[Brock1030]

Question: have been researching and not found what is the correct water pump for my ‘79 Trans Am Y84 w72 car?

What the car has on it now is clearly a replacement unit and has the stamp “30938 have also seen “488296” so not sure what is correct. The car is a fourth week of November ‘78 build date, if that makes a difference. Kindly advise.

Thanks so much.

David

['ol Pinion head]

488296 is correct casting number.
All original casting Pontiac V8 from mid 60's through '81, have raised casting numbers. The "296" casting number began in mid '72 model production. The first few year 488296 pumps will have a raised year moniker like 72 or 74 besides a raised alpha-numeric date code on the lower face of the housing. Often times that year moniker doesnt jive with the actual casting date.

The size of the font of the raised casting number 4882296 increased some time in the mid 70's, have not narrowed it down exactly. Typically, late '74-76 dating pumps I only buy if they have an original cast impeller & rob those impellers to use on other pumps . Have tray after tray of original Pontiac v8 WP cores. Rebuild sessions a few times a year. Will reacquaint myself with dates of later dating "296" pumps I have.

For your Nov '78 built W72 Y84, I'd expect a pump dated between Oct of 77 & the Spring of '78. One of my projects is a heavily loaded '79 W72 T/A, body build of 11A. Will ck the date on its WP in the morning.

[Brock1030]

Thanks so much, OPH!

Would be grateful if you have a good core from ‘78 488296 with which you are willing to to part. Understand you may not be doing rebuilding this time of the year, but would also be grateful for a recommendation of a good rebuilder. Thanks so much.

David