Sounds like you recovered pretty good. If you were even considering not replacing that pump without extracting those bolts you deserve the abuse. And I wasn't born with automotive knowledge, I read a book on automotive math, and I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

Yeah, you HAVE to get those bolts out otherwise the pump'll leak. I'm sure that buick small block is the same as my SBC which means 4 bolts hold the pump in, 2 on either side of the pump on either side of the gasket. You're gonna have to invest in some extractors, or drill them out and retap or helicoil. I'd try to extract them first, make sure you soak 'em in PB Blast. That shit's bad ass, isn't it?

 

I'll refer to it as bad ass from now on, IF I can get the 4 bolt studs remaining loosened.

I did manage to get the thermostat housing bolt stud out, using PB Blaster (my WD-40 is almost out anyway) and my new vise grips.

I've been using B-12 Chemtool to clean the bolts off, the gasket surface, etc. THAT shit is awesome.

Oh and I managed to get the pump off. I pried at it with like, 5 screwdrivers driven into various spots, but it finally came off. Stuffed a cut sock in each side of the...other side of the pump, and sprayed the crap out of the area with a steam cleaner I bought just for using on the cars. That thing is coming in handy recently with this grimed up engine.

So yeah, 4 headless bolts remaining, then I'll buy new bolts and put it back together.

Someone on the Buick board recommended removing the timing cover, and just replacing that, or drilling out the holes off of the car. A VERY helpful idea, but hopefully there's enough of these bolts left on the car to remove them without going through all of that.

Oh and there's those pesky studs to put into the pulley end of the pump. I don't have a table-mounted vise or I'm sure it'd be much simpler. I guess when I get these bolts out I'll reward myself with a trip to a pawn shop, or at worst, Home Depot.

On a side note...my Datsun stranded me on the way to work. Clutch went to the floor. Recently had the slave cylinder replaced, looks like the master cylinder just konked out. It's at the shop, I need to have at least ONE car on the road.
So in some sense, yes, old cars are a royal PITA. But they're still my preference.

And I have GOT to look into that job closer to home...I can afford a taxi for 5 miles if I have this problem again, but 30 miles, each way, and it starts to not pay to work.

 

If you have room you might be able to just nut and bolt the fan blade to the hub, forget about the studs.

 

Oh good call, might try that.

Also...I got the pump off, and there is a LOT more bolt covered by the pump than I'd thought. I got 2 of the 4 bolt studs out, the other 2 are soaking right now, as well as the one on the alternator that got snapped a few weeks ago. Those vise grips are really helping.

It's also somewhat overcast and very windy out, which makes for good wrenching weather. Except now it's gonna rain. Looks like I'm done for a hour or so till I can tug at the other 2 bolts anyhow.

Looks like I'll be renting a car for the weekend to get to work. Doesn't look like either car will be finished in time.

 

Ok well I have an update.

First of all, I was worrying over nothing with those studs. Rusted in beyond belief? Must have been the only thing that I didn't think was going to snap in half when I turned the wrench! They came out, I just had to pry with a screwdriver between 2 of the bolts in order to get them out. Pry, rotate, pry, rotate, etc. The new ones were a different story. They must have been just a hair too large, or the threads were not correct, because it took the Vise Grips, WD-40, and lots of prying to get them installed. But hey, they're studs, they go in once, and never come out, right?

I am about a day from getting it done, except, I work tomorrow and Friday, so maybe this weekend I can check it for driving.

I ended up with a broken bolt in the timing cover (bolt goes through water pump, and holds the alternator bracket, so it's kinda important) that I mulled over for about a week as to how to get it out without breaking something else, or getting in over my head.

I decided that removing the timing cover, repacking the oil pump, sealing yet another seal on the timing cover, removing and re-installing the distributor...just was too much for me to handle in one sitting. All just to get the timing cover off, and then still, having to have it drilled out, probably at a machine shop, as my drill is pathetic. I considered spending the money investing in some air tools and big enough compressor, but that is not a priority, with a wedding coming up.

So I put the pump back on and even got some new bolts. There's still THIS to deal with (that is a bolt drilled out, with a extractor tip snapped off inside):


What I decided, was to stuff gasket sealer in the hole created by the water pump on the bolt. On that, I stuck the 2 tabs from the thermostat gasket (for the 2 bolt holes). That makes a nice barrier, so I have a deep enough space...to J-B weld in a stud. Incidentally, it's going to be the stud from the water pump, because I can then use one of the nuts from the old stud, to tighten down on the bracket for the alternator.

Hopefully all will go well, and I will post the aftermath.