Is there a better water pump to install?

Vital Velocity

Viper Owner
Joined
Dec 15, 2008
Posts
380
Reaction score
0
Location
Dickinson, TX
The gasket is bad on my water pump so im going to go ahead and put a new pump on.....is there a high performance (or better one) that i should be looking at?
 

PhoenixGTS

Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 9, 2004
Posts
2,685
Reaction score
1
Location
Phoenix Arizona
I have an overdrive pump I got from West Coast Vipers years ago. It has a smaller pulley (smaller enough that you need a shorter serpentine belt) so it spins faster. Great combo with my underdrive crank pulley. Bad news is I remember not being able to find it when I looked a year or two ago. Give them or DC Performance a call and see if they know the source or are doing a new version.
 

gotfangs

Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 4, 2008
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
just changed mine out with one from rock auto. Cost $130 bucks, you can see the improved shaft design over the p.o.s oem. My oem melted down at autocross last wk. Why pay more than you need to. The original did last over 55,000 miles so why should I complain. But I wont pay 400+ for oem pump again....
 

jk

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Posts
339
Reaction score
0
Location
Richardson, TX USA
I bought a replacement water pump a few years ago from Archer in Fort Worth (when he was still there). Metal vanes, seemed a lot better built then the OEM. No problems. Not sure where they were manufactured or if still available. Might check PartsRack. JonB would know if anything is available.
 

01 RT SNAKE

Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Posts
268
Reaction score
0
Location
Phoenix, AZ
The reason I was shocked about the Autozone comment is a lot of their stuff is simply remanufactured crap. Something goes wrong with a part, you bring it back, they replace what's broken and they re-sell it. That's why starters, alternators, water pumps, etc. have such a great warranty...because every year or two you're bringing it back to have it replaced. Been there, done that.
 

SR 27

Viper Owner
Joined
Sep 8, 2008
Posts
65
Reaction score
0
Location
westside
Bobby Archer is (was) in Texas and John Archer is in MN or Wisc. When Mumford got his ACR, we took it to Buttonwillow and after a couple days on the track, the brake pads were wasted on all four corners of the car. I tore the car apart, gave Paul the old pads and sent him into town for replacements. He comes back with an Autozone box and a smile. "They're the same pad as a T-Bird" he said. "And we can take them back and get new ones for free with the lifetime warranty!" He was so excited. I just laughed and then realized I'd be changing pads every week.Buy quality the first time.
 

ViperTony

Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Posts
7,554
Reaction score
0
But arent the OEM pumps known to be trash?

There were some defective pumps on the '01's where the impeller stops spinning at high RPMs. Just happened to me and after talking with Tator I got a new OEM pump and finished the install yesterday. Chuck has never given me bad advice and the price was right.
 

EllowViper

Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 28, 2006
Posts
1,656
Reaction score
0
Location
Valrico Florida
My '01 "OEM" gave it up at around 14K miles. Replaced with "new" aftermarket from Pep boyz, autozone, or advanced...can't remember. What I did notice is that the new pump ($200.00 +/-) had the casting numbers ground off where the OEM numbers were. I thought that kinda funny. Made me think that the pump came from the OEM manufacturer and the reseller simply erases the OEM part number and sells as their own "new" replacement part. Don't know...not into the underground world of parts retailers....but its worked great for over 20k miles.
 

Chuck 98 RT/10

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 15, 2000
Posts
17,923
Reaction score
0
Location
tampa, fl USA
My '01 "OEM" gave it up at around 14K miles. Replaced with "new" aftermarket from Pep boyz, autozone, or advanced...can't remember.

01 was the year of some defective water pumps. I believe there was a recall for them but I'm not sure.

I remember replacing an Advance Auto rebuild alternator twice on a Ford ****** years ago. That set my opinion of those types of auto parts stores.
 
OP
OP
V

Vital Velocity

Viper Owner
Joined
Dec 15, 2008
Posts
380
Reaction score
0
Location
Dickinson, TX
So after taking the time to change the water pump and radiator i go to bleed the system so i can take it out for a spin.....and the damn thermostat is bad!!!!

Blah....hopefully this week ill get her up and running
 

vipeuup

Viper Owner
Joined
Jul 3, 2005
Posts
559
Reaction score
0
Location
OR
How come they dont make an electric water pump for the vipers?
 

GTS Bruce

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 29, 2000
Posts
3,328
Reaction score
0
Location
Orchard Park,NY,USA
Caution. Rebuilt VS remanufactured. Rebuilt means simply fixed the defective issue. Reman means totaly gone through and brought up to oem new specs. Rebuilt means make the sign of the cross over it and hope it gets you out of the parking lot before another aspect fails. GTS Bruce
 
Top