ZZ383 water pump clearance question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
ZZ383 water pump clearance question
My mechanic has run into a snag with installing the short style water pump onto the ZZ383 even with clearancing. I hear the Edelbrock 8812 fits the ZZ4, but I'm not sure if the zz383 and zz4 are externally identical in which case I'd use that. I also called Edelbrock and they weren't sure if it would fit. Has anyone tried it?
The other option is to grind the pump like numerous people have done. Does anyone have any detailed instructions or pics on where and how much to grind?
The other option is to grind the pump like numerous people have done. Does anyone have any detailed instructions or pics on where and how much to grind?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
I'm not sure what the clearance problem is, but I just installed my 383 and the pulley touched the water pump. I used 4 washers to space out the pulley and did the same for my alt bracket and no clearance issues and everything lines up...
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow, Scotland
find this info on this website http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...10002_98824_-1
dave
If a short water pump is to be used on this engine, there will be clearance problems between the water pump backing plate bolt heads and the composite timing cover used on the Fast Burn 385. Many times this problem can be fixed easily by replacing the bolts on the water pump backing plate with button head Allen bolts. If this approach does not work, the timing cover will need to be replaced with a sheetmetal or any chrome unit. Any small block Chevy timing cover will work on the Fast Burn 385. If the timing cover is replaced, dowel pins are also needed.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
Yeah, I read that too. From what I understand, this Edelbrock pump is supposed to have a little extra clearance which allows it to fit. People say it fits just fine on the ZZ4 but nobody says for sure if it fits the ZZ383 with the stock cover. I thought I saw that the ZZ4 had a different part number for the cover so I thought I'd see who has done it.
After looking at where it was interfering last night, swapping out the bolts wasn't going to work with the short pump I had. Perhaps it was just that pump was shorter than standard or something.
I wound up buying the 8812 pump so I'll know for sure in the next day or two if it does in fact fit.
After looking at where it was interfering last night, swapping out the bolts wasn't going to work with the short pump I had. Perhaps it was just that pump was shorter than standard or something.
I wound up buying the 8812 pump so I'll know for sure in the next day or two if it does in fact fit.
Last edited by yellow94coupe; Dec 11, 2007 at 03:52 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 2
From: walpole ma
I ran into the exact same problem with a customers zz385 hp 350. I ground down the timing cover bolts(only the ones that were hitting)enough to make clearance.It worked great and there is still enough bolt head in case you need to remove cover.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
It fits. It did require a little adjusting of the pulleys to get the belts to line up properly. He already ground the bolts on the cover for fitting the old pump so I'm not sure if that is required for the new pump. I'll double check and see if any pump grinding was required when I pick it up tomorrow.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
It doesn't sound like any additional grinding was necessary. It does have a lot more timing cover clearance, but that does require the alternator to be shimmed forward to line up with the pulley.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,746
Likes: 1,387
When I installed my cast iron Flowkooler water pump....
on my Ramjet (has the new plastic timing cover) I had to grind down 1 or 2 bolts for the timing cover. I also ground down a couple of areas on the water pump itself (just slightly) so the pulleys would not rub on it....but nothing on the Aft side.
