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Technical Zip (Vintage Air) Pump Riser Info Request

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Johnny Gee, Feb 5, 2026 at 2:45 PM.

  1. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 14,481

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Long story, I should bought one several years back when I made these… IMG_5257.jpeg IMG_5258.jpeg

    because I thought it would be a great conversation piece. Now to get a riser is super expensive and vendor limited. Now I knew I’d lose an inch of clearance but the engine still fit’s between the firewall and radiator “if” I use a flat faced fan like the one in the photo. Jump forward to today, well I want my 1” back so a stock fan with curved tips can be used and look more at home than a aftermarket flex fan.

    Info I have gathered and would like some confirmation on before I drop more coinage around. The combined ***embly of the Zip Riser and 6 cyl water pump = 5.630”. A short V8 pump is 5.625”. That tells me that the single grove water pump pulley (1955-67) will work and not have any interference issues against the impeller housing or pump inlet?

    It must since suggested GM #3995642 double grove pump pulley fit’s.

    If you are running a Zip riser and a single grove pulley, throw me a pic or two. Thanks
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2026 at 3:28 PM
  2. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 4,162

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    I use zips with fender As & 32s with fire wall stock location & shell
    Not great pics nor show car.
    Race -R
    427-434 sb
    Steel pulleys work also , I just use whatever I can get to faster between buildings :confused:
    IMG_4876.png IMG_4873.png IMG_4875.png
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2026 at 3:18 PM
    Just Gary and Johnny Gee like this.
  3. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 38,231

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    I may be way out in left field here, but what if you machined a half inch from the gasket surface of the water pump and 1/4" from each surface of the adapter? that would be an inch....
     
    Johnny Gee likes this.
  4. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 4,162

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    I have done that on tight fitting 3 inch drive blower combo ,
    I have even R&R propeller shaft in water pump machine and install.
    1/8 here & there adds up , if later needs replacement then repeat again
     
    Just Gary likes this.
  5. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 14,481

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    The wall’s of the riser adapters I made are only 1/8”. I did think about machining water pump. That would mean if replaced I’d have to machine another pump. Then there’s I no longer have a mill.
     
  6. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 34,226

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    don't forget fan shroud too
     
  7. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 4,162

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    My self I have use & not use Shroud
    With no issue , but other Have ..,
    One thing I do not know about Zip &
    6 cyl aluminum water pump is !!!??
    RPMs I have not turned p*** 6,200
    With a SS 6-7 blade fan with aggressive pitch ,,, & one shown in my post
    Warring label Flex Light says 6,000. Max
    Thats the fan,,,, """ NOW "" let talk about bearing shaft on Aluminum water pump , weaker then standard SB ???
    7K plus ""BANG"? ? ?
    Riser my cousin has a cast-iron one on his 32 looks like a Zip cast iron , it's the only one I've seen before made out of iron ... I think gm made cast iron one
    for 366-427 tall deck BB in like late
    60's 70's For 50 & 60 series trucks
     
  8. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 4,162

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    No Tool way "" Hacksaw"" & file :mad:
     
  9. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 14,481

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    500 miles from home, yup to :mad:
     
  10. catdad49
    Joined: Sep 25, 2005
    Posts: 7,087

    catdad49
    Member

    Mine with an aluminum 6 banger water pump. Zips 1.jpeg Zips 2.jpeg Zips 3.jpeg
     
    bchctybob, Johnny Gee and Just Gary like this.
  11. @Johnny Gee , can you post a picture/sketch of just the adapter(w/ dimensions), if possible?
     
  12. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 38,231

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    if you need a new water pump you could just rebuild that one....
     
  13. patsurf
    Joined: Jan 18, 2018
    Posts: 2,670

    patsurf

    but..out on the road..
     
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  14. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 4,162

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    If you like to know how you make
    Each side 3 pieces using gasket as templet , I am just jumping in , do not know how to describe to make but very easy 1/8 - 3/16 plate & 16th -1/8 for outside to conference ,, maybe by looking @ you get idle how to make
    You can do a 1 inch to 5 inch offset if you like, top for water pump will need threads taped or nut welded in ..
    Also i do not know if @Johnny Gee are solid stock , if so witch way bored the vertical p***age unless drilled then weld up drill hole roof ?
    I'm sure someone else well explain a lot better IMG_4886.png
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2026 at 8:19 PM
  15. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 14,481

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    I’ll pull them off tomorrow and take pics. FYI, I did not invent this. They were available some ten plus years ago, but I don’t see them any more. The ones sold were a split design (CNC machined internal water p***age) with o-ring style seal to seal the two halves. The ones I made are 1” thick. The height is determined by the water pumps vertical bolt pattern. Of the 3 holes on each spacer/riser, the two lower holes are thru hole while the upper one is tapped to accept upper pump bolts.
     
  16. pprather
    Joined: Jan 10, 2007
    Posts: 9,073

    pprather
    Member

  17. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 14,481

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    @Algoma56 I remembered that I had posted several years back what you’re asking for. It was on a thread where a member was having several bad day’s of self inflicted issues regarding alignment. IMG_5267.jpeg IMG_5266.jpeg
    Also on that same thread I posted this… IMG_5265.jpeg
    picture from the manufacture that I stole the idea from. Why they mounted the water pump upside down? is beyond me.

    Looking closer one can barely make out the split of their design.
    IMG_5265.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2026 at 8:52 AM
  18. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 14,481

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Here’s a money shot. IMG_5264.jpeg
     
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  19. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 38,231

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    could you make another set at 1/2 inch narrower and machine 1/2" off the water pump? that gets your 1 inch back. If you are really worried about an on the road failure I suppose you could do 2 wp's now and carry one
     
  20. Johnny Gee likes this.
  21. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 14,481

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Truth as well, I’m over doing or making stuff to impress so to speak. It’s just more work for nothing in the end. As well the lower crank pulley is another rework thing. Nope, over it.
     
    Moriarity likes this.
  22. 325w
    Joined: Feb 18, 2008
    Posts: 6,537

    325w
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    ZIPs recommend you to run the heater hose back over to the head. I ran to the intake. Some show they have plugged the heater hose. Anyone have issues with the heater hose outlet plugged.?
     
  23. RockyMtnWay
    Joined: Jan 6, 2015
    Posts: 705

    RockyMtnWay
    Member

    I think Zips picked that byp*** location so they wouldn’t need to explain the various byp*** locations depending on whether you were using an older block or a newer vortec block, and then how those byp*** options change if you are using stock pre 86 heads, vortec heads, or after market heads. Make sure you understand how/where the gm engineers (or the aftermarket boys) routed the byp*** flow on your particular components and go from there.
    On my last couple zips equipped sbc’s, I used the heater hoses with a manual shutoff/divert valve. Bonus: This way I can keep the hot coolant from circulating through the heater core inside the car and it can still function as a byp*** route. Works very well.
    Will probably do something same/similar on current roadster project (with a vortec crate) if I do hook up a heater under the dash. At least that’s the plan at this point.

    If I don’t use a heater, I’ll keep the byp*** routing simple, as you can see in this picture.

    IMG_1284.jpeg
     
    RICH B and Algoma56 like this.
  24. I saw that picture, and wondered if the hose was just looped back temporarily to hold it out of way, or it was plumbed in to intake. Now, I know.
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2026 at 1:08 PM
  25. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 4,162

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    The By p*** house , I have used & Not .
    With No issues , Stock engine to 434.
    Then I installed a Zip on Vortec
    350 5.7
    That was a Head ache after experimenting and trying different things ,, worked on literary week ..
    On Vortec
    I had to use the "Double Spring" thermostat & byp***, They work together @ least for me
     
  26. I think I have all the parts in the garage, I'll take some pics and measurements.

    This is with the single groove water pump pulley that is 2 13/16" deep. The pulley hits the water pump housing. The riser and water pump are 5 5/8" (5.625). It's not installed so can't help with the crank pulley offset.

    zips-1.jpg
    zips-2.jpg
    zips-3.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2026 at 5:25 PM
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  27. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 14,481

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    ^^^^^ Well, I pulled the trigger this morning on a riser. I’ll make it happen.
     
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  28. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 4,162

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    @Johnny Gee
    The Zip's I used installed
    All needed shim under top pulley
    16th - 1/8 to line up crank , Most my balancer / hub not Oem tho
    Moroso @ one time sold shim kits
     
  29. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 14,481

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Post #18 shows this. I have left over pump hub shims on hand.
     
  30. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 4,162

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    In post 18 It looks like not Square ,
    Not the ""V"" lining up , pulley @ angle Not straight
    Vertical ??
    If so is that what you are showing , pointing out ?
    If so Bent or miss aligned machine of water pump flang steel part ,,,

    Or riser @ block not Machine flat?
    Looks in pick top is leaning back 10ish degs
     

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