I'd like to know what the difference is between a short style waterpump and the long style, for SBC's. I have a weiand short waterpump that i would like to use on my new 385 build. The block is a 74 010 4-bolt. I will be running an electric fan and shroud.

Can i use it? Whats the real difference. I only will have an alternator, p/s pump.

thanks

 

The difference between a short water pump and a long water pump, is their length. About 1" or so.

Most race applications run a short one, for space and weight reasons.

As long as you can find an alternator that's about 1" thinner than a stock one, and a pulley & bracket system for it, then it should work fine. The short pump won't have the bracket boss on it.

 

So thats the difference. Could i just build the 1" spacers for the legs, and have it work? I see spacers all over to convert between the two.

 

You could, except it still won't work with your stock alt bracket.

I have no clue why anybody would run a short pump and spacers.... can't see what that buys you. But you're right, they're for sale everywhere, and that means somebody is buying them, thinking they're going to use them for something. I can't recall ever seeing them actually on a car.

 

So what do you suggest i do?

 

Either get the right pump for your stock brackets, which would be a long one; or get one of the right alt bracket setups (aftermarket racing stuff, you don't want the old stock system, believe me) for that style of pump.