1970 Small Block Water Pump

**Joe L.** · February 21, 2002, 02:48 PM

Re: 1970 Small Block Water Pump

Stan-----

Yes, the '608' casting was used for ALL 1970 Corvette small block water pumps---no exceptions as far as I know. The '608' was manufactured for a lot of years beginning, as I recall, about 1961. It was used on most Chevrolet small blocks from that time through 1968. For 1969 and 1970, it was used only on Corvettes and, POSSIBLY, some truck applications.

There are minor variations in the configuration of these castings. Partly, I think, it was because there were a great many molds used over the year and some differred slightly. Also, these castings were produced at both the Saginaw, MI and Tonawanda, NY foundries.

Before ABOUT 1965, these castings were not dated. After ABOUT then, and certainly by 1968, they were dated. Also, beginning in ABOUT 1969, the snout portion of many of these pumps was thicker than most previous 608s. These usually have a prominent chamfered area on the inner front of the snout. Obviously, this is not visible with the pump mounted on the car.

I have even seen a few 608s that had small reinforcing ribs on the front of the outlet side of the casting similar, but smaller, than the ribs used on the 71 GM #3991399 casting. I THINK that these may have been Tonawanda castings, though. In fact, I have one or two of these. In any event, Tonawanda castings usually have a "T" cast on them and, of course, none of these were originally used on Corvettes.

In any event, if you find a casting which is dated 1969 or 1970 and does not have a "T" on it, I think that you will have a period-correct casting configuration as used originally on 1970 Corvette small blocks. The problem is, these are among the rarest of '608' castings since they were used only on Corvettes during these years.

**Brian M.** · February 21, 2002, 04:06 PM

Re: 1970 Small Block Water Pump

Joe, I'm looking at 2 608 pumps. The first has a date of J195 and a GM15 on it. This one is the original off my 1966 impala.

The other one that I'm looking at has a date of D147 and GM8 on in along with the T for Tonawanda. I didn't realize the T was a dead giveaway for not being used on a Corvette. As you have stated these pumps have a number of physical differences. I think I'll carefully grind off the T. Thanks Brian

**Stan F.** · February 21, 2002, 04:56 PM

Re: 1970 Small Block Water Pump

Joe & Brian

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen... Much appreciated!

Regards,

Stan Falenski NCRS# 24272

**Terry M.** · February 21, 2002, 05:59 PM

Re: 1970 Small Block Water Pump *TL*

Brian,

There are more configuration differences between the Saginaw and Tonawanda casting than just the T. If dated after late 1969 the Tonawanda cast 608 pump will have the typical two digit year date that was used at Tonawanda.

There was a thread here about a month ago in which Juliet posted a link to images of a Tonawanda cast pump (not sure if it was 608 or not - NCRS disease). It might be worth your while to search the archives for it.

My 1967 Chevelle with 327 has a undated 608 pump that I believe is original to the engine. The car is an early 1967 assembled in October 1966, so at that point there were still at least some undated 608 pumps.

Terry

**Patrick H.** · February 21, 2002, 08:41 PM

Re: 1970 Small Block Water Pump

Stan,

If you can't find an original, or are unwilling to pay the $ for a rare dated one, what I did is went to the Pep Boys right near you in York (back in the days when I lived in Red Lion) and asked to see a variety of water pumps. I found one that was externally identical to the original pump in my 71 (which I had brought along to compare) and bought it. I now have my original for future reference, but behind my pulley is a near-identical twin with the "wrong" numbers but right configuration that no one can tell from correct.

Just a thought.

Patrick

**Juliet P.** · February 22, 2002, 09:26 AM

Re: 1970 Small Block Water Pump

Your memory is correct Terry. Here are the photos again.

This was my cheapie e-Bay special find:
Looks good no? Until you get to the date part:

See those big flying buttresses supports flanking the date? That's the giveaway that this Tonawanda pump wasn't used on a Corvette. I was also thinking grind off the T.

Here's what a real, correct 1970 Corvette 350 pump should look like (imagine it Chevy Orange).

Look! No flying buttresses, flanges, supports, whatevers on the sides of it. ~Juliet

**Juliet P.** · February 22, 2002, 09:29 AM

Forbidden?

OK, if you get the 'forbidden' message cut & paste the URL directly into a freshly openend browser. For some bizarre reason the hyperlinks into my CorvetteForum website don't work from the NCRS board. But if you cut & paste directly it works. Wierd... ~Juliet

**John H.** · February 22, 2002, 01:08 PM

Re: Forbidden?

Juliet -

Mine don't work either - Troy's working on it; I can get to them, but anyone else gets the "Forbidden" screen.

**Jack H.** · February 22, 2002, 01:22 PM

You can also....

find pump castings with the reinforced indicative of some Tonawanda runs on '483 and '326 pumps. Just a FYI from the ole Enginhunter--terror of scrap yard stalking in the high country.....

**Juliet P.** · February 22, 2002, 01:55 PM

Re: 1970 Small Block Water Pump

OK, I moved them to my Annapolis site till Troy fixes the CF stuff.

Wrong: Wrong:
Right: ~Juliet

**Joe L.** · February 22, 2002, 04:32 PM

Re: 1970 Small Block Water Pump

Juliet------

Yes, it is. In fact, this pump demonstrates the thicker snout and prominent inner chamfer on the bearing bore that I spoke of in my earlier post.

Many earlier '608s' have a thinner snout and some even have an as-cast end of the snout with no machining or chamfer.

**Roberto L.** · February 22, 2002, 07:22 PM

Re: 1970 Small Block Water Pump

Great photo. Now you have the good one and a good spare! That terror of the junkyards is really good...

Roberto, NCRS #30019, RMC

**Juliet P.** · February 22, 2002, 08:20 PM

Re: 1970 Small Block Water Pump

Roberto wrote "That terror of the junkyards...." Well, I picture Jack as more of a Gorilla - after his descriptions of that very LARGE pile of engines he hand stacked while digging for the right date coded waterpump for Sophia. ~Juliet

1970 Small Block Water Pump

1970 Small Block Water Pump

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Debug Information