LT1 Water Pump Options
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 242
LT1 Water Pump Options
94 LT1/ZF6
106k miles
Car has been in storage for about 3 months. I had to move it to its new home this weekend and noticed an 8" wet spot on the cement beneath the water pump area. It ran fine for the hour drive so the opti seems OK at the moment. No other symptoms. Original water pump with 106k miles.
I'm leaning towards mechanical pump but I'm considering electric.
Electric advantages:
-eliminates weep hole
-less parasitic loss - noticeable? does the cost justify the gains?
-more efficient cooling?
Mechanical:
-bolt on installation
-from what I've read, weep hole can be modded with drain line to avoid soaking opti in the event of failure
-should last longer than electric
It may come down to pricing for me. I think the Mezeire HD electric is about $270. I'm not sure on the mechanical pumps. Napa has remanufactured mechanical pumps around $150. Advanced Auto has a new pump for $130 (brand is ASC, quality?). It seems new 'name brand' pumps are too costly.
106k miles
Car has been in storage for about 3 months. I had to move it to its new home this weekend and noticed an 8" wet spot on the cement beneath the water pump area. It ran fine for the hour drive so the opti seems OK at the moment. No other symptoms. Original water pump with 106k miles.
I'm leaning towards mechanical pump but I'm considering electric.
Electric advantages:
-eliminates weep hole
-less parasitic loss - noticeable? does the cost justify the gains?
-more efficient cooling?
Mechanical:
-bolt on installation
-from what I've read, weep hole can be modded with drain line to avoid soaking opti in the event of failure
-should last longer than electric
It may come down to pricing for me. I think the Mezeire HD electric is about $270. I'm not sure on the mechanical pumps. Napa has remanufactured mechanical pumps around $150. Advanced Auto has a new pump for $130 (brand is ASC, quality?). It seems new 'name brand' pumps are too costly.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 17
From: woodbury new jersey
ill be going with the electric when i change mine out this spring. reasons being the elimination of the weep hole. i think the extra 100-150 is worth not having to do this job again any time soon. if theres is any hp gain to be had, hey thats just a nice bonus. im not really expecting to feel any though. it should also keep the car a little cooler when sitting in traffic
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,742
Likes: 43
From: Color my life with the chaos of trouble.
I have a Meziere HD electric on my track car that seems to work great... I don't know how long it will hold up yet, but the mechanical ones didn't seem to like the sustained 7k rpm and kept coming apart. What I did learn through quite a few tries with the mechanical is that they are not all created equal. The ONLY mech. pump I would ever recommend is the GM Performance parts HD one. Whatever you do, don't buy a Duralast or any other "cheap" pump!!!!!! There is a reason that the name brand pumps cost more. Remember that. I pulled one of the cheapos apart and the internals are pure garbage compared to the HD (or even OEM). The impeller is some cheapo stamped thing, the drive shaft was rusted (non-stainless) straight out of the box, and even the bearings are unbelievably cheap. To go even farther there were only 2 bearing packs as opposed to 4 on the GM HD pump.
EDIT: If you go mechanical, do yourself a favor and buy the right one so you won't be doing it again.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ACF-12527739/
On the same note, if you go electric, but the biggest Meziere. Anything else is a waste of your money. Just my .02.
EDIT: If you go mechanical, do yourself a favor and buy the right one so you won't be doing it again.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ACF-12527739/
On the same note, if you go electric, but the biggest Meziere. Anything else is a waste of your money. Just my .02.
Last edited by RedLS1GTO; Feb 23, 2010 at 08:37 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 3
From: Maine
I'll just keep replacing the opti every time I replace the water pump. Replacing both at the same time along with the plugs and wires if those are due is good preventive maintenance in my opinion and all four fit nicely into one project.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 3
From: Tampa Fl
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,742
Likes: 43
From: Color my life with the chaos of trouble.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 242
Thanks for the replies!
I'm down to 2 pumps under consideration:
The HD GM Performance mechanical and the Mezeire HD electric.
They both seem like great options. The electric runs the cost up just a bit more but offers some nice features such as eliminating weep hole and potential oil leak - the potential for a few more ponies is also very appealing. Do the $270 priced HD Mezeiere that I see on summit include the wiring and relay? The pic seems to show it but the description has no mention. Then off to the right side Summit lists a Meziere relay kit - so is it safe to assume that the relay/wiring is not included with the pump? This is what I am looking at: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MEZ-WP118HD/ It looks like a simple 12v fan relay and some wiring, if so I can dig those things up in my garage for free.
96polovette is right, this would be the time to replace the opti. But, my plan is to convert to a vented unit in another year or so (reason being is I intend on an LT4 HotCam) and I'd rather not have to buy 2 optis in such a short timeframe. As long as this one works, its staying in there.
Thanks again!
I'm down to 2 pumps under consideration:
The HD GM Performance mechanical and the Mezeire HD electric.
They both seem like great options. The electric runs the cost up just a bit more but offers some nice features such as eliminating weep hole and potential oil leak - the potential for a few more ponies is also very appealing. Do the $270 priced HD Mezeiere that I see on summit include the wiring and relay? The pic seems to show it but the description has no mention. Then off to the right side Summit lists a Meziere relay kit - so is it safe to assume that the relay/wiring is not included with the pump? This is what I am looking at: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MEZ-WP118HD/ It looks like a simple 12v fan relay and some wiring, if so I can dig those things up in my garage for free.
96polovette is right, this would be the time to replace the opti. But, my plan is to convert to a vented unit in another year or so (reason being is I intend on an LT4 HotCam) and I'd rather not have to buy 2 optis in such a short timeframe. As long as this one works, its staying in there.
Thanks again!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
The other thing to remember is that if you go electric, you really should remove the water pump drive shaft which means removing the crank hub and timing chain cover. Granted that is a one time deal, but it is a fair amount of extra work. I like to take my car on trips and for me there is a certain peace of mind that if I do have a problem, I can go to any chevy dealer and they will have no problem fixing my car without wondering what this electric pump is.
So that's my view which is obviously not universally shared........
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 242
Went with the Meziere.
I decided to do something a bit different, at least by my standards, and went with the electric. Ordered the HD Meziere (55gpm) this morning. I checked under the car last night and sure enough there is another small puddle. I havent run it since - hoping the opti will survive.
Would you wire the electric pump to run anytime the ignition is on or only when the engine is actually running? I'm thinking only when it is running but would like to hear what others have done. Maybe I can tap into the signal wire for the fuel pump relay to energize the water pump relay. That way anytime the fuel pump is energized the water pump will run.
While I'm in there I am considering modding the non vented opti into a vented unit. I saw a good writeup (http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/16758/index.html) and it seems fairly simple. Wondering what the 'valves' in the vacuum lines are? I'm thinking 1 way check valve to protect the opti in the event of a backfire through the intake manifold?
Would you wire the electric pump to run anytime the ignition is on or only when the engine is actually running? I'm thinking only when it is running but would like to hear what others have done. Maybe I can tap into the signal wire for the fuel pump relay to energize the water pump relay. That way anytime the fuel pump is energized the water pump will run.
While I'm in there I am considering modding the non vented opti into a vented unit. I saw a good writeup (http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/16758/index.html) and it seems fairly simple. Wondering what the 'valves' in the vacuum lines are? I'm thinking 1 way check valve to protect the opti in the event of a backfire through the intake manifold?
Team Owner
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From: Riverside County Southern California
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I use stock GM H2O pumps on both Vettes.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 189
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From: New Jersey
I got my meziere HD pump from here http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...id=188&sid=163 its a little cheaper than anywhere else I seen
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 242
I got my meziere HD pump from here http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...id=188&sid=163 its a little cheaper than anywhere else I seen
Brian, I don't plan on tracking the car so hopefully I won't see higher temps. From what I read most people indicate it runs a bit cooler on the street. Were you using the HD pump? I'll be looking for a heavy duty relay.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 242
Rather than start a new thread, I thought I would ask this related question here:
I am installing the Meziere HD pump in a few days. Since I can run the water pump by energizing the relay solenoid I can cycle coolant through the engine even while it is not running.
Will this be a sufficient method to bleed air from the system? My concern is that with the engine off it will never build up the heat to open the thermostat. I'm not sure if there is any flow through the thermostat when in the closed position.
I fully understand that engine on would be the easiest way around this, however I live in a condo complex and the car is not the quietest. If I can get by doing this behind closed doors with the engine off I want to do that rather than potentially annoy the neighbors by idling the motor outside for an extended period.
Thoughts?
I am installing the Meziere HD pump in a few days. Since I can run the water pump by energizing the relay solenoid I can cycle coolant through the engine even while it is not running.
Will this be a sufficient method to bleed air from the system? My concern is that with the engine off it will never build up the heat to open the thermostat. I'm not sure if there is any flow through the thermostat when in the closed position.
I fully understand that engine on would be the easiest way around this, however I live in a condo complex and the car is not the quietest. If I can get by doing this behind closed doors with the engine off I want to do that rather than potentially annoy the neighbors by idling the motor outside for an extended period.
Thoughts?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,837
Likes: 289
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
you want the thermostat to open up
Yes the HD pump
Wish I saw that earlier! Its already a done deal with Summit. Thanks anyway.
Brian, I don't plan on tracking the car so hopefully I won't see higher temps. From what I read most people indicate it runs a bit cooler on the street. Were you using the HD pump? I'll be looking for a heavy duty relay.
Brian, I don't plan on tracking the car so hopefully I won't see higher temps. From what I read most people indicate it runs a bit cooler on the street. Were you using the HD pump? I'll be looking for a heavy duty relay.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 22,999
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
Rather than start a new thread, I thought I would ask this related question here:
I am installing the Meziere HD pump in a few days. Since I can run the water pump by energizing the relay solenoid I can cycle coolant through the engine even while it is not running.
Will this be a sufficient method to bleed air from the system? My concern is that with the engine off it will never build up the heat to open the thermostat. I'm not sure if there is any flow through the thermostat when in the closed position.
I fully understand that engine on would be the easiest way around this, however I live in a condo complex and the car is not the quietest. If I can get by doing this behind closed doors with the engine off I want to do that rather than potentially annoy the neighbors by idling the motor outside for an extended period.
Thoughts?
I am installing the Meziere HD pump in a few days. Since I can run the water pump by energizing the relay solenoid I can cycle coolant through the engine even while it is not running.
Will this be a sufficient method to bleed air from the system? My concern is that with the engine off it will never build up the heat to open the thermostat. I'm not sure if there is any flow through the thermostat when in the closed position.
I fully understand that engine on would be the easiest way around this, however I live in a condo complex and the car is not the quietest. If I can get by doing this behind closed doors with the engine off I want to do that rather than potentially annoy the neighbors by idling the motor outside for an extended period.
Thoughts?
