water pump?

[billybob]

The credit card has finally cooled off and figuring its time, with winter being here and all I can do some of the not so desirable mods now. :bang

I'm going to swap out the water pump first with a nice high flow, but looking at all the available choices, I've seen summit, flow kooler, edelbrock, weiand, and milodon to name the most common, but one can not go by propaganda alone.

What's the "Experts Recommendation " as stock configuration is no longer a concern.

Bill

 

[Tom73]

I put a Stewart on my '90 and love it.

tom...

 

[Jack]

Bill:
All are aluminum high flow, hi-po wp’s ... all are pricey compared to an iron pump from Autozone

Stewart ... either Stage 2 ...
http://www.stewartcomponents.com/html/products/chevrolet/stage2.asp

Or Stewart Stage 3 ... ALL Stewart’s are very, very good pumps.
http://www.stewartcomponents.com/html/products/chevrolet/stage3.asp

I have Weiand Team G ... I like.
http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLine/Products/WP/WPRM/8220.html

JACK:gap

 

[TONY TAT2]

Got a" brand new " alluminum pump for my 85 at ABC AUTO/$23,,,,bought my entire exhaust there"walker" dirt cheap also...ya gota shop around for the best price to save the bucks,,,thay were also the cheapest for upper & lower radiator hoses for both the 85 & 78,,,,wall mart is the cheapest for anti freeze

 

[ccflorida]

Do they cool better??

I am looking into hi flow pumps too . I am waiting to hear from Edelbrock on several questions I have.. When it is 90+ here my 79 temp is at 220 without the air on.During the cooler days the temp is 180. Will a hi flow pump make it run cooler?? Also the Victor series pump 8812 requires a 8830 spacer which I understand is no longer available.Also do you need a hi flow thermostat? The cheapest price for this pump so far is $146. Sure would like to get the facts before buying one..

 

[Jack]

? TONY: contact info for ABC AUTO ?

Got a" brand new " alluminum pump for my 85 at ABC AUTO/$23,,,,bought my entire exhaust there"walker" dirt cheap

Tony:
That's a great price for new Al wp!

Do you have contact info for ABC AUTO?

JACK:gap

 

[JohnZ]

If you want an aluminum high-flow pump for its appearance, go ahead; if you think it will solve a cooling problem, it won't. I've been solving people's cooling problems for over 30 years, and I've NEVER seen a cooling problem that was caused (or solved) by a water pump. 99% of cooling problems are related to old corroded radiators, butchered cars with inadequate-capacity cheap replacement radiators, no fan shrouds, wrong fans, no fan clutches, collapsed lower radiator hoses, or missing lower air deflectors on C3's. The stock water pump worked fine when the car was new, and the other components of the cooling system were in place; when those original components get old or have been butchered, it doesn't matter what kind of water pump you have, regardless of the "race-car" hype in the Summit and Jeg's catalogs.

 

[page62]

ccflorida: If your car has the electric auxiliary fan, you can get a replacement switch to turn it on at a lower temp than stock (238°F). That's a good place to start!

 

[ccflorida]

If you want an aluminum high-flow pump for its appearance, go ahead; if you think it will solve a cooling problem, it won't. I've been solving people's cooling problems for over 30 years, and I've NEVER seen a cooling problem that was caused (or solved) by a water pump. 99% of cooling problems are related to old corroded radiators, butchered cars with inadequate-capacity cheap replacement radiators, no fan shrouds, wrong fans, no fan clutches, collapsed lower radiator hoses, or missing lower air deflectors on C3's. The stock water pump worked fine when the car was new, and the other components of the cooling system were in place; when those original components get old or have been butchered, it doesn't matter what kind of water pump you have, regardless of the "race-car" hype in the Summit and Jeg's catalogs.

John, How true.
I have heard this from a number of sources..My Vette is original since I've owned it since 79 and I did replace the radiator core with a 4core and all hoses,t-stat and water pump from a local parts store. Is there a difference in performance of stock water pumps?.. Since I did'nt use the car for 12+ years maybe crud from the block went into the new 4core. I don't know. Do I have the radiator boiled out ? Edelbrock informed me that the Hi Flow pump will help sum within the 5 to 10 degree range. Page62 I have the L48 which doesn't have the electric fan.. I want to stay with the clutch fan.
This 90+ heat for 7 months sure takes a toll. Well what do I do next? Thanks for all the great advice..

Roy

 

[TONY TAT2]

HI JACK!where i live there is pep boys,mechanics auto parts & abc,i get a price quote from the 1st 2 then call abc,thay usually beat their prices to keep the business espically if you call during the week & after 10 am when thay are super slow anyway,,,so i got the new pump for the same price as a rebuilt,,,,another case is tires,same chain store 2 different towns 40 dollar difference cause thay were slow.now there putten up a advanced auto here so i have a little more leverage

 

[TONY TAT2]

HI FLORDIA!!!also flush out the block,remove the water pump and the thermostat .stick in your garden hose and flush that sucker out,youll be surprized how much crap will flow out of it!!!

 

[billybob]

To me cooling wasnt really a concern, but the information that has been provided is good to know.

My main interests were in quality of parts, less strain on the engine, ability to cool both halves equally, and weight reduction.

Bill

 

[ccflorida]

Bill,
If you would like help in making your decision call Jack Wilson at Stewart pumps (336) 859 -2555. I found it to be worth the phone call. He was very informative and helpful in my decision making. Also their web site waterpumps.com has a lot of good information on cooling systems..


Roy

 

[billybob]

Roy,

I'll add them to the list, but I was after more of a end user perspective not the dealer propoganda.

I figure others must have made this decision through research and not impulse (propoganda), and am still awaiting their opinions.

Bill