Vortec serpentine system on early block

[MARKDTN]

I have most of a Vortec ('98) Serpentine system that I am thinking of putting on my early block. I want a better a/c compressor. I see that a Vortec water pump is different than an early style because it does not have the bypass hole on 1 side that the earlier pumps have. Can you use a TBI water pump with a Vortec setup? I know I need a reverse rotating pump. I have an electric fan so I don't care about that part. Any experience with Vortec accessories on early blocks?

[71meangreenc10]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=468729

Smitty

[MARKDTN]

That is a TBI setup. The Vortec setup has a Compressor on top of the engine that bolts vertically to a bracket. I THINK that a TBI pump should work with Vortec brackets. The Crank pulley appears to be similar which should mean that the water pump pulley will be in the right place. Guess I just need to mock it up and see.

[Big Kev-O]

You also have to consider the timing chain cover/tab. The timing chain cover on those is plastic and may differ from your existing cover. The serp brackets & accessories may interfere with your ability to see the timing tab on your old gen cover. I can take some pictures if it helps.

IIRC when I installed a cam in my 98 vortec block I wanted to get a metal timing cover but it was not an option due to the serp belt brackets.

[Big Kev-O]

One more thing, I used a rebuilt compressor despite many threads advising to use new GM. My rebuilt is loud!

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by Big Kev-O

You also have to consider the timing chain cover/tab. The timing chain cover on those is plastic and may differ from your existing cover. The serp brackets & accessories may interfere with your ability to see the timing tab on your old gen cover. I can take some pictures if it helps.

IIRC when I installed a cam in my 98 vortec block I wanted to get a metal timing cover but it was not an option due to the serp belt brackets.

I am trying to put Vortec (1996-1999 5.7 and similar years 4.3)accessories on a '90 Corvette TPI 5.7 block. I don't have the Corvette serpentine setup, I bought the engine without it. So I don't have the plastic timing cover. My dilemma is the water pump. A Vortec water pump has 4 bolts with each pair of bolts has a water hole between them. Prior to that there are the same 4 bolts with water holes between them plus a bypass hole below 1 of the bolts (Vortec uses an external bypass). So Vortec blocks and pumps are very similar but if not used together there will be a water leak where the bypass has no seal. So what I was hoping was that I could use the Vortec accessories to get the latest compressor and use a TBI water pump that will mate to my block and have the correct reverse rotation. Looks like I can also more easily adapt my CS144 alternator where all the TBI serpentines have an unreliable (IMHO) CS130 alternator. I can't see where anyone has done this, but I can't be the first. Thanks for the advice so far.