Original v Repro

[Blocker]

I'm rebuilding a early HJ 253. There are a number of parts that need replacing because of age and wear, for example the inlet manifold and water pump are two stand out items.

I'm deciding weather to go with a good replacement water pump straight out of the box, or hunt down a NOS or excellent original... what are your thoughts and opinions?

[L31 Sandman]

I think it depends on the rarity of the car and what you can and cant see at a glance! I wouldn't be to fussed on a water pump and having said that if you tracked down an orignal pump you might be to scared to use it, it would be rare too!:happy:

[Dago]

I've decided to go down the 'close enough to original will be good enough' path. As long as my HX doesn't have a yellow needle dash or short tail lion caps for example I'll be happy. Original colour inside and out, but non original 308 motor isn't going to bother me, nor will an aftermarket seatbelt stalk. I'm looking for an awesome cruise van, not an award winning original item.

[ozbox]

anal restoration..absolutely correct..yes do the original pump..close but not 100%..do a good new pump..most people wont pick it...you need to decide..ANAL..or CLOSE..close would put it in the 95% plus ..only commited enthusiasts will be able to tell...remember this but..ANAL= thousands more dollars..not 100s.

[Vombil]

i reckon the bulk of the buying public wouldnt pick aftermarket from original from NOS. Personally, i think that restorations have to be somewhat economical unless you plan to keep it for a lifetime on show in a museum. Absinth hit the nail on the head in the 'whats it worth' thread. Go anal and your gonna do your dough. Go mid way and you might break even. Go bodgy and youll turn a profit

[wbute]

I reckon a new water pump that stops your motor from cooking is the important thing. I would never even look at a water pump to see if it was NOS. But I do hate the look of the crappy after market fuel pump on my ute and also did not swap my inlet manifold for the new Edlebrock one I had because I wanted to keep the original manifold. Manifolds stand out like dogs balls to me. Try and find a good original one of them, but I think they would be very hard to find.
So.... if you find a nos pump for the right price grab it. Otherwise I would just be happy with good coolant flow from any new pump. But most importantly, run good coolant so you avoid buggered manifolds in the future.

[jennie285]

Rodney and I just discussed this, he said he wasn't putting a ##%%&& old water pump on, it could do a number of things, an older water pump could do a bearing, and the fans hits the radiator, impeller not turning therefore water not circulating...we put we put a new repro one on, and have thus far had no trouble...and we tried to be as original as was sensible. Of course this will be controversial but Rodney said, you throw old water pumps away....and as for the manifold, we used a KC which Rodney thought was close looking to the original manifold, apart from the issue with casting sand, he is happy with it...

[HK1837]

Just use a new water pump supplied by GMH for a VSIII if they still have them. It'll mean a WB pulley but so what?

Original inlets are easy to find so i'd get one of those.