L98 Water Pump
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,262
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From: E. Amherst NY
L98 Water Pump
This seems like a dumb question to me, but..
Is there a difference between a "Corvette" water pump ('86 here) and a short small block Chevy water pump? I would think there would be, hence why some catalogs (ala Summit) lists specific pumps for the Corvette. But the other part of me thinks it's a gimmick to get more money out of my wallet.
Thoughts?
Is there a difference between a "Corvette" water pump ('86 here) and a short small block Chevy water pump? I would think there would be, hence why some catalogs (ala Summit) lists specific pumps for the Corvette. But the other part of me thinks it's a gimmick to get more money out of my wallet.
Thoughts?
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 560
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From: Hamilton New Jersey
Most small blocks use standard rotation pumps where as corvettes use reverse rotation pumps, its because of the belt routing. Basically the impellers in the pumps face a different direction, if you use the incorrect pump you will have overheating issues due to little to no coolant flow.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 293
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It doesn't make sense. Because it isn't the case. The Gen II (LTx) engines don't necessarily have a reverse rotation water pump. Their pumps are driven off of the camshaft, not a belt. The Gen II engines have reverse flow cooling systems. That is different than a reverse rotation pump.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Hamilton New Jersey
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Safety Car
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From: Atlantis
Cruise-In I Veteran
I 'beeve' both my C4's have the short pump.
BTW.........
I've taken some of these pumps apart and the impeller had straight blades on them sooooooo.....
The the ones I looked at (not saying ALL impellers are the same) didn't have a 'directional bias' as to pumping 'better' in one direction because it was a Vette pump vs. a standard SBC pump.
I've also seen curved blade impellers on some pumps.
Someone mentioned above the pump wouldn't pump as well if a standard pump is used instead of a Vette specific pump.
THat's highly possible in some cases but it wasn't the case with a couple of my Vette pumps.
I pulled the rear cover on two C4 pumps I replaced and they both had straight blades, to my surprise.
Anybody collaborate on this with your pumps?????
Just a 'FYI'.........
Oh, I'm running a Stewart 'High Flo' pump on my '91 (Vette Specific) and it didn't help it run ANY cooler than the leaky pump it replaced.
It's ok in the cooler months but in the hotter ones 240~250* engine temps make it be a PITA.
I didn't pull the cover on it to see what type impeller it had.
AS always, YMMV..