hey, i have a question, i took my water pump off today, and there are numbers on the front (31284) and then it had the state of Georgia outlined with a G in the middle and under that it had the numbers 0355


any idea if any of those is the part number?

 

Probably.

Doesn't look like a part # that's used in the world at large.

Probably was a new replacement WP, not a GM casting, bought at a parts store at some time or other in the car's life; nothing unusual.

If it's broke, replace it and throw it away, or turn it in as your core. If it's not, replace it, and throw it away or turn it in anyway. Beats the poop out of your car sitting by the side of the road 2 months from now with steam spewing out of it, and you standing there in the summer heat wishing you'd put on a new one.

 

see, my problem is, i know my engine is a 305 but i'm not sure what year (other owner swapped it in)...so, should i just take in my old one and have them match it?

 

None of that matters.

Get the WP that fits the car, by the car's model and year. Don't worry about the motor. Doesn't matter if the motor is a 265 or a 400, or whether it's a 55 model or a 99; the WPs all fit the same.

I'm guessing you have the arrangement that has one flat ribbed belt and 2 V-belts. In which case, the same water pump fit all of those from about 69 (when they changed from the short pump to the long one) and clockwise rotation (before they changed to the single serpentine belt system that rotates the WP the other way).

 

alright, so all the water pumps should be the same?


no matter what year the engine? i know its from the late 80s..


mine has four bolts that mount it to the block, and two holes for the coolant to go through the engine (on either side of the block if that makes sense)


also, how much do you think a water pump is gonna cost me? i'm not exactly rich..lol

 

Yes, they are all the same. Engine year doesn't matter. Unless yours is from before 55, or from after about 99, or is a LT1 (92-97) from the various years those were used in Vettes and F cars and B cars. Your description sounds exactly like all the rest of them (just as it should).

If you have the belt arrangement I described, or all V-belts, then you need the 69-80whatever pump. If you have just the one serpentine belt that goes around all the accessories, then you need the 80whatever to present type, that turns the other way. That's all the variations that there are from the last 35 years or so. Both will fit to the motor; you just use the one that goes with the accessory system you have, which is part of the car. You could put a 1965 block into a 1991 car, and all of the 1991 accessories (WP included) would bolt right up and work perfect, as a set.

A WP is about $20-35. Don't go for the bottom dollar. You get what you pay for. Pay the least, guess what you get.... you'll be back doing it again before you'd like to.

Just tell the parts store counter guy you need a WP for a 86 TA 305 or whatever car it is you have, and life will be good.