I searched and I couldn't find a specific answer. Is there anyway to tell a reverse rotation water pump from a normal one? My car is an '86iroc 305auto and has a v-belt, and a serpentine belt. The serp. belt runs off the crank and also runs the alt. The v-belt runs from the crank to the steering pump.
Is there any outside ways to tell if it's the one my car needs? I know my friend put a new one on. I just don't know if it's the right one. My car will go above 220 in less than 5mins with my single fan turned on(toggle switched) when sitting still. My friend also didn't put a thermostat in it. So I think I've got a problem somewhere. I just got done flushing everything out and it's clean and flows well with the garden hose. So I'm concerned if the pump is right. I'd pull it off... but I'm lazy. Anyone know?

 

I think looking at your belt routing will yield your answer. If it's a standard rotation, the belt will route in such a manner as to make the water pump spin clockwise (same as the crank), if it's reverse rotation, the the belt routing will make it spin counter-clockwise. Only remaining question is exactly WHAT did your buddy put in for you.

Let someone else chime in on this, in case I'm wrong (I often am, but don't tell my wife and kids).

 

Yea I'm wandering what mystery water pump he put in also. I've been looking at pics on autoparts sites and it looks like the standard rotation pumps have a piece casted on the top for a hole for the alt bracket. I might just pull it off this weekend and go buy a new one. I know it pumps water... I just don't know if it's right. When I first got it running I had the rad cap off to bleed out air pockets and it was constanly flowing. If it's not the waterpump. The only other things I can think of being wrong is I replaced the temp sending snesor(drivers side head) Maybe they gave me the wrong one. Or a headgsket is blown. But it doesn't really have any signs of a BHG.
Is there any castings on the outside of the pump housing?

 

my 86 had a standard rotation pump.