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Hammer
12-04-2010, 01:18 PM
Just contacted a guy in Michigan who will rebuild our water pumps for $89 plus $11 return shipping. Thought this might interest some of you who have water pumps laying around that could use a rebuild instead of throwing them away.

http://www.waterpumpman.com/index.html
pantera1683
12-05-2010, 12:15 AM
Sticky time
gbrtng
12-05-2010, 03:12 PM
Just contacted a guy in Michigan who will rebuild our water pumps for $89 plus $11 return shipping. Thought this might interest some of you who have water pumps laying around that could use a rebuild instead of throwing them away.

http://www.waterpumpman.com/index.html

That's a decent price IF he replaces the impeller with an exact part.
Otherwise you get a pump with new bearings and seals but diminished capacity.
Scrrem
12-07-2010, 10:54 AM
That's a decent price IF he replaces the impeller with an exact part.
Otherwise you get a pump with new bearings and seals but diminished capacity.

Just curious....the impeller is metal, right? What causes diminished capacity, the wear on the fins?
Rich
Hog
12-07-2010, 11:00 AM
I would assume the impeller would wear due to cavitation.

peace
Hog
GOLDCYLON
12-07-2010, 11:01 AM
Just curious....the impeller is metal, right? What causes diminished capacity, the wear on the fins?
Rich


Yes to both combined questions
GOLDCYLON
12-07-2010, 11:03 AM
I would assume the impeller would wear due to cavitation.

peace
Hog

Correct as water is heated causing erosion and pitting and gouging
Scrrem
12-07-2010, 12:19 PM
Correct as water is heated causing erosion and pitting and gouging

Yeah, I never thought about it, but it make sense. OK, with that said, has anyone used these guys? I have a spare pump needing a rebuild.
Rich
phrogs
12-07-2010, 09:44 PM
I have one of his pumps on my car right now.

didn't have any issues installing it and he included a new GM gasket.
Hammer
12-07-2010, 10:23 PM
I have one of his pumps on my car right now.

didn't have any issues installing it and he included a new GM gasket.

Johnny,

That's great news, just what we need for justification.

Thanks man.

Semper Fi Brother
GOLDCYLON
12-08-2010, 09:57 AM
Im running one as well. No issues
Hammer
12-08-2010, 09:15 PM
Im running one as well. No issues

Outstanding info.
xlr8nflorida
12-13-2010, 12:25 AM
NAPA makes a substitute impeller. (If you are concerned about old impeller)

Sorry, I don't have a photo to post!

Ah, another entry for Dynomite! :P
Jagdpanzer
12-13-2010, 06:56 PM
Be careful with those replacement water pumps with the pot metal impellers. WAZOO bro Rich tried one of those, I believe from NAPA, a while back and the impeller was so far out dimension it made contact with the front cover even before the bolts were drawn up.
I have both a NOS OEM and used water pump in my LT5 spares locker. The used one is from a motor which had around 40K miles on it and materially its iron impeller looks as good as the iron impeller on the NOS water pump. No signs of cavitation erosion or pitting. Based on this I see no reason why a properly rebuilt pump would not perform as well and last as long as a new OEM water pump would.
xlr8nflorida
12-13-2010, 07:28 PM
I have 3 GM new ones in the closet so I should be good in my lifetime :mrgreen:

I have a few cores too taken off at 50k miles from someone elses Z.

Not sure why I have those laying around :confused:
xlr8nflorida
12-13-2010, 08:07 PM
I have 3 GM new ones in the closet so I should be good in my lifetime :mrgreen:

I have a few cores too taken off at 50k miles from someone elses Z.

Not sure why I have those laying around :confused:

I'm not sure I would mess with a rebuilt unit especially when CC has them for $199 with gasket. A rebuilt one will be $115 so I guess you are saving some coin.

What is the expected life expectancy from a LT-5 water pump - 100k?
Hammer
12-13-2010, 08:26 PM
I'm not sure I would mess with a rebuilt unit especially when CC has them for $199 with gasket. A rebuilt one will be $115 so I guess you are saving some coin.

What is the expected life expectancy from a LT-5 water pump - 100k?

Jim,

As I mentioned, I removed mine without testing it with the coolant tester and would juts hesitate to reinstall it or sell it without knowing if it was still good. My Bad.

Anyone know of a way to test the pumps off the car?

Thanks for all the feedback guys, good stuff for sure.
xlr8nflorida
12-13-2010, 08:32 PM
I'm not sure, my used pumps are supposed to be good as well - I bought them cheap for cores.

There should be a way to inspect them etc. but I don't know how.

There is no reason rebuilt should not be like new if rebuilt properly.

However, I feel better with a new pump on the LT-5. Especially when you are only talking a savings of $85 by going with rebuilt. That is the equivalent of 2 tanks of gas.

A healthy water pump is critical to the engine. There are other ways to save $$$.

I guess it comes down to who is doing the work. It's like with guns, I only shoot factory ammo, no reloads as it can be dangerous. However, if I know the guy who did the reloads or in this case the waterpumps then I might feel more comfortable that the work was done properly and I might be game.

I think its pretty easy to do, I think the re-builder just needs a press and they press new bearings in.

I guess I'm OCD.:hello: