Which Water Pump to use

[72hemi]

Ok so far there is nothing wrong with my car, but as a precaution I am looking at upgrading a few things and one of those things is the water pump (I have a 2001 ACR). So I have so far found 3 water pumps and wondering which one I should go with.

GMB North America $208
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GMB-120-4160/

AC Delco $169
http://www.rockauto.com/dbphp/x,catalog,326,partnum,252541,d,acdelco_252541.html

Dodge $370
https://www.viperpartsofamerica.com...0-2001-2002-dodge-viper-water-pump-04763776ab

Edit: I found a few more choices.

Gates $179
http://www.amazon.com/Gates-43038-Water-Pump/dp/B000C2U740

Bosch $144
http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-98183-New-Water-Pump/dp/B000BZLE9A

Cardone $100 (pretty much ruled this one out as it is a remanufactured water pump)
http://www.autopartstomorrow.com/part_numbers/158587-reman-water-pump

 

[CEJ]

The GMB shows a lifetime warranty. Which if you're going to keep your Viper a long time, this can be good.

Delco shows 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty. So, not so good.

No clue on the Mopar warranty, but I'm sure Jerry at VPA could fill us in on that.

Based on warranty & cost, GMB looks pretty good.

I have a 2001 RT/10 and it has the original pump, so I'll be in your shoes before long.

Viper magazine just had a nice write up on how to change water pumps in Gen IIs. Easy job, but the hood has to come off.

 

[SoCal Rebell]

Anything is better then the original water pump, I can't begin to tell you how many went bad because of the plastic impeller that was original equipment on the 2001, Dodge has remedied that problem since.

 

[ViperTony]

Viper magazine just had a nice write up on how to change water pumps in Gen IIs. Easy job, but the hood has to come off.

I did mine with the hood on. Hood doesn't have to come off but removing it makes it much easier to work on the front of the motor. It wasn't a difficult procedure at all. The most time consuming aspect of it was removing the gasket material on the timing chain cover.

 

[72hemi]

I will have to go read the article this afternoon when I get home.

 

[CEJ]

Anything is better then the original water pump, I can't begin to tell you how many went bad because of the plastic impeller that was original equipment on the 2001, Dodge has remedied that problem since.

Good point about the plastic impeller. GMB doesn't say what their impeller is made of, while the AC Delco unit does have a metal impeller. I'm assuming the Mopar one has a metal impeller when you say Dodge remedied the problem? Thanks.

 

[bluesrt]

a/c delco is just a boxing company now, so no tellin what you will get from those bozos-cardone is completely junk junk junk

 

[plumcrazy]

4 bolts and the hood comes off and goes back on just as easily. just takes 2 people to do it

 

[Ratical2]

John, Take the hood off, It makes it so much easier. Your back will thank you later. I am sure Nikki will let you put hood in the house while you are working on the pump...

The AC Delco unit does not have a metal impeller. It is plastic like all of the rest. The casting is a knock off of the Viper part. I haven't had any problems with mine but I was disappointed because I wanted a metal impeller.

 

[72hemi]

Thanks Ken. It's starting to sound like it doesn't really matter which brand they are all pretty much the same except for the price. Terri has kindly volunteered Rocky and the garage for this project, as well as the other projects I am planning before VOI to make the trip.

 

[Ratical2]

I think that you are right about all the pumps being the same except the dodge part. With Rocky helping, the job should be quite easy. The only thing that can give you problems are removing the old gasket material, finding the right moves to drop the unbolted water pump below the cross member and removing the heater hose clamps. Those clamps are a real pain because you can't reach them easily. A remote cable clamp like the one in the top of the case in the picture below should make the job easier. I didn't have one of these.

You must be registered for see images attach

http://www.apexinds.com/tools/TE920.html

 

[dave6666]

Simple one man job with the hood still on the car I'm 6-4 and work under the hood all the time doing major stuff. I guess here in Texas we're just not crybabies.

Great time to do the thermostat and power steering too while on the front of the car.

The warranty should be your least concern. Getting the best pump should be a priority. Unless you think the cost and / or time involved in changing it a second time is trivial because the defective one is covered under warranty.

Not sure what all the rave is about wanting a metal impeller. Plastics do incredible things. I have worked in the chemical industry for 30+ years and half of our pumps are plastic moving liquids that make coolant look like soda pop. I have not heard of any failure of the impeller as a pumping component. Only the failure of the mechanical interface between the shaft and the impeller bore. A metal impeller can lose that interface just as well.

 

[Ricketts]

I don't take the hood off either. Yeah I know just 4 bolts, but it's not that big of a deal with the hood still on.

 

[Viper Parts of America]

No clue on the Mopar warranty, but I'm sure Jerry at VPA could fill us in on that.

Mopar parts offer a 12 month, unlimited mileage warranty. If they are installed by an authorized Mopar dealer then they are covered for labor as well. Hope this helps!

 

[72hemi]

All I care about is having the best part on my car that I won't have to worry about. I will be installing the metal power steering pulley and billet bracket from Roe Racing at the same time.

 

[dave6666]

All I care about is having the best part on my car that I won't have to worry about. I will be installing the metal power steering pulley and billet bracket from Roe Racing at the same time.

You can't go wrong with OEM

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

My 98 (132k miles) and 97 stockers are still going strong. I pulled the 97 just to take a look at it. Nothing wrong. Put it back on.

 

[Detlef]

Mine went bad and I replaced it with another OEM unit. No issues since. Also doing the Roe PS bracket/pulley this winter.

 

[SoCal Rebell]

I guess here in Texas we're just not crybabies.

I know a few whiners in Tejas Of course here in Kali we are all he-men

.

 

[Ratical2]

Hood on, Hood off, it doesn't matter, either way is doable. If you have the room and the second person, it is such a simple task to remove the hood and reveal the entire engine compartment. It greatly simplifies the task at hand without the obligatory bowing and ducking to go through the wheel openings to access the front of the motor. If this constitutes being a cry baby, then call me a whaambulance.

Glass filled resins or plastics can do fantastic things, but two of the known problems that Vipers have, come down to failures of the interface between the pulley or impeller and hubs of the steering and water pumps. We eliminate the power steering pump problem by replacing the pulley with a steel or billet aluminum version. It is too bad the option doesn't exist for the water pump, which is not as accessible.

 

[mach4444]

" Then call me a whaambulance". Classic!

Changed mine with the hood on and it was no big deal. found mine (2000 rt/10) starting to fail before it completely went bad, so its worth checking.

 

[72hemi]

Well I was just at my dealer and from what their computer is showing Mopar may not be producing the pumps any longer despite the fact they have an availability date (which was yesterday and still not available). So it looks like I will be going aftermarket. So the new question is AC Delco or Bosch?

 

[CEJ]

The warranty should be your least concern. Getting the best pump should be a priority.

Agreed. How do we figure out which pump is the best? Or are they all the same?

 

[ViperTony]

Well I was just at my dealer and from what their computer is showing Mopar may not be producing the pumps any longer despite the fact they have an availability date (which was yesterday and still not available). So it looks like I will be going aftermarket. So the new question is AC Delco or Bosch?

Try contacting Chuck Tator or VPA for the pump. I'd be surprised if Chuck doesn't already haven them in stock since he sees his fair share of pump failures.

 

[72hemi]

Haven't checked with Tator, but VPA's website shows backorder.

 

[Viper Parts of America]

Yep, there are currently six (6) on order from Mopar from various dealers around the country including VPA. Mopar was showing an ETA of December 20th, however that date is no longer listed in the system. We have inquiries in to determine what is happening with this part and will let you know what we find out! We also stocked up on the earlier pumps just to be safe.

 

[72hemi]

Thanks for the update.

 

[dave6666]

I know a few winos in Tejas Of course here in Kali we are all he-men

.

Fixed it for ya

 

[dave6666]

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[Viper Parts of America]

Check your PM's 72hemi...