My 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 has a 1963 Oldsmobile 394 engine in it. I'm seeing the water pump starting to leak more and more from the bottom. I'm assuming the weep hole. The car did sit in the hot Vegas sun for about 25 years without moving before I bought it so I was amazed it worked as well as it did.

I went on Fusick to get a rebuilt water pump but they ask "A/C or No A/C". My car does not have A/C and I'm not sure how to tell which water pump I have on my car. Is there a visual difference between and AC and non AC water pump?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Check the harmonic balancer.
If the balancer has two belt grooves, it is a non A/C engine.
If it has three grooves, then it was an A/C engine.

 

Thanks. Will have to check that. Thanks so much.

 

Due respect to Charlie- he's the best- but I think the simple answer to your question is no, there's no difference between an AC and NO AC water pump. I could be wrong- but think about it- most of the 394s came with no AC, and if you wanted to add AC you'd just change the pulley (if you even had to do that), not redesign the entire water pump. I suspect it was a stupid question the counter man at Fusick asked you because his computer told him to ask you that. Look at the gasket and see if it has a different shape. I'm guessing it doesn't.

And beware- I love those guys, but they're only as good as their computer. I bought a fuel pump rebuild kit from them and it was wrong. It did the job but I had to get creative. I bought a carburetor kit and it included lots of stuff- some worked, some didn't. I rebuilt my oil pump without a kit- it's basically gaskets and seals anyway... so ask yourself what a "water pump rebuild kit" includes? IMO, there's not a lot of stuff in a 1963 Olds 394 water pump you can replace at home on your bench. If the bearings are shot, are you going to press in new bearings into that pot metal housing? Have you seen the impeller? How you going to get that off the shaft? I dunno- and I hope I don't have to find out.

Purely my opinion, and you know about opinions and a**holes, right? Everybody has one... so good luck, my friend and if you rebuild your water pump, please post pictures. I've got a '64 and they're pretty much the same.

 

Wrong^

 

Well thanks for setting me straight Mikey... I'm not sure which part was wrong, but at least you're concise...

 

There is a difference in pumps, A/C vs non A/C.
In the 1963 parts book a non A/C pump is listed as # 587538 and an A/C pump is # 587711.
Olds had a lot of problems with water pump castings in 1963 and revised their pumps.
By 1975 the numbers had changed to #382692 for the non A/C pump and # 382693 for the A/C pump.
I think the difference was in the design of the impeller, although the height of the fan pulley might also have been different. Not sure.
The best deal is to find an aftermarket cast iron pump. You still must know if it is A/C or non A/C though.
If your engine has two grooves on the balancer it was from an non A/C car.
If it has three grooves it was A/C.

Rebuilding a water pump is not a DIY project.

 

Typically, AC water pump pulleys were smaller diameter and therefore spun the pump faster than the standard pump/pulley. Therefore, the AC pumps also had a smaller impeller to work well with the higher speed.

 

Went and checked my car and I have a 2 belt balancer pulley. So I'm assuming that is non A/C car. I checked Fusick's website and they don't have any non A/C water pumps. Any other places to buy these? Thanks again.

 

Here is a picture of my 63 Starfire before I sold it a few years ago. Three belts with A/C. Like Charlie mentioned, they had issues with the water pumps in 63. Mine 63 ( 38K mile car) had factory service type clamp over the snout on the original water pump similar to a hose hose clamp!. Should have took a picture!!!!

 

You might try sending yours to Arthur Gould Re-builders.
Looks like you already have an iron pump housing. That's a bonus.
Sample Page | AG Rebuilders

Also, it looks like you have that alternator belt in the wrong groove.
It should be in the forward groove . The rear one is for power steering.

 

Also check with Craig, mpolds here. He may have a new one.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. As for the iron pump housing, is that better for durability? If I buy a remanufactured one are they cast metal?

As for the pulley, I did remove the P/S as it was leaking and the car had a modern alternator when I bought it so didn't even notice the belts were not in the correct spot.

 

Yes, the iron castings are much more durable. That's why most of the new aftermarket pumps were iron back in the day.
Olds used an aluminum die casting, which was probably too thin in the bearing support area.

A "remanufactured" one could be of either kind.
My suggestion is to send yours to Aurthur Gould as a "rebuild and return".
That way, you know you will get an iron pump.

 

Thanks. I will check with Aurthur Gould.

 

So interesting- my 1964 Dynamic is NOT an A/C car, but it has 3 grooves (belts) on the balancer, and the water pump pulley. I was told the car is all original, but I'm really starting to question much of what I believed to be true about this car.

I'm not a smart man...

...but I can count to three