I am going to be replacing my water pump and I have heard that I could use an LS3 pump instead of going with the stock LS1 pump? Anyone know first of all if this is factual and if so what do I need extra for the install. Thank you!

Just gaskets, thermostat and the housing if I am correct.

What is the advantage?

What is the advantage?

:lurk: Inquiring minds need to know.

Well they are lighter and less rotating mass I believe.

Yeah but does it really make a difference on a stock Vette?

What is the advantage?

The million dollar question.

Yeah but does it really make a difference on a stock Vette?

BINGO! We have ah winnaaaaaaaaahhhh!

Like that couple of ounces that you save is going to make a difference anywhere. Unless someone is paying you to put their name across your Vette, put the stock one back on and be done with it.

These kind of post remind me of guys who do extreme bicycling, but are actually a bunch of businessmen who have more money than sense. They buy all this Tour de France gear (the cloths, bikes etc...), go out on Saturday and hog the road so that you can't get by. They wiegh their food so that they don't add an ounce of weight to their ride routine all in the name of time.

The problem is, none of their names end with Armstrong. :huh:

The million dollar question.



BINGO! We have ah winnaaaaaaaaahhhh!

Like that couple of ounces that you save is going to make a difference anywhere. Unless someone is paying you to put their name across your Vette, put the stock one back on and be done with it.

These kind of post remind me of guys who do extreme bicycling, but are actually a bunch of businessmen who have more money than sense. They buy all this Tour de France gear (the cloths, bikes etc...), go out on Saturday and hog the road so that you can't get by. They wiegh their food so that they don't add an ounce of weight to their ride routine all in the name of time.

The problem is, none of their names end with Armstrong. :huh:

lol! Nice analogy Junkman! Valid point.:cheers:

I was kind of hoping that since the LS3 has more cubic displacement, maybe the LS3 pump would flow a little more. I suppose those kind of specifications are lost somewhere on a GM designers office floor. :rolleyes:

I was kind of hoping that since the LS3 has more cubic displacement, maybe the LS3 pump would flow a little more. I suppose those kind of specifications are lost somewhere on a GM designers office floor. :rolleyes:

And what would be the advantage of a little more flow?

And what would be the advantage of a little more flow?

Well according to Edelbrock, more flow will cool better???? If their pumps weren't so expensive I'd try one. The Evans pumps are supposed to flow more also and they're supposed to cool better than a stock pump. Soooo..... :1zhelp:

Coolent flow is regulated by the thermostat and if your OEM water pump is adequate one that pumps more gpm will do nothing. The coolent has to stay in the radiator long enough to cool back down after traveling thru the engine and the T stat will control the flow to accomplish that.................

Coolent flow is regulated by the thermostat and if your OEM water pump is adequate one that pumps more gpm will do nothing. The coolent has to stay in the radiator long enough to cool back down after traveling thru the engine and the T stat will control the flow to accomplish that.................

Exactly.

The LS1 in your Corvette is designed to operate at a specific temperature range when stock. This operating range achieves certain characteristics that consist of a give and take including gas mileage, performance and wear and tear. The engineers have researched, calculated and chosen equipment that would create the sweet spot for normal consumer wear. When you change that calculation, the give also requires some take. So where you think you are gaining something good, you are also giving up more of something else. In some applications such as professional racing or HPDE's, that may be desirable. For most consumers, that would not be advisable.

There are guys (like myself) who are driving on the same set of spark plugs, wires, water pump, alternator, (etc...) and are approaching 100,000 miles. This is the first car I have had that has lasted that long. I've already put 5 engines in my 79 El Camino in a period of 9 years, and every engine was either a new crate motor or was designed by a "professional" in the business. I got a year tops out of them before they started going south with crap breaking or giving out. I drive all my cars the same way and my Vette has not had anything go wrong with it except for the radiator getting clogged up with weeds.

What that tells me is that the guys who designed my GM motor know how to builb an engine for a consumer performance car that will last and provide the performance that will create a grin across my face that is hard to wipe off. Why would I second guess their knowledge with "Steve the shade tree mechanic's" recommendation? Answer? I wouldn't.

When Steve has his engine blue printed and mass produced by a major automobile manufacturer, I'll start taking his advice. Until then, I'll stick to my service manual's recommendations and go with what has been proven to work.

Well, I can see what you guys are saying for normal consumer wear. But, I'm looking for better cooling on a dedicated track car though. The stock pump does an OK job, but on a hot day at the track you can easily push it's limits. I'd like to shave a few degrees off. If I install a Dewitts, etc. radiator, I'd like to know that I could use the LS3 pump to take advantage of it. Thoughts?

I would be a whole lot cheaper just to reprogram the fans to come on sooner if you're just talking about a "few" degrees. If you need more than that, you should talk to the folks who run the track and find out how they have their cars setup. Their cars see a whole lot more track time than yours will.

For racing check out electric water pumps.........they free up horsepower and can be activated even when the engine is shut down for quick cooling between events...........

http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog/?action=mshop&mid=71&sid=163 :thumbsup3: