LS3 non-electric water pump with a wider pulley for 8 or 10 rib belt?
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
LS3 non-electric water pump with a wider pulley for 8 or 10 rib belt?
Is there a way to swap the standard LS3 water pump pulley to a wider version that would better fit an 8 or 10 rib belt? I think most people just buy the electric, but I'd actually like to stay with a manual water pump since I believe it handles high RPM/extended highway pulls better.
for example, here's an LS3 and LS1 water pump... the LS1 has a much larger pulley:
I know the '09+ water pumps are different on the LS3 cars though, so I assume I can't just use the LS1 pump
for example, here's an LS3 and LS1 water pump... the LS1 has a much larger pulley:
I know the '09+ water pumps are different on the LS3 cars though, so I assume I can't just use the LS1 pump
Last edited by turbotuner20v; 03-05-2014 at 06:17 PM.
#3
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Was it a direct swap?
I don't know why there were two different versions of LS3 water pumps or what the differences were, but it seems like if there is a '09+ specific LS3 pump, there's something specific about it that might not be the same on the LS6?
I guess technically I'm now using a Gen IV iron block w/ LSA heads and the '09+ LS3 pump worked, so maybe it makes no difference.
I don't know why there were two different versions of LS3 water pumps or what the differences were, but it seems like if there is a '09+ specific LS3 pump, there's something specific about it that might not be the same on the LS6?
I guess technically I'm now using a Gen IV iron block w/ LSA heads and the '09+ LS3 pump worked, so maybe it makes no difference.
#5
Team Owner
Never even thought about this with my 10 rib. Looks like the ls7 pump has enough room for 2 more ribs but before I start installing the 10 rib kit it would be nice to know if I have to swap water pumps.
#6
you can fit a 10 rib with the factory LS7 pump, I just went with the wider pulley since lingenfelter used a wider water pump pulley in their "kit" . I have also broken 2 or their "HD" tensioners that come in the conversion....I have since swapped to a billet MTI manual tensioner and haven't had an issue since.
#7
Safety Car
Physically they look the same, function the same, and will bolt up the same. The only difference that jumps out at me right away is that the ears on the water pump that the blower bracket attaches to are machined back further on the newer pump. This is probably why ECS supplies a set of shims to go behind the bracket in that location on the C6 kit to make up that spacing difference.
My educated guess, from a engineering standpoint, would be that you could swap to the older pump with no issues...
My educated guess, from a engineering standpoint, would be that you could swap to the older pump with no issues...
Last edited by breecher_7; 03-07-2014 at 11:02 AM.
#9
Safety Car
Thread Starter
I'm running an 8rib on the small ls3 water pump pulley now and it very barely fits and puts a wear mark on the edge of the belt where the pulley curves to the edge.
#10
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Ls3/ls7/lsa all use the same pump. The lsa uses a dedicated 8rib blower belt though and only runs 6 ribs on the water pump. The ls9 uses its 11 rib to spin the water pump, thus it's much larger. I can't see running a 10 rib on the ls3/ls7/lsa pulley
Last edited by turbotuner20v; 03-08-2014 at 08:19 PM.
#12
Team Owner
No issues on mine. Got ~1000 miles on it now, which isn't much but it isn't hanging over or tearing up belts.
#13
Le Mans Master
If its hanging off the rear of the pulley (engine side), the sharp edge of the pulley will cut the belt on hard pulls...eventually tearing the last rib or two off...
If its hanging off the front of the water pump pulley with a nice smooth/round edge, you may be ok...
I would try to run the LS1/LS6 water pump from 2004 and just make the shims/spacers needed to true up the blower bracket.
Make sure to tack weld the pulley to the shaft on whatever pump you go with.. Big belt with a lot of tension WILL spin the pulley on the shaft and it will walk forward.
If its hanging off the front of the water pump pulley with a nice smooth/round edge, you may be ok...
I would try to run the LS1/LS6 water pump from 2004 and just make the shims/spacers needed to true up the blower bracket.
Make sure to tack weld the pulley to the shaft on whatever pump you go with.. Big belt with a lot of tension WILL spin the pulley on the shaft and it will walk forward.
#14
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Here are the pics of my 10-rib blower pulley and stock 2009 ls3 water pump. If other people's LS7 pumps are working, I can't speak to that. The LS3 and LS7 are supposed to be the same from all I've read.
Attachment 48370941
Attachment 48370812
The Edelbrock 8896 looks like it will work fine for me:
Attachment 48370942
http://www.stockwiseauto.com/product...bkwaAs-x8P8HAQ
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12600172
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sle-100228
Attachment 48370941
Attachment 48370812
The Edelbrock 8896 looks like it will work fine for me:
Attachment 48370942
http://www.stockwiseauto.com/product...bkwaAs-x8P8HAQ
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12600172
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sle-100228
#15
Team Owner
Maybe I have an aftermarket pump, no idea. Been on the car since I owned it. My belt sizes have always been off compared to other peoples builds so who knows. My belt goes up to where it starts to round off.
#16
Safety Car
Thread Starter
I have a new theory...
2005 - 2007 LS2 and LS7 water pumps use a different width pulley that is thinner than ls1/ls6, but thicker than '09+ ls3/ls7
2008 LS3 and LS7 use the same port location as 2005 - 2007 LS2/LS7, but possibly different pulley width
2009+ LS3 and LS7 use new port location and new pulley width
#17
Team Owner
2006.
#20
Safety Car
Thread Starter