Panama 58

My car is a mid June, 1964 production, so late in terms of production. Did the water pumps have dates or not? I see some information saying that dates started roughly late February / early March. I have checked the history and don't seem to find an answer. Thanks.

65vette396

Call Bill Mock in Bartlesville, OK. He's the water pump "expert". That's his primary business. He knows these pumps inside and out plus he rebuilds and sells the correct pumps. I have his number if you can't find it. My opinion is that it should be dated.

Panama 58

Thanks. I know Bill has been around a long time, but I have never spoken with him. Could you please forward his phone number? Thanks.

ptjsk

Please let us know what you find out.

Thanks,

Pat

gbvette62

Small block water pumps were not dated prior to late 65.

Panama 58

One of the vendors in Chicago that rebuilds a lot of water pumps says within their eBay description that prior to February/March of 1964, water pumps didn't have dates. After these dates they did. I have what I believe to be my original w/p, and it has not date. However, I have no way of knowing that it is the original for sure.

65vette396

Bill Mock can be reached at 918-333-0748. He always has an ad in the NCRS Driveline magazine.

superpm

This thread from 2012 may help (or not)

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...8559326-a.html

W Guy

The 608 pumps were dated. There was a period of time in early '64 with no dates.

Verne

Panama 58

I spoke with Bill Mock today and he is a wealth of information and a very nice guy. I don't want to attempt to put words in his mouth, so I will try to transfer my new found knowledge by applying it to my situation. You will need to determine your own outcome based on your car.

Bill did confirm that 608 water pumps were cast with dates beginning sometime in March of 1964 but not too specific as to when during the month, which is understandable. My engine assembly was May 27, 1964, so somewhere within a two-plus month timeline to when the dates began.

With this in mind considering there were thousands of these things made and variable inventories of the non-dated ones at any point in time when the dated ones started rolling in, I believe that mine falls in that category of "could have gone either way". Yes I know that many Chevy models got these WP's. Someone will probably project just how many of these things were still in inventory when the dated ones where shipped and how they were allocated among all of the GM plant inventories, but I am not that guy. So, I am gong to rebuild the one that came off of my 77,500 mile car and not bother with a date. Bill felt that if I was going to have the car judged, it should have a date on it just to be safe. With all due respect to Bill, he wants to sell me a $250 dated WP. If it were a clear cut answer in my situation I believe he would have said so, but he did not, nor was the information compelling enough to believe my car came with a dated WP. Probably will never know for sure, but I learned a lot and promised to share what I learned.

gbvette62

608 was the low horse pump, without the by-pass. The high horse engines used the pump with the by-pass, casting 3782609, and I didn't think 609's got dated. The 609 was replaced by the 3859326 in 65, and I didn't think early 326's got dated either??????

I know I've had 609's without a date, and I'm pretty sure I had an undated 326 once too.

Panama 58

All good information. My particular thread was directed at the 608, low hp pump. Thanks.

Nowhere Man

I would bet they only are the middle man I wouldn't believe they do anything in house