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that troll guy · 08-03-2010, 10:58 PM

I have an 88 Winnie chieftian (chevy p30 van). I changed the alt belt and that was hard enough. I want (don't know if I need) to change the water pump, thermostat, fan clutch, and related hoses. What do I take apart to get in there. Do I pull the radiator and go through the front. Do I pull the alt & a/c comp & go through the doghouse (working mostly by feel?) or do I need to split the fan shroud and go at the pump from the bottom. I have done a lot of work on 454's but never with so little access. I was gonna let a shop do it but the $$$ just don't wanna leave my pocket. Also, the dash air has never worked, and I don't plan on fixing it. Should I pull the belts and comp to avoid bearing probs later. Any advice is greatly valued. I wanna do all the cooling system work due to an overheat in lake havasu. I think it was due to a cracked expansion tank. It had been cracked a long time. I also have a little shaft play and noise coming from the fan clutch or water pump. She don't overheat, but, better safe than sorry. Thanks.

Gary - K7GLD · 08-04-2010, 10:52 AM

For at least a bit of a reply, IRV2 member Jimelliot has info on a better water pump for the P30/454 setup that helps head off engine overheating issues.

I know what you mean on the near impossibility of access to belts and stuff on the front of the 454 in the P30 setup - the serpentine belt on ours had been just replaced before we bought it late last summer - but for some idiotic reason, the 2 V-belts were NOT changed at the same time...

They LOOK generally serviceable - but there is only one of them driving the AC compressor - and it had an annoying squeal when the AC was being used.

I tightened the adjustment enough to get it stopped, but worry about it failing at the worse time and place. I forget what else is driven off that same belt - hope it's nothing critical!

The AC compressor pulley has a 2-belt groove - but the driving pulley has only one groove - 2 driving belts sure would be better for proper drive without excessive belt tightness...

Good luck!