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Generally the Lasso with the plastic impeller seems to be what recent threads talk about, but some older threads discussed something called a Guardian maybe? If I read correctly, it was a modified pump that used a clutch so that if the pump seized it wouldn't screw up the timing belt and kill the motor. It seemed like a great idea, but...I haven't heard anything about it recently. Thoughts?
Also...regarding Gates belts...the racing belt is quite a bit more expensive, but makes some pretty good claims about durability. Is this generally regarded to be a worthy investment, or overkill for a street-only car? I have no problem spending the money if it's providing improvement for my use case, I just don't want to do so if it would only have an advantage in a racing situation, etc.
Just replaced mine, and went with the regular gates belt and the new "latest" Laso pump.
For the record the pump that was replaced was a 928 inter. rebuilt pump that I installed in 2002 and over 30,000 miles later. The rebuilt pump was still in perfect shape.
I've got one of Ed's Guardian pumps on my 89. I bought it because of the what if factor. I can afford a new Porsche pump, just figured the Guardian might be the best way to go. Drove the car to 3rd Coast last year, and New Orleans, before returning to Las Vegas, with zero problems. I haven't been home to start the car at all this year, just opened the side door and looked in at my cars. Everything is there and nothing is leaking. Hard to tell what might happen when I fire it up though.
Doc Brown is the undisputed authority regarding these cars. I'd follow his advice, if I were you.
FWIW, if my engine lets go I'll have Greg build me a replacement.
Only the factory pump and the Laso pump have plastic impellers.
For street cars I only recommend the Gates stock belt - ask me in 20 years if the Gates RB will go three iterations of the stock TB.
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Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission? George Layton March 2014
928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
Just had a customer ship a car to me from Oregon and one of the conditions for the sale was providing a TB/WP job done with properly requested parts. The owner wanted a NEW Laso pump with a plastic impeller, Gates belt and proper rollers etc. The car gets here from Oregon and what do I find? A rebuilt pump put on the car and a charge of $990.00 for the pump. That's just the damn water pump.
Ok, so if it was a Porsche rebuilt, which uses a plastic impeller that would be fine, but the customer requested what? A new Laso............ $500.00, $625.00 with markup (which I fail at because you all look at Rennlist). The stamp on the pump was from a year ago, a rebuild and no idea who rebuilt it. We asked the shop what they used, Porsche or???? No answer so..
The customer is not happy and the shop gets to deal with the Amex issues.. The shop is not happy with the charge back and I am supporting the customer 100%.
To the OP, I will not use anything but a new Laso or new Porsche pump. I've had one in 5 years want to use the Porsche pump and it was a stroker built by Greg.
Don't forget the importance of the coolant: it must be free of all "ates" ie silicates, nitrates, phosphates etc., and specifically stated on the bottle.
These things bind with the steel spindle, forming a surface roughness that wears the seal and results in a premature leak. Honda discovered this when building the Odyssey and produced it's own 'ate-free' coolant as a result.
When I bought my S4 in 1990 (23,323 km) I replaced the WP/TB as part of setting a maintenance baseline. Used an 'ate' free coolant. Car now has 170,000km (106,000mi) with no WP leak. Needs it's 3rd TB tho.
09-04-2014, 08:30 PM
Consensus on the best water pump choice?
George Layton March 2014
