Rebuilt Water Pump
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Having replaced my share of water pumps in a variety of cars over the years, I have come to realize that you simply get what you pay for. Caveat Emptor!! 
Most water pumps that you get at the chain parts stores are "remanufactured". That usually means that you get new bearings, seals, impeller, shaft, and a carefully checked housing. "Rebuilt" pumps usually just get new bearings and seals. That's not to say that a "remanufactured" pump may fail any quicker than a rebuilt pump.
Given the work involved to R&R a L98 or LT1 pump, I would spend the extra and go with a new AC Delco pump.
Most water pumps that you get at the chain parts stores are "remanufactured". That usually means that you get new bearings, seals, impeller, shaft, and a carefully checked housing. "Rebuilt" pumps usually just get new bearings and seals. That's not to say that a "remanufactured" pump may fail any quicker than a rebuilt pump.
Given the work involved to R&R a L98 or LT1 pump, I would spend the extra and go with a new AC Delco pump.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
Originally Posted by Pete K
If you have a local supplier that sells Airtex, buy a new pump from them. It is a gm pump, in the box, with the casting number ground off. $65 (approx) vs almost $200 list for a new gm pump.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,517
Likes: 19
Most parts in the automotive world are "reboxed"
Ac-delco, for example, makes boxes. Everything in them is made by someone else. Airtex pays gm for pumps and reboxes them. My buddy manages an auto parts store for 25 years. Most of the new products are reboxed. You can save lost of money, and get the same parts, if you have inside info on this matter.
Ac-delco, for example, makes boxes. Everything in them is made by someone else. Airtex pays gm for pumps and reboxes them. My buddy manages an auto parts store for 25 years. Most of the new products are reboxed. You can save lost of money, and get the same parts, if you have inside info on this matter.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by Pete K
Most parts in the automotive world are "reboxed"
Ac-delco, for example, makes boxes. Everything in them is made by someone else. Airtex pays gm for pumps and reboxes them. My buddy manages an auto parts store for 25 years. Most of the new products are reboxed. You can save lost of money, and get the same parts, if you have inside info on this matter.
Ac-delco, for example, makes boxes. Everything in them is made by someone else. Airtex pays gm for pumps and reboxes them. My buddy manages an auto parts store for 25 years. Most of the new products are reboxed. You can save lost of money, and get the same parts, if you have inside info on this matter.
I once bought a waterpump for another GM car from the parts store.It was listed as a "NEW" pump.I took it out of the box and it was all GM,all brand new and could see the shiny spot where the GM production numbers were grounded off.I forget the name of the brand the box was,but I was shocked to learn that.Nowadays,when shopping around for parts and comparing prices,I usually ask them to take it out of the box and get a good look at it.Sometimes its a new GM unit far cheaper than what Id pay at the dealer.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 4
From: Tracy CA
I bought one from that guy on ebay. It lasted about 4 months before it started to leak from the large outlet pipe. That metal hose fitting where it attaches into the pump housing started leaking after a short period of time.
I sealed it with silicone when I changed it to a meziere pump - but it was still alot of work.
I sealed it with silicone when I changed it to a meziere pump - but it was still alot of work.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 0
From: royal palm beach florida
Originally Posted by c4cruiser
Having replaced my share of water pumps in a variety of cars over the years, I have come to realize that you simply get what you pay for. Caveat Emptor!!
Most water pumps that you get at the chain parts stores are "remanufactured". That usually means that you get new bearings, seals, impeller, shaft, and a carefully checked housing. "Rebuilt" pumps usually just get new bearings and seals. That's not to say that a "remanufactured" pump may fail any quicker than a rebuilt pump.
Given the work involved to R&R a L98 or LT1 pump, I would spend the extra and go with a new AC Delco pump.
Most water pumps that you get at the chain parts stores are "remanufactured". That usually means that you get new bearings, seals, impeller, shaft, and a carefully checked housing. "Rebuilt" pumps usually just get new bearings and seals. That's not to say that a "remanufactured" pump may fail any quicker than a rebuilt pump.
Given the work involved to R&R a L98 or LT1 pump, I would spend the extra and go with a new AC Delco pump.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,044
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Originally Posted by mtsumedi
I am looking for a replacement water pump and this guy on Ebay has rebuilt water pumps. Is a rebuilt unit a good or bad idea?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
"Airtex pays GM for pumps and reboxes them."
What you find in a lot of cases is suppliers make 10,000 units of a certain spec item ;
half are boxed with the OE brand and the rest are "white boxed' for aftermarket sale.In this instance it was probably easier to grind the GM #off than cast a no name housing.
What you find in a lot of cases is suppliers make 10,000 units of a certain spec item ;
half are boxed with the OE brand and the rest are "white boxed' for aftermarket sale.In this instance it was probably easier to grind the GM #off than cast a no name housing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
Certain places like napa and murray's have re-man AC pumps. If everything has been changed all that is original should be the casting.
Even a new one can go south and re-mans carry a good warraty, the only problem no matter which way you go is, the job of swapping a PITA.
Even a new one can go south and re-mans carry a good warraty, the only problem no matter which way you go is, the job of swapping a PITA.
