Just purchased a 1961 Buick Electra Convertible. Car has been stored for around 10 years. All original low miles original paint interior etc. Nice car. Heater Core is leaking & Water Pump is leaking.
Question 1. What is the difference between a water pump for a AC car and a car with non AC. My car has no AC but the only pump that I can order is for a car with AC. Is there a difference or just extra holes??
Question 2. Were can I find a new Heater Core??? I may just try and have mine repaired.
Your heater core can be repaired at any local, competent radiator shop. The difference on A/C has a 5 blade impeller & a heavier duty bearing. Non A/C has a 3 blade impeller & a smaller bearing. Why, I don't know really, but an A/C pump on a non A/C engine will usually cause heating problems.
Tom Telesco
Classic and Muscle Automotive
12 Cook St.
Norwalk, CT 06853-1601
Day Phone 203-324-6045 ET
NailHead Mini-Starters '53-'66
Adjustable Roller Tip Rocker Arms - All NailHeads
Custom forged pistons
Front & rear neoprene seals
Many other "Nail" parts
"If I can't get it, you don't need it!"
What other options do I have?? I ordered the water Pump for a AC car. Thanks Ben
Have your original rebuilt. I've been using the same guy now for 15+ years with no problems.
Tom Telesco
Classic and Muscle Automotive
12 Cook St.
Norwalk, CT 06853-1601
Day Phone 203-324-6045 ET
NailHead Mini-Starters '53-'66
Adjustable Roller Tip Rocker Arms - All NailHeads
Custom forged pistons
Front & rear neoprene seals
Many other "Nail" parts
"If I can't get it, you don't need it!"
The big difference is the tower or where the impeler passes through. The non a/c variety is taller than the a/c water pump. The pulleys will not line up properly because of it. Non A/c pumps are getting harder to find these days.
I'm running an A/C water pump on my non-A/C '63 LeSabre. I didn't have any problems with the pullies lining up. It's been on the car over a year now, and I have had no overheating issues so far. It came from NAPA. I could never find a non-A/C water pump for my car, so I kept the old pump to have it rebuilt. I'll keep it on a shelf, just in case...
Give this guy a call (Tony)
http://www.fdrbp.com/
When I got the Wildcat (64, 445ci), it had been in storage for 25-30yrs. The first thing that needed replacement was the water pump, and the water control valve for the heater was frozen solid (open) - I hadn't learned my way around the internet yet, I wanted both; not to have hot water and have the heat when I needed it - I put a water shutoff valve on the hose coming from the water pump.
To clean up the engine compartment when I drove across the country, I looped the hose back to the block. now it's pending an after market a/c, so the issue will go away.
I soaked the water control valve from the LeSabre (64) in rust remover, it now functions properly - but the LeSabre will also get an a/c, so once I get both Buicks solid, it will go for sale online with the rest of the "spare stuff".
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