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M38 replacement water pump
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 7:04 pm
by radtech
What is the best replacement water pump for the M38?
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 7:55 pm
by wilfreeman
This is a hard one. You have the cheap a** imports for $50, or you have $85 "Made in the US" version that looks amazingly like the import one. When I was putting my a1 back on the road, I tried the import one first - the pulleys didn't line up. Then I sent it back and bought an expensive Made in the US one - SURPRISE - the pulleys didn't line up (with my crank pulleys). I tried to send that one back. It was going to cost me return shipping PLUS a 20% restocking fee! I sold it on eBay for what I paid for it.
I ended up going in a totally different direction and rebuilt my old one - it only cost around $20 at the time for the parts. Of course I ended up messing a piece up (don't remember which one it was) and it cost almost double that in the end. At least I still have a working pump with pulleys that line up.
For my current '64 a1, I went out on a limb AGAIN and bought one from QTM Parts. Matt says it is US made - the pulleys line up and I haven't had a problem with it yet, although I haven't put much time on it. The price is decent also.
Just my $0.02. Take it for what it's worth.
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:54 am
by oilleaker1
Thanks for the info. I got one seeping and am worried about buying a POS. The kit is at least half the cost of a new one, and I've re-built one civi. type already. I couldn't believe how hard it was to remove the pulley from the shaft. A press destroys it, and a two bolt puller bends it. on top of that, the seal surface needs attention on the pump body and is iffy. Anyone else got any advice or experience with this?
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 10:20 am
by wesk
Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 1:50 am
by Bobber
I got a rebuilt and pressed my pulley back on it. Don't remember if it was US made or import. Seems to work OK.