C1 & C2 Corvettes General C1 Corvette & C2 Corvette Discussion, Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Project Builds, Restorations

Water Pump question....

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 6, 2008 | 06:34 PM
  #1  
macdarren's Avatar
macdarren
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 2
From: Corona CA
Default Water Pump question....

I was wondering.....is there any way to determine if a water pump is original....if so is there some point in keeping an original unit?

I have owned my car for a long time and it was a pretty original driver when I bought it...and while I am not a stickler for originality I do try to not make any changes to the car that can't be undone. I also try to keep any original parts that I remove.

Well I am moving and going through all my old parts. I have from time to time changed out the water pump and I have several, one that might be the original. If there is some way to identify it from the rest I will hang on to it. Maybe get it rebuilt and sell with the car or sell to someone that needs a period replacement. If they is no way to ID it or there is no big reason to keep it then I will just get rid of the whole collection.

Thanks
Darren

P.S. this is a 1965 365hp car
Reply
Old May 6, 2008 | 10:06 PM
  #2  
magicv8's Avatar
magicv8
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,246
Likes: 21
From: Going too fast over the hill. Iowa
Default

water pump housings have a date code cast into them. IMO the date should precede the engine assembly date by a month or so. If you are having the car judged they will allow more than that - probably up to 6 months
Reply
Old May 7, 2008 | 12:13 AM
  #3  
65 vette dude's Avatar
65 vette dude
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,461
Likes: 18
From: cooper city florida
Default

The correct pump for your car is the 326 pump. It has the 1/2 inch bypass which is corvette specific,and fairly rare. There are thousands of 326 pumps out there but they were made for trucks and have a 3/4 inch bypass,and they need an adapter to use on a corvette. They didn't start to date code that pump until Nov 1965. Soooooooooo, if you have a non dated 326 pump,with the 1/2" bypass,you have the correct,and very possibly the original water pump. By the way the 1/2 inch is actually the inside diameter of the hose opening. I believe if you measure across the bypass hole in the top of the pump,it will measure 3/4",but that is the corvette pump.
Reply
Old May 7, 2008 | 08:37 AM
  #4  
LSUvetteguy's Avatar
LSUvetteguy
Race Director
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 13,671
Likes: 14
From: Down on the bayou in south Louisiana
St. Jude Donor '10
Default

Originally Posted by 65 vette dude
The correct pump for your car is the 326 pump. It has the 1/2 inch bypass which is corvette specific,and fairly rare. There are thousands of 326 pumps out there but they were made for trucks and have a 3/4 inch bypass,and they need an adapter to use on a corvette. They didn't start to date code that pump until Nov 1965. Soooooooooo, if you have a non dated 326 pump,with the 1/2" bypass,you have the correct,and very possibly the original water pump. By the way the 1/2 inch is actually the inside diameter of the hose opening. I believe if you measure across the bypass hole in the top of the pump,it will measure 3/4",but that is the corvette pump.
Reply
Old May 7, 2008 | 08:54 AM
  #5  
ctjackster's Avatar
ctjackster
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 24
From: Westport CT
Default

Originally Posted by 65 vette dude
The correct pump for your car is the 326 pump. It has the 1/2 inch bypass which is corvette specific,and fairly rare. There are thousands of 326 pumps out there but they were made for trucks and have a 3/4 inch bypass,and they need an adapter to use on a corvette. They didn't start to date code that pump until Nov 1965. Soooooooooo, if you have a non dated 326 pump,with the 1/2" bypass,you have the correct,and very possibly the original water pump. By the way the 1/2 inch is actually the inside diameter of the hose opening. I believe if you measure across the bypass hole in the top of the pump,it will measure 3/4",but that is the corvette pump.
well-written piece on the 65 SHP water pump, and the dating issue that came into being (I think that there is still some question as to whether non-dated pumps were being installed well after Nov 65 though).
Reply
Old May 7, 2008 | 11:18 AM
  #6  
RoadKing96's Avatar
RoadKing96
Drifting
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 9
From: Holly Springs, Nort Cackalacky / Jupiter, Florida
Default

The full part number is 3859326 and I just wanted to add that I believe the front pulley mount should have only 4 holes and NOT the 8 that some reflect (other experts can chime in to correct if I am wrong)

The question I have is I notice that some have GM1, GM2,......GM8 etc near the part number 3859326. Is there some significance to which would be correct? I assume that the later GMx numbers were either over the counter replacements OR just came later...??

Are the GM1's for '63 GM2's for '64 etc...?

Thanks
Reply
Old May 7, 2008 | 01:46 PM
  #7  
macdarren's Avatar
macdarren
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 2
From: Corona CA
Default

Okay, thanks for the information.

I will sort thru the pumps I have and see if any might be original or suitable as original replacements. My car is a very early 65, so probably as mentioned it won't have an actual date stamp. But if I have any extras that might be stamped a bit too late for my car or earlier unstamped I will hang on to them maybe offer them up as a pay it forward.

Darren
Reply
Old May 7, 2008 | 01:51 PM
  #8  
JohnZ's Avatar
JohnZ
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Default

Originally Posted by RoadKing96
The question I have is I notice that some have GM1, GM2,......GM8 etc near the part number 3859326. Is there some significance to which would be correct? I assume that the later GMx numbers were either over the counter replacements OR just came later...??

Are the GM1's for '63 GM2's for '64 etc...?

Thanks
The GM1, GM2, etc. are foundry pattern numbers - doesn't mean anything relative to dates or usage. Water pump dates aren't checked in judging - they can't be seen with the pulley installed.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old May 7, 2008 | 04:58 PM
  #9  
Brumbach's Avatar
Brumbach
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 960
Likes: 25
From: Middlesboro KY
Default

I've got my original waterpump from my 69 camaro SS 396. Unfortunately, I sold the car in 1971. Think I'll build the car around my waterpump. Anyone have the rest of my car?
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Water Pump question....





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:42 AM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE