Water pump Q?

[knattrass]

My pump does not leak, nor does the shaft wiggle, but there is a hole on the outer casting on the side below/behind the fan mount. In other words, its looks like the casting was not complete because you can look thru the hole and see the shaft spin. The hole is half a penny and may be just cosmetic? I know - post a pic, but I have never had any luck doing that.

[MSeriesRebuild]

My pump does not leak, nor does the shaft wiggle, but there is a hole on the outer casting on the side below/behind the fan mount. In other words, its looks like the casting was not complete because you can look thru the hole and see the shaft spin. The hole is half a penny and may be just cosmetic? I know - post a pic, but I have never had any luck doing that.

No picture necessary. The hole is supposed to be there. It's the weep hole, if & when you see coolant start to drip from it, your shaft seal is bad. Giving the coolant from a leaking seal a place to escape to the outside keeps coolant from destroying the bearing.

It is likely that if the engine has sit for any length of time prior to you starting to repair it, a leak won't be far behind once you put it into service. I would strongly suggest you replace the pump now while off if this has been the case. If you don't, it very probably won't be long until you will be "licking the calf over again" to solve a leaking pump seal as they don't like sitting around.