PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

If you need to change a water pump on a 3800 n/a with relatively low milage go with the delco 252-693. It has the cast steel impeller, not the cheap tin trash original design that alway wears or comes loose. The disadvatage it weighs over 5lbs and is over 50$. If you have a high mileage motor just go with the cheap original part, it is still around at about half the price and weight and will likely last over 6yrs.

I use the 252-692 water pump on any project or customer car that comes though my shop. I don't see any disadvantage, there is no weight difference from OEM (2lbs 5.5oz vs 2lbs 8.5oz) and its not costly. I buy them for $25-30. I don't see a lot of impeller failures, mostly bearings and seals on the OEM's. I just like the superior impeller design and assume it pumps better.

Great to hear you do alot more on these than I do. But I had (2) pumps where the little pressed on thin impeller came loose and was spun loose on the shaft. Garbage for longevity / heavyduty-ness imo.

I did a quick check at a few places on the weight and they show what you are saying, but I know I saw it somewhere spec'd at 5lbs and I noticed a very significant weight difference between them on the one I recently installed it. Also there is very significant rotational resistance on the cast one when you spin.

Now I'm curious. So I still have a new original cheapie version I will order another cast one and to see the weight difference again. I'm sure hoping now there is no other engine that uses a similar pump bolt pattern and I got a heavy-arse version that happens to bolt up...thats my luck lol. Temp is looking quite a bit lower than before but its ok, better than hot.

I got a cheap one to have in the trunk just in case for a cross country road trip one time, at around 180k miles. Still on the original WP though at 245k. I saw the cheap and the expensive one and was wondering myself why the price difference was so significant.

Found the new style pictured on Amazon for $29.00 but the idiots sent me the old model style...figures and thats false advertising that one is completely different part number.. Returning it and looking for an actual source for the updated one at a decent price. The new style one I purchased for $60 is gone on Amazon. Trying to have sellers verify the pump gear is like pulling teeth. Dealer price is $97 but at least you can see it for yourself. Looks like Rock has the new style it for $38 less 5%. Keep you updated.

Ok Haro was right as usual. The weight is 2.55 lbs for the new style pump not much difference. The spin resistance from the impeller is also about the same. I was comparing a used one to new pump.
But I still like the later cast impeller design by a long shot. It does look heavy lol. I guess the design is actually not that new either. Oh well I got over-excited for a minute.