On almost every classic hot rod project I've seen where the owner did an LT1 swap, it seems like most of them had eliminated the 3 smaller pipes on the water pump. (The ones that aren't the main water inlet and water neck return.) I did a little checking on this and it seems that the early stock Corvette water pumps only had ONE of these extra pipes on it.

Early Corvette pump:

http://us.a1.yahoofs.com/users/42548...ARHvDBTNCERsZT

Camaro/Firebird pump:



I'm looking for ways to clean up my engine bay a little more, and I'm trying to determine what these extra pipes supply water to and if I were to eliminate the hoses and cap them off what I'd be "sacrificing." Has anyone ever blocked off these three extra pipes and just ran a bare bones water pump, and if so, what issues did you have to deal with as a result of doing so?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

One feeds the oil cooler, the other 2 feed the heater core.

 

Obviously, it would be easier to see if one of the pics was not upside down , but you don't need any of the small pipes if you don't want to feed the things they go to.

 

I copied the link to that pic directly off of an Ebay auction, and that's how the pic was situated there. (Couldn't find any other closeup pics of a Vette water pump anywhere else.) But since you're an extra special guy Shoebox, I went to the trouble of putting it right side up just for you.

 

...extra special...

You could always look at pics on my site.

That 'vette pump pic you had showed less pipes than the pic I have.

 

When removing the heater core, should the lines off the pump be looped together, or can they just be capped off?

 

I machined up some alum plugs and just set them in place no problems they were a press fit.

You can also rotate the tubes that come out of the pump if they are at a bad angle.

Originally I just blocked the cooler one off but then did all of them.

 

So it wont hurt just to plug them off? I really rather not loop them, just for looks.

 

You can loop or cap them...
A lot of people use the Y or B body pumps in LT1 swaps due to there being no 'bypass hose' fitting..

 

Guess I'll try and make some sort of cap. Anyone have any suggestions? I guess I could try and machine some plugs out of aluminum.

 

That is what I did no problems at all.