Original v Repro

**Blocker** · 15-07-2011, 08:32 AM

I found a repro water pump and although it looks 'like' my crusty one there are noticeable differences... actually I'll have a look see and get a part number I guess the likelihood of it being original original is not so high.

**HK1837** · 15-07-2011, 09:16 AM

Personally I reckon you'd be crazy doing an anal resto on a HJ 253 Sandman. It'll cost you 3+ x what the car would be worth finished! For a HT-HO or a GTS327 or A9X it is understandable, but for a far less valuable vehicle just restoring it to be useable is the go in my opinion. The whole date code, NOS numbers matching BS belongs in the muscle car arena, not the Sandman/GTR/SLR realm! If the car is a proper survivor though it is worth trying to make it right, but once it is painted close enough is good enough in my eyes!

On the water pump issue, the best ones I have found are the later pumps to suit mid VB onwards (up to VSIII in late 2000). These have a longer bearing and have a sandwich plate at the back of the pump. The pump is longer so you need a shallower pulley and need to shorten the fan spacer by about 20mm or so. When I put one of these pumps on my old Overlander 308 all overheating issues dissapeared. It had one of the awful fan type impellers on it, the later pumps have a cast barrel style impeller. I am sure GMH still sell them new in boxes, they'll be an aftermarket part though. Super Cheap even sell them.

**wbute** · 15-07-2011, 09:29 AM

I wouldnt bother going 2 barrel manifold original either, go 4 barrel rochester and the performance gain more than outweighs incorrectness.

**ozbox** · 15-07-2011, 01:26 PM

and buy a kc or an edelbrock inlet..dont bother with a rotted second hand one..

**Robbo** · 15-07-2011, 03:01 PM

For the life of me I cannot remember. Did the HZ's, when new, come with coolant.. (glycol?).. (not just water)..in the cooling system?

**HK1837** · 15-07-2011, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by Robbo

For the life of me I cannot remember. Did the HZ's, when new, come with coolant.. (glycol?).. (not just water)..in the cooling system?

I've had a few old school radiator blokes tell me not to run glycol in my HJ Premier, just run anti-corrosive additive like the Castrol bottles.

**Kiwivan** · 15-07-2011, 05:28 PM

Anal all the way Blocker,I can see you are very picky and it will bother you all the time.If it was mine I would be very anal(I was with the HDT wagon)And I was happy I did it in the end.Also think of the chase in finding the parts.I found that was half the fun.And boy did I find it hard once I had finished.Would you believe I still hunt out NOS parts even when I have finished the Wagon,It is like a drug and I cannot stop.

Cheers From a very anal Kiwivan

**grumpyoldman** · 23-07-2011, 10:30 AM

Have done mine with some repro parts. Got tired of looking for the OEM as it was stalling the project. As I trawl Ebay and swap meets etc I find the OEM parts then restore the item and fit to the car as required. Absolute exactness cost a LOT of hard earned cash, especially when you HAVE to have them. For Example found an Holden V8 OEM thermostat housing at a Swap Meet last week, Paid 2 bucks for it. Simple after market did the job for the last 6 months.