My car has been overheating for a while and I'm finally at a point where I can fix it so I'm wondering what the best parts for replacement are.

As far as the headgasket I know I'm going MLS and am getting the head resurfaced. The part that I am really wondering about is the water pump.

Is a reman from your run-of-the-mill autoparts store going to cut it? Or am I going to be heading to the dealer for new factory replacement?

Any help is appreciated - thanks!

i have used the run of the mill and have no issues

Originally posted by MoparDSM
My car has been overheating for a while and I'm finally at a point where I can fix it so I'm wondering what the best parts for replacement are.

but have you figured out WHY its over heating?
warped head is a result of overheating not a cause, and if you just replace the gasket and throw on a clean head and pump you might just be doing this ALL over again.

what makes you suspect your water pump is bad? since it is tied in with our timing system it rarly goes bad without F*@%ing up the timing. however it is a good idea if you do a full rebuild to get a new pump, since it is tied into the timing and you dont want to risk the one part you didnt replace gernading your engine

have you actually tested your thermostat to make sure it is opening and not stuck closed? an $11 thermostat is a lot cheaper then a rebuild.
how bout your radiator? when its over heating is the bottom hose hot or cold? have you tried draining what condition the fluid is in? (ie rusted, milky, smells like gas etc)

I have taken the thermostat out at this juncture... it was changed 4 times as the first step and I know a warped head is a result.

I replaced the radiator as a next step.

It still sits at H and that's it. There is probably a blockage in the heater core somewhere since it has only recently developed its latest trick - blowing cool air at me instead of scorching hot air like it used to. Bad move, I know, but I've driven it a few times in its current condition and it actually doesn't feel like I've lost any compression, no weird noises, the fans are coming on, no lopey idle. It boils coolant at the waterneck and coolant isn't moving out of the reservoir.

So, I am pulling the head and sending it away to get resurfaced. Then I'll have to check the block to see if it is cracked and/or needs to be sent out as well. While I'm at it I'm replacing all the goodies physically possible and necessary...

Head studs, gaskets, seals, water pump, etc etc etc. I'm trying to figure out what is going to be the best of the best so I up my chances of being a one time fix to get this overheating issue sapped.