68 396 water pump rebuilt

[1968 nova ss]

I would like to have my 68/396 short style water pump rebuilt and with better features for performance usage.Any help out there guys.thanks,chris teed

[JRSully]

Chris, there is a guy on Long Island (Arthur Gould in Kings Park NY is the name of the company I believe) he is an excellent rebuilder, very reasonable and owns a 70 396 SS Nova to boot. I have his number in my office, can post it here if nobody gets it to you prior. SULLY

[1969grb]

Arthur Gould's number is 631-269-0093. Grady

[1968 nova ss]

thanks guys,i will give him a call.,chris

[Mr. Chevy]

Chris, they do excellent work. I had mine done there as well as some friends. Make sure you insure the pump before shipping it out to them just in case some mishap happens while in transport.. They will usually tell you that when you call them..

Rich

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
I would like to have my 68/396 short style water pump rebuilt and with better features for performance usage.Any help out there guys.thanks,chris teed

[/ QUOTE ]

Chris - What do "better features for performance usage" entail?

Nuch

[Mr70]

Will Arthur do performance upgrade modifications?
I thought he was strictly stock components?

[Mr. Chevy]

Rick, Arthur Gould will add a higher flowing capacity fan inside the water pump if you tell them to..

Rich

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
Rick, Arthur Gould will add a higher flowing capacity fan inside the water pump if you tell them to..

Rich

[/ QUOTE ]

Is there a down side to doing this modification? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[Mr. Chevy]

No, not that I know of.. From what I was told it will just push a greater volume of water/coolant through the system... You may want to ask them about it..

Rich

[67rscoupe]

why dont you rebuild it yourself?its easy to do.a kit cost something like $65 from a corvette parts place called ZIP.it says you need a small shop press but a nice vise will work just fine.

it will cost you $20-$25 for shipping alone if you send it to someone.

here is a kit for a 427 the same year 1968.this should be the same.

http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/productr...770B263295F4A5E (http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/productr.asp?pf%5Fid=WP%2D121&gift=False&HSLB=Fals e&mscssid=0A3918DA95C34F579770B263295F4A5E)

[1968 nova ss]

I will ask Arthur this week about any modifications beyond stock;most big blocks I have owned are ok in temp when cruisin;but seems to heat up more than I want at idle or at high speeds.Chris Teed

[JRSully]

I have a stock L78 396 in a Nova,a stock 3 core rad, stock non clutch 5 blade fan, stock rebuilt original water pump, 180 stat and it never goes above 180 unless I am sitting in dead stopped traffic for more than 15 minutes

[Mr. Chevy]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a stock L78 396 in a Nova,a stock 3 core rad, stock non clutch 5 blade fan, stock rebuilt original water pump, 180 stat and it never goes above 180 unless I am sitting in dead stopped traffic for more than 15 minutes

[/ QUOTE ]

WOW http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif Not me.. I'm running a 4 core radiator w/stock water pump and stock style - non clutch fan, 180 degree stat in a stock 1970 L78 motor in my Nova. I even put in a bottle of water wetter and I run 190-200 while moving on a hot day and she will creep up to 210 when sitting idling.. My cooling system is free and clear also, no plug ups or problems internally...

Your Lucky!!!!

Rich

[JRSully]

Rich, I think the key is to make sure you have completely bled all the air bubbles out of the system/engine. BB Chevys tend to develop air "pockets" in the rear of the heads which can be tough to get out sometimes. I learned that the best way is to cure it is to jack the front of the motor/car, and pour coolant slowly and dirtectly down the front of the intake/Thermostat housing so it flows right to the back of the heads/engine, until it fills just about to the stat flange, then install the stat and fill the rest of the radiator. I was running hot also until I learned of this method and I never had another overheating problem by using it. SULLY

[Mr. Chevy]

Sully, thanks for the info.. I've never heard of this method.. I'll have to give it a try..

Rich

[budnate]

also a old trick I was shown years ago and works well is drill a 1/8 or so little hole on the edge of the stat to let air through, on a system that was serviced, it wont affect running temps and keeps you from melting down a motor, http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[1968 nova ss]

Sully,that's good info there.I will have to try it on my other 68 nova ss 396 currently.It runs about 190 temp at cruisin speed with 3;42 gear.but it will crank up 220 temp in traffic and that only at a short rate of time with new 4 core radiator and stock rebuilt,Just don;t want to have any cooling problems with this 396/375 hp nova ;with cloned over 842 aluminum heads and such and a decent amount of money forked in the motor to compete in the purestock drags races;wanna keep it runnning good and cool.chris teed

[WILMASBOYL78]

We put a Stewart Hi-perf pump on our 68 BB Nova....and their matching 160* t/stat. We have a 4 core OEM style radiator stock shroud and a steel fixed 6 blade fan...car runs about 170-175*...will go to 180-185* if it idles for awhile or traffic backs up. The engine has aluminum heads which also seem to help it run cooler...I also run some of the cars with just the t/stat body and remove the guts...acts like a restrictor...this seems to work ok, too. The black L78 th400 car runs really cool...last 2 nites at different cruises it ran at 170-175*...Harrison 4 core, stock BB pump, stock shroud and 6 blade flex fan...you really have to try to get it to 180*...maybe we just live right http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif