3116 Cat Impeller

[Mustang64]

Looking for some advise on replacing the impeller on my port 3116 Cat in my 1999 370 AC
The boat has just been put on the hard for the season. I closed seacock valves for both port and STBD engine. Removed the strainer lid for the STBD engine and poured antifreeze into the strainer with the engine running with no issues; however, the port engine would not pull any antifreeze leaving me thinking that time has come to replace the impeller.
Could the impeller be the issue and any advice on replacing the impeller would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dtfeld]

Not a hard job IF you have access and the room to pull the impeller out. I have 3126's and the biggest issue on my engines is the oil gallery with the pressure switch and sender are in the way not leaving enough room to get the tool into the threads and certainly not enough room to pull the impeller out.

I read on other forums to pull the entire pump out and do the impeller on the bench. I have used this method and its a pretty easy job (for a boat). The pump is held in place with 2 bolts, and you have two hoses to deal with. Once everything is loose, I rotate the pump outward and back. Install is the opposite.

I found a two impeller w/plastic threaded puller on ebay for about $80. The tool or a correct thread bolt is necessary to get the impeller out of the housing.