03 Water Pump Brand Preference?
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 65
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From: Madison - Huntsville AL
03 Water Pump Brand Preference?
03 LS1 40k miles
I'm about to replace my water pump and thermostat due to a small leak and visible drops on the front spring, along with belt squeaking...
Is there a better quality pump or any other alternatives i need to be aware of.
I usually go with AC Delco but wanted to bounce this off the group before I purchase.
And here is something I was told by an Ebay seller:
Hi Nick,
If you are talking about part#251-744 and part#252-846, one of these are the hight quilty brand of ACDelco. Part# 252-846 is their ACDelco Profesional brand. Both fit per ACDelco's catalog.
Thanks guys for your opinion(s).
Nick Nichols
I'm about to replace my water pump and thermostat due to a small leak and visible drops on the front spring, along with belt squeaking...
Is there a better quality pump or any other alternatives i need to be aware of.
I usually go with AC Delco but wanted to bounce this off the group before I purchase.
And here is something I was told by an Ebay seller:
Hi Nick,
If you are talking about part#251-744 and part#252-846, one of these are the hight quilty brand of ACDelco. Part# 252-846 is their ACDelco Profesional brand. Both fit per ACDelco's catalog.
Thanks guys for your opinion(s).
Nick Nichols
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,448
Likes: 1,155
From: Dyer, IN
03 LS1 40k miles
I'm about to replace my water pump and thermostat due to a small leak and visible drops on the front spring, along with belt squeaking...
Is there a better quality pump or any other alternatives i need to be aware of.
I usually go with AC Delco but wanted to bounce this off the group before I purchase.
And here is something I was told by an Ebay seller:
Hi Nick,
If you are talking about part#251-744 and part#252-846, one of these are the hight quilty brand of ACDelco. Part# 252-846 is their ACDelco Profesional brand. Both fit per ACDelco's catalog.
Thanks guys for your opinion(s).
Nick Nichols
I'm about to replace my water pump and thermostat due to a small leak and visible drops on the front spring, along with belt squeaking...
Is there a better quality pump or any other alternatives i need to be aware of.
I usually go with AC Delco but wanted to bounce this off the group before I purchase.
And here is something I was told by an Ebay seller:
Hi Nick,
If you are talking about part#251-744 and part#252-846, one of these are the hight quilty brand of ACDelco. Part# 252-846 is their ACDelco Profesional brand. Both fit per ACDelco's catalog.
Thanks guys for your opinion(s).
Nick Nichols
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 359
Likes: 7
From: St. Paul MN
I also had drippage on the leaf spring, and ended up needing new gaskets and some block sanding. I reused my stock pump and had to sand down the mating surfaces due to some pitting that allowed the leak. Couple thousand miles since then, and no issues.
water-pump-gasket-failure-w-galled-bolts-what-to-do
You may use a section of rubber hose to isolate the location of the chirping (ie. stethoscope). If it's not coming directly from the water pump pulley, I would guess one of the idlers. If the water pump is squealing, I would look for drippage from the bell of the pump housing.
Todd
water-pump-gasket-failure-w-galled-bolts-what-to-do
You may use a section of rubber hose to isolate the location of the chirping (ie. stethoscope). If it's not coming directly from the water pump pulley, I would guess one of the idlers. If the water pump is squealing, I would look for drippage from the bell of the pump housing.
Todd
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Siloam Springs AR
Check out the C6 pump
If you confirm the water pump is bad I would look at the newer C6 water pump. It is a little less rotating mass and virtually the same price. I got a set of arp bolts because mine were a little pitted. I think the older style c5 integrates the thermostat with the water neck making for a more expensive replacement. The c6 is two pieces. You might check my facts on the thermostat, but I think it is accurate. Best you can do without going electric imo.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Maybe not.
This one does an excellent job as well. Improved internal impeller blade design (higher flow capacity), two-piece thermostat style and low rotating mass of the lightweight skeletonized pulley, not to mention the center impeller section is a modular replaceable design that does not require the entire pump assembly be replaced in the future. Btw, that center impeller "module" uses an o-ring for sealing; no PITA gasket that requires scraping. 
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Siloam Springs AR
Yeah I have seen the edlebrock units online and they do look like they are nice. I could not find much real world experience with people who have installed them. You also have to buy the edlebrock pulley, the gm water neck and thermostat. I could not justify the price delta for my build. I had no issuses with my original, but I felt safer putting a new one back on and if it was a little better, great. If anyone has used the edlebrock I would love to see a picture of it installed.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
A few years ago, while in winter storage, the water pump on my 25k mile '01 started leaking from the input shaft seal.
I purchased a new pump, for replacement in the spring, but decided to wait until I drove the car a few times again before I installed it.
The leak somehow stopped after I drove it again, and it has remained dry since. The new pump is still sitting in the box waiting for it's day!
Yours, at only 40k miles, may not yet be ready for replacement either.
I purchased a new pump, for replacement in the spring, but decided to wait until I drove the car a few times again before I installed it.
The leak somehow stopped after I drove it again, and it has remained dry since. The new pump is still sitting in the box waiting for it's day!
Yours, at only 40k miles, may not yet be ready for replacement either.
Last edited by Quicksilver Vert 01; Jul 3, 2012 at 10:03 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Yeah I have seen the edlebrock units online and they do look like they are nice. I could not find much real world experience with people who have installed them. You also have to buy the edlebrock pulley, the gm water neck and thermostat. I could not justify the price delta for my build. I had no issuses with my original, but I felt safer putting a new one back on and if it was a little better, great. If anyone has used the edlebrock I would love to see a picture of it installed.
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From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Osage Beach Mo.
water pump
I just replaced mine on 02 Z. I checked with Auto Zone & O'reily
& they went for $132.00 made in China. I did not want to go that route
& found a Bosch made in USA on Amazon for $89.00 plus overnite
shipping $45.00, $134.00 total. The casting on it was better than the stock one.
They changed to 2 piece thermostat in 04.
& they went for $132.00 made in China. I did not want to go that route
& found a Bosch made in USA on Amazon for $89.00 plus overnite
shipping $45.00, $134.00 total. The casting on it was better than the stock one.
They changed to 2 piece thermostat in 04.