Water Pump Casting# 3782608

[George D.]

I have the subject water pump with a casting date of H246 (the 6 could be an 8. What does the date code translate to? If it is correct for a 69 with an L-46 and AC could you also suggest where to get it rebuilt.

Thanks,

George

[Jack H.]

Re: Water Pump Casting# 3782608

The H246 date code translates to August 24th, 1966. Yes, the '69 L-46 engine used this pump housing casting. While the casting date doesn't agree with your car's engine, the last time I looked at the applicable early Shark Judging Guide, it prohibited judges from attempting to judge casting dates on water pump housing due to the lack of visibility behind the pulleys/belts, so this would 'work' for your car despite it's being improperly dated.

On water pump rebuilding, there are quite a few commercial services who will do this for you, one is Arthur Gould in Florida who's been mentioned a number of times (search the archives). You can also do the overhaul yourself as most of the major Corvette catalog houses (e.g. Corvette Central) list one, or more, rebuild kits (just the bearing, seal, gaskets or the whole taco including the rear plate, fasteners, and shaft). Directions for "how to" are generally covered in the Chassis Service/Chassis Overhaul Manual(s).

As a hybrid, you could buy a water pump rebuild kit and have just about any local machine shop do the job for you vs. packing it off to a water pump rebuild specialist....