I went with Gates as well, works great.
Water Pump choice
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
GM OE is exactly what is says - general motors original equipment. this is more first line, original factory hardware. AC Delco "professional" is a play on words and clever marketing scheme. professional parts are usually third party parts, repackaged as AC Delco. they do meet GM specs for the part, but they could be made by anyone and made anywhere - china, mexico, ??? I have used "professional" and for the most part never an issue. there is usually a big difference in price from GM OE vs. "professional." I've bought AC Delco professional radiator hoses, and under the stick on label was a NAPA label. 
there's a disclaimer that usually goes with ACD "professional" parts -
here's a cut and paste from an ACD L98 water pump -
there's a disclaimer that usually goes with ACD "professional" parts -
here's a cut and paste from an ACD L98 water pump -
Note: ACDelco partners with other manufacturers to supply the parts your car was originally built with. This product is in a ACDelco package, however the part may have been manufactured by an independent ACDelco supplier and could have a different color or shape than the product image above
Last edited by Joe C; Jun 29, 2017 at 04:08 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 363
From: Central Alabama
here is an interesting timeline from GM heritage. Parts of it explain Delphi's history.
https://history.gmheritagecenter.com...motive_Systems
https://history.gmheritagecenter.com...motive_Systems
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