Performance Water Pump for 1985 Corvette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 31
Likes: 4
From: Twin Cities, Minnesota
Performance Water Pump for 1985 Corvette
HI all,
My 40 year old 1985 C4 water pump just failed. I am looking at buying a high flow aluminum pump. I am very new at working on my car but I want to try replacing the pump myself. I just checked Summit Racing's site and found a couple of brands for my Vette.
1. FlowKooler Hi-Flow Mechanical Water Pumps for 1984-1991 CORVETTE - 1688
but this one is out of stock.
2. Tuff Stuff Performance Supercool Water Pumps for 1984-1991 CORVETTE - 1635N
3. Edelbrock is way out of my price range.
Do you have experience with the above brands and do you have other recommendations. I just looked at Summit Racing but are there other vendors that you would recommend? Thanks and best regards.
My 40 year old 1985 C4 water pump just failed. I am looking at buying a high flow aluminum pump. I am very new at working on my car but I want to try replacing the pump myself. I just checked Summit Racing's site and found a couple of brands for my Vette.
1. FlowKooler Hi-Flow Mechanical Water Pumps for 1984-1991 CORVETTE - 1688
but this one is out of stock.
2. Tuff Stuff Performance Supercool Water Pumps for 1984-1991 CORVETTE - 1635N
3. Edelbrock is way out of my price range.
Do you have experience with the above brands and do you have other recommendations. I just looked at Summit Racing but are there other vendors that you would recommend? Thanks and best regards.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 698
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
HI all,
My 40 year old 1985 C4 water pump just failed. I am looking at buying a high flow aluminum pump. I am very new at working on my car but I want to try replacing the pump myself. I just checked Summit Racing's site and found a couple of brands for my Vette.
1. FlowKooler Hi-Flow Mechanical Water Pumps for 1984-1991 CORVETTE - 1688
but this one is out of stock.
2. Tuff Stuff Performance Supercool Water Pumps for 1984-1991 CORVETTE - 1635N
3. Edelbrock is way out of my price range.
Do you have experience with the above brands and do you have other recommendations. I just looked at Summit Racing but are there other vendors that you would recommend? Thanks and best regards.
My 40 year old 1985 C4 water pump just failed. I am looking at buying a high flow aluminum pump. I am very new at working on my car but I want to try replacing the pump myself. I just checked Summit Racing's site and found a couple of brands for my Vette.
1. FlowKooler Hi-Flow Mechanical Water Pumps for 1984-1991 CORVETTE - 1688
but this one is out of stock.
2. Tuff Stuff Performance Supercool Water Pumps for 1984-1991 CORVETTE - 1635N
3. Edelbrock is way out of my price range.
Do you have experience with the above brands and do you have other recommendations. I just looked at Summit Racing but are there other vendors that you would recommend? Thanks and best regards.
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Last edited by Cruisinfanatic; Aug 9, 2025 at 06:55 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 302
Ill also say to go with a stock replacement.
I tried one or these so-called high flow pumps and it ran worse. And that's on a 400+ hp 383. I currently run an O'Reilly stock replacement on it and it runs phenomenally.
https://nastyz28.com/threads/frostbi...9/post-4056235
My experience with the highflow pump starts at post 5. Bottom line is i think those performance impellers are too inefficient at low rpm.
I tried one or these so-called high flow pumps and it ran worse. And that's on a 400+ hp 383. I currently run an O'Reilly stock replacement on it and it runs phenomenally.
https://nastyz28.com/threads/frostbi...9/post-4056235
My experience with the highflow pump starts at post 5. Bottom line is i think those performance impellers are too inefficient at low rpm.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 31
Likes: 4
From: Twin Cities, Minnesota
Thank you ULTM8Z and sharing your experience. The FlowKooler's impeller design is supposed to have higher flow and pressure at low RPM such as idling. I wonder if it is just a bunch of BS.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 31
Likes: 4
From: Twin Cities, Minnesota
Thanks Cruisinfanatic. Looks like you and the rest of the folks who replied are all telling me to stay with a stock pump design. My 1985 L98 engine is basically a truck engine. Lower HP relative to higher torque.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 302
Whether it is or not, theres no benefit for the added cost if your car is bone stock.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 698
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner