Finishing the swap of the 327 to a 396 and, now that the engine is in, I'm not sure about proper hose placement on the 396. Can someone detail the proper path of the water flow for a 396 in a 1970 SS? I believe the two points on the engine for the heater core connections are one on the intake next to the main/large water inlet (the one where the thermostat goes) and then the other is on the water pump itself -- is that correct? Previous owner of the engine appears to have a plug on that pump there -- so I'm not sure how he had it hooked up. Hopefully, I can get the plug out -- it seems to be in there pretty good.

In any case, I don't know which hose goes from where into the firewall for the heater core -- which one goes to the top hole and which to the bottom? Or doesn't it matter?

Thanks!

- John...

Short piece of hose from front of intake to top of water pump. 3/4" hose from side water pump connection to large heatercore connection. 5/8" hose from intake connection to small connection on heater core

Maybe this will help

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/redmanf1/ap1.jpg

Ok -- I wasn't sure which of those went where (one to the water pump and one to the intake, right? -- does it matter which). Both of the connections on the firewall appear to be the same size on our car. Actually, the hoses that were used are the same too -- I didn't realize that they took different sizes hoses. Hmmm... Do you know which is supposed to be larger when it goes into the firewall -- the upper one or the lower one?

I'll take another look -- plus pick up both size hoses today.

Thanks.

- John...

http://www.chevellestuff.com/70stuff/70velle/engines/ls6_open_01.jpg

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Note the water pump hose goes to the top connection on the heater box, intake connection to the bottom.

Perfect -- thanks! (Just to confirm, those are different sized hoses, right? One at 3/4" and one at 5/8" as suggested above?)

On a side note, any hints on how the heck to get the plug out of the left hole on the water pump? It has a square head and appears to have become one (and was then painted over) with the pump. :( Plus, it is obvious that someone tried to remove it before, stripped it a bit, and gave up. :(

I'm wondering if I should be looking for a new water pump instead...

- John...

I would be afraid to heat it because of the seals. Take a ˝ drive breaker bar or a ratchet to it. If it is too big of a pain get another one.

Doh! Looks like proper pumps (3969811) are going for $150+ on EBay! That's more than I'll be able to do right now.

AutoZone actually lists an compatible water pump for the 70 Chevelle for $50. Any idea what this would be like? Would it actually have the same pulley and such -- or are all the aftermarket pumps electric or something? Anyone know of any compatible water pumps that I could get for a lot less than the $150+ Ebay rate?

- John...

Oh -- and one last thing on that -- anyone have the GM part number for the water pump pulley handy?

- John...

On the water pump, pull it off the engine and drill the plug out. Start with a small pilot hole and work up to a size needed for threading it. Run a tap into the hole and clean the heck out of the pump after. I do this at least once a week at work and everone says they have an easier way. Now I don't tell them to shut up their way won't work. I just ask if they would like to bet lunch on it, I still have not had to buy anyone lunch yet and have gotten the free meals a few times.:)

Hey John, If your not into numbers matching just ask for a water pump from a mid 70's PU thats what I put in mine, I don't have a alignment problem with the alt bracket with a performer, your water pump pulley number should be 14023155 $36 and the waterpump was only about $25 from autozone I had a reverse rotation waterpump from a serpentine system,so I used it as a core. Jim

This one just went for 28.49 on ebay. GM water pump number 3969811 dated D-30-70.
It must depend on date or if two people get on it and they think they need it more then the other, crazy.

This one just went for 28.49 on ebay. GM water pump number 3969811 dated D-30-70.

That's pretty odd. A similar one just closed at $152.50 a week ago and was dated B-4-70.

It must depend on date or if two people get on it and they think they need it more then the other, crazy.

Yeah, I guess. That one had 32 bids that involved a total of 5 different bidders -- three of which all bid over $125. So, seems really weird that one would go so cheap just after one went so high.

I couldn't find that one you mentioned. I found some other similar ones, but none that were 3969811. Although, you can't search completed auctions details, so I could have missed it. Do you remember what it was listed as? Maybe it is just a matter of them using poor key words. I searched all completed auctions for "water pump chevelle" and didn't see any that closed at that price. There were other cheap ones, but just not that part is all.

In any case, we absolutely could not get the plug out -- so we'll have to drill it later. We need the car running this weekend, so I bought a cheaper pump from AutoZone that I'm putting in for now. After I have time later, I'll drill out and clean the original and just put that one back on. So, in the end, I hopefully won't have to buy another anyhow.

Thanks again!

- John...

This is a listing that just ended this morning. I have seen many go for $20 to $40 dollars. He had several listings with 14 available. “You will get either an nos or fresh rebuilt one and it is ready to use”

1970 up 454 SS chevelle #811 waterpumps new 39.99 !!

This is a listing that just ended this morning.

Weird. Because yesterday I searched all auctions with "3969811" in them -- and didn't see it, obviously.

Do you have the auction number? I'd like to start watching his auctions. I'll add him to my "favorite sellers" list so that they pop up.

- John...

I deleted it but he sells a lot of BB parts. I just looked and I do not see any listed right now.

Well, not as big a deal now -- since I've got the AutoZone pump hooked up and will eventually drill mine out. So, hopefully, I won't have to buy one. Thanks though.

- John...