minxdog

I'm getting ready to drop in a new crate motor in a 1979 and I am confused on what what water pump to use . Does it have to be corvette specific,or can I use a short pump with a shim kit behind the pulley? Also does this water pump run counter clockwise or clockwise I've been told both. That's why I figured I better check on this forum, you guys have been the best source of information since I started this project. thanks

71rdster

Get the Corvette specific water pump. It willl be one less thing to worry about and one less thing to cause the next owner to cuss at you when he starts working on it. The pump should be standard rotation if you are using all the original pulleys and brackets. If you are using a serpentine system, you will need to verify whether the setup is for reverse rotation or standard.

80Vette80

Durango_Boy

I agree with the above. Get a Corvette specific pump for your year so you don't have to shim a pulley. That's just inviting run out and vibration problems.

At the same time, you want a clockwise rotation pump, which is standard rotation for your Vette. Reverse rotation, or counter clockwise, was not started until GM started putting serpentine belt systems on engines.

69Vett

Anyone have these specs. for a corvete pump only ?

I used a standard "Short pump" High volume,
I used all orginal pulley and brackets, no shimming required.
just fired up my motor no belt aligment issues.
good luck...69VETT

justaguy10825

Hate to sound like a dumb-dumb but "Corvette specific" water pump? I guess I did not know that when I put my 350 in...The belts do not line up perfectly and there is some vibration in the alternator bracket when running. I guess I thought it was just something I would have to live with...

I have been intending to change out the pump anyway because it is not the shiny chrome one but have also been thinking about an electric pump... Has anyone had any experience with the electrics? & Does anyone have a part number or affordable place to buy on a "Specific" conventional chrome pump for a 78 w/350?

Thanks!

Durango_Boy

Yeah, GM makes four water pumps for Gen1 small block engines.

Long - Clockwise
Short - Clockwise
Corvette short - Clockwise
Long - Counter Clockwise

You probably got a GM short pump, which is just a bit different than Corvette specific water pumps.

Here is a Corvette specific chrome water pump from Eckler's.

http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...4&dept_id=1220

71rdster

There is also the short Corvette reverse rotation pump for L98's

jackson

OE C3 sbc uses short pump thru ABOUT 1970 ... ABOUT thereafter OE C3 sbc uses vette specific. That's why late 60's C3 aligns w/ short w/ no problem but a late 70's C3 misaligns w/ short. earlier pulleys/brackets not same as later.

FYI ... V belt pumps rotate same as crank ... serpentine pumps typically reverse.

vette pump (~ 5.795") about 3/16" larger from block to hub face than short (~ 5.625")

69Vett

Great info ! thanks !

and... that explains why I was able to use a standard pump on my 69 configuration. 69VETT

lil_red_devil

I used the GM Performance 14011012 aluminum pump. Direct fit on my 79 and the pulley didn't need any shims. Also had 2 bolt paterns for different types of pulley. You need the clockwise pump for a standard setup or a reverse rotation if you have a serpentine belt conversion.

Hope this helps

lil_red_devil

Aparently the part number has been superceeded by 19168604. Check it first though if you choose this pump

justaguy10825

Thanks for the info! I'll take a look...

PeteZO6

This is all very interesting!!! When I built my engine, I used aluminum pump p/n 14011012 that lil_red_devil says is superseded. I just punched 14011012 into GMPartsDirect's web pagehttp://www.gmpartsdirect.com/ and it comes still comes up.

In any event, that's not why I am posting here. My car is a very late (Nov.'69) can and i found the above pump placed the w/p pulley and fan 3/16" too far forward! To align the belts, I made this plate that fits between the harmonic balancer and the crank pulley.

(that is supposed to be an image, not just a link???)
This aligned the crank and w/p pulleys. I only have an alternator to accomodate, and that was easy with the Hooker alternator adapter I bought with the headers.

I'm still confused about short and Corvette short pumps, but that's how I got around the problem.

Cheers,
Pete

lil_red_devil

The new part number seems to be the one used by summit and pace parts. Fitted this to my 79 and to a 78. Both aligned perfect. Both have had a CS144 alt upgrade and used the same bracket as before with the stock alt. I was also confused when looking for a pump. Both these cars are ps and ac cars. Maybe you have a different crank pulley? Or maybe I was just lucky

GrandSportC3

The only time that I'd use a Corvette specific pump would be on a all original NCRS car.. However, there's no real reason to go with a Corvette water pump on any other street Vette or Hotrod. You can get a high volume aluminum pump for $50, less than half the price of the iron pump that is Corvette specific..
I have a ProComp high volume pump on my yellow '68 and i'm running 170 to 190 degrees.. No alignment issues with the belt..

noonie

Normal rotation pumps for Corvette SB

From the pump mounting surface to the pulley mounting surface

Up to 70---5.625"----5/8" shaft

Up to 70---5.625"----3/4" shaft

71-82---5.795"----3/4" shaft

Long SB pump is 6.932"

Some pass cars and trucks also used both the 5/8" and 3/4" shaft short pumps.

PeteZO6

Thanks Noonie!

That makes sense. 5.795" - 5.652" = .17". My spacer at 3/16" = .1875. The pump I am using, p/n 14011012, is the longer short Corvette pump, and my crank pulley is for the shorter short Corvette pump since it's a 1969 model. My 3/16" spacer is off by 0.0175 or about 1/64", but it doesn't seem to be enough to bother the belts. The key was getting the alternator aligned properly which I was able to do.

Cheers,
Pete