Water Pump Brands
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Ga
Water Pump Brands
OK, looks like the water pump is sot on the '89. I can order a original from GMparts for about $140.
Just curious about other brands from local vendors NAPA, Pep Boys, AutoZone. Anyone with any experiances they can share. Not to worried about cost but if I can save buck or two for a quality part that's cool.
Just curious about other brands from local vendors NAPA, Pep Boys, AutoZone. Anyone with any experiances they can share. Not to worried about cost but if I can save buck or two for a quality part that's cool.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 334
Likes: 1
From: Fl
Most water pumps on the market are rebranded GMB(biggest water pump maker in the world), which is what I put in most anything.
Never have problems.
On the vette, I put a "FlowKooler" pump, which is a a rebranded GMB(GMB's "high performance pump) also.
They say they are different, but I got one from AZ & the one from summitracing. Identical.
Summitracing sells them for $100.
Cant remember what AZ sold it for.
Never have problems.
On the vette, I put a "FlowKooler" pump, which is a a rebranded GMB(GMB's "high performance pump) also.
They say they are different, but I got one from AZ & the one from summitracing. Identical.
Summitracing sells them for $100.
Cant remember what AZ sold it for.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 0
From: GA
I've bought new water pumps from Pep Boys, the box said Bosch. No idea who actually made them but they've worked just fine, the oldest one is 3 years now. I also opened them up (back plate) and installed an impeller disk on them (like the Flowkoolers). Made the disks from 301HH stainless and riveted them to the impeller.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Believe it or not,I got a brand new pump from Autozone for I think 30 bucks or a bit less.Never had a problem with it and had it on for a few years.It was a perfect fit and looked identical to the stcok GM unit.Car ran exactly the same,cooled the same and everything.It also had the lifetime warranty when I bought it but never had to use it.Im not a big fan of parts from the chain stores but never had any trouble using their waterpumps on any of my cars,and they saved me alot of money.
Ive always wondered if I had a new GM unit in the box with some of them.Many times,there would be a shiny area where the casting numbers from GM stuff would be,but grounded and smoothed off.
Ive always wondered if I had a new GM unit in the box with some of them.Many times,there would be a shiny area where the casting numbers from GM stuff would be,but grounded and smoothed off.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Stewart water pumps are built with very high quality.
The water pump shaft bearings are a lot bigger than stock and I've read that NASCAR race cars use Stewart water pumps.
Stewart also, uses the stock GM castings but, improves the internal flow.
The water pump shaft bearings are a lot bigger than stock and I've read that NASCAR race cars use Stewart water pumps.
Stewart also, uses the stock GM castings but, improves the internal flow.
Last edited by GKK; Feb 6, 2006 at 12:53 AM.
