1 cars. I did one and keep it as a spare. It is bigger and has a larger capacity which I have yet to find necessary.

3. GEMS water pumps (overseas 1998 and 2000 on in the UK/Europe). Incompatible with #1 and #2.

These pumps forewarn of their pending demise by leaking from a weep hole made for that purpose hidden on the body of the pump underneath the pulley. It is a sure sign the pump bearing is about to expire. There
is a kit made for the Buick 215 (used to be sold for 12$ by NAPA) but it is unnecessary as any machinist has the parts. They are generic. (shrug) These days, at current prices, buying new is wise. The future is not
merely a matter of future pricing, but future availability.

Beware. Like all areas, parts sourcing has become dangerous. The same pumps for #1 and #2 will range from 35£ to 450£ today. See below. You can find cheaper than these with a longer search.

The length of the nose does not get me excited about which pump variant within #1 and #2 I buy. The long noses (for viscous fans) can be ground off (as the MMC did)..merely done better by your local machinist. I
suggest a machinist as they have high speed grinder/cutters that can do it fast enough not to burn the internal bearing as amateurs often do with their home grinder/cutters. Takes a second.

Type 1# https://shorturl.at/pJaod

Type #2 https://shorturl.at/oen20

or other, the majority of sadder suppliers, including most of the trade today.

https://shorturl.at/59wlr

If you have an pre-mid 1990s Morgan Plus 8 (the Works altered the chassis then and moved the engine rearwards) and have trouble fitting the fan belt, don't run the risk of damaging it. You can either:

A. hang the fan belt on the pump as you install it

B. Take a long bar (always a good thing to have) and pry the engine back on its rubber supports to achieve the minor clearance you need.

Good luck.

gmg

P.S. Take the pulley off to take the water pump off. The bolts are different lengths. Note where they go. As they are part of the pumps water jacket, use silicone/RTV/Hylomar and the right gasket (sold with
the pump) on the bolts. LET THE STUFF DRY BEFORE STARTING THE CAR. I wait a day.