Vortec accessories on tbi

[dusterbd13]

Have a full setup here, with all the known good ac parts from a 98. Will they work on a 95, clearing the earlier thermostat location? Would i use earlier or later water pump? Any gotchas?

 

[Schurkey]

I have one Vortec water pump. Compared to the TBI pump, the pulley is in a slightly different position. Pulley alignment will be a problem. If there are other applications that are more-compatible, I don't know about them.

The Vortec pump also doesn't seal the coolant bypass hole in the block. Not a problem with Vortec heads, but TBI heads will flow coolant onto the ground.

Either you plug the bypass hole in the block, and use the Vortec pump with Vortec accessories, and the Vortec bypass system; or you use the TBI pump with the TBI bypass, and hope you can get the belt alignment correct.

Photo 1. TBI water pump gasket surfaces
http://hbassociates.us/Chevy_5.7L_WaterPump_01.jpg

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Photo 2. Vortec water pump gasket surfaces
http://hbassociates.us/Chevy_5.7L_WaterPump_02.jpg

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Photo 3. Vortec vs. TBI pulley differences
http://hbassociates.us/Chevy_5.7L_WaterPump_03.jpg

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[HotWheelsBurban]

I have one Vortec water pump. Compared to the TBI pump, the pulley is in a slightly different position. Pulley alignment will be a problem. If there are other applications that are more-compatible, I don't know about them.

The Vortec pump also doesn't seal the coolant bypass hole in the block. Not a problem with Vortec heads, but TBI heads will flow coolant onto the ground.

Either you plug the bypass hole in the block, and use the Vortec pump with Vortec accessories, and the Vortec bypass system; or you use the TBI pump with the TBI bypass, and hope you can get the belt alignment correct.

Photo 1. TBI water pump gasket surfaces
http://hbassociates.us/Chevy_5.7L_WaterPump_01.jpg

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Photo 2. Vortec water pump gasket surfaces
http://hbassociates.us/Chevy_5.7L_WaterPump_02.jpg

You must be registered for see images attach

Photo 3. Vortec vs. TBI pulley differences
http://hbassociates.us/Chevy_5.7L_WaterPump_03.jpg

You must be registered for see images attach

Reverse direction may be an issue too....impeller fins are different directions

 

[L31MaxExpress]

Have a full setup here, with all the known good ac parts from a 98. Will they work on a 95, clearing the earlier thermostat location? Would i use earlier or later water pump? Any gotchas?

GM put them factory on the later TBI Vortec mexican trucks. Easiest way to do it is to keep the TBI water pump and TBI crank pulley and space the accessories out 1/4" to match with 3/8" x 1/4" thick washers. Water pump bypass hole needs to be tapped for a 1/8" NPT pipe plug if you use the Vortec pump. I had to plug the bypass hole in my 350 Vortec just because I swapped to aluminum heads years ago. Swapped on some Etec170s and it started peeing coolant out of it.

 

[Schurkey]

Reverse direction may be an issue too....impeller fins are different directions

Vortec and TBI spin the water pump the same direction. At least, the ones I've seen do.

 

[L31MaxExpress]

Vortec and TBI spin the water pump the same direction. At least, the ones I've seen do.

Some of the very early TBI square bodies and vans had regular rotation pumps with that bastardized multi-ribbed alternator pulley and v-belts on the rest setup. Would not be found on the OP 95.

The 87 G20 built in 86 I pulled apart to swap a LQ4 in its place had a L03 305 with a TH400 and V-belts.

 

[dusterbd13]

Thanks guys! Seems like i can make this work fairly easily.
Also, looking at the pump picture, seems like the flange is is the same llace on both pumps, and the vortec water pump pulley is just a lot deeper to account for the different depth.
Is that just wishful thinking?

 

[L31MaxExpress]

Thanks guys! Seems like i can make this work fairly easily.
Also, looking at the pump picture, seems like the flange is is the same llace on both pumps, and the vortec water pump pulley is just a lot deeper to account for the different depth.
Is that just wishful thinking?

Wishful thinking. Found the specs for the working height on the flange on Flowkoolers website. The TBI pump flange is exactly 1/4" further from the block then the vortecs. I used 1/4" washers for spacers and rounded up the vortec threaded rods from the junkyard to install in place of bolts.

 

[dusterbd13]

Dang. Guy could hope! Still way cheaper than fixing the old ac system. And probably better with the newer compressor.

 

[Erik the Awful]

I have Vortec heads on a TBI block. My Vortec and TBI water pumps were mostly a direct swap. I originally had the TBI water pump, but the Vortec heads did not have the coolant bypass drilled, which can cause weird cooling issues. I swapped over to the Vortec pump and blocked the bypass port in the block. I had to run the stupid big-nut Vortec fan instead of the TBI's easier traditional style fan. Works great.
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