Hello,

I need to replace the water pump on my '04 and after numerous online searches really do not know which one to purchase. Nearly all of the water pumps are made in China, and I am definitely not going with the ironically named "AC Delco Professional".

Looking on the gm parts direct website, the water pump for an '04 is not available and it does not suggest any alternate part numbers.

While I wish funds were unlimited, the reality is that I cannot afford a $1k electric pump, but do not want to buy a $99 Chinese knockoff.

Any help is appreciated.

TIA

 

ACDelco Professional, regardless of where it's made, is not a "knockoff," it's more than likely the OEM (if not OE) part for your car. Generally speaking, ACDelco Professional parts are high quality and last as long as the original ones do, though there are always exceptions. If you have serious issues with using the part that everyone else uses, yet you don't have the money for a fancy upgraded unit, that's kind of on you innit? Bosch makes replacements too, they tend to be roughly equivalent to Delco in terms of positioning and brand, though if you're lucky they manufacture them somewhere else.

Anyways, as per https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...placement.html you should be able to bolt in an LS3 or LS7 water pump, but you may also need a new hose when doing that. They're not necessarily better, but the pulley is smaller so you can get slightly better fitment for aftermarket stuff if you're fitting aftermarket stuff.

 

Thank you for the reply. For clarification purposes, there is a distinct difference between the AC Delco "Professional" line and the "OEM" line. For illustrative purposes, I here is the link to the rockauto site for the 2004 Corvette water pump: Rock Auto Water Pumps

If you click on the link, there are two separate AC Delco water pumps, the "professional" is ~$92 and the "oem" is ~$188. So, clearly, there is a distinction between the two lines. As I explained in the post, I did go to the GM parts direct website, but there was not a listing for a water pump as the part shows discontinued.

As an aside, I recently purchased an AC Delco "professional" power steering pump for my Charger from Rock Auto, the first one started whining within a week, and so did the replacement. These are an inferior line of product.

So, I do not have any problem using what the others here use, but after hours of online searches, cannot determine which parts are made in China and which are made, as the originals were, in Canada, Mexico, or anywhere but China.

I was hoping someone may have a suggestion of a quality water pump as the online reviews for many of these Chinese water pumps state that they went out, started leaking or broke within a short period of time. One unfortunate reviewer even had a sever overheating issue necessitating the replacement of his radiator.

So, again, I am at a loss of what to do, many part numbers point back to an old, discontinued part number or the same "professional" series I am trying to avoid.

I will research the LS3/LS7 water pump suggestion

 

If it were me, and it will be this winter putting on PRC 2.5 heads, cam, intake, blah blah blah.....I would go with the part that is warrantied for life, if only for an indication of manufacturer confidence in the part. The gates, although cheapest, carries a lifetime warranty vs. the 24 month delco stuff. And let's be honest, we all tend to way over analyze parts selection. I will spend hours and hours researching parts - just did it with slave cylinders and now have 2 in my parts pile (can't take the first back because I threw out the box mistakenly). Gates is a well known brand and I would be comfortable with either it or the Delco's no problem.