I might have to replace the 1 year old NAPA water pump on my 340 and I don't want to have to do it again in another year from now.

What brands/part numbers are you running that actually last?
Do you run a standard or a high volume unit?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mil-16250/overview/make/dodge
This is one that I found for reference.

Thanks

What about Flowkooler?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bra-1700/overview/make/dodge

Never had an issue using the stock HD version on my small blocks.

It was leaking out the weep hole? I've had extremely good luck with water pumps & I'd say the chances of you haveing this happen again are pretty slim. I'd suggest an 8 blader rebuilt one from your parts house & you could weld on an anticav plate. I cut a round piece out of the side of a junk washing machine sitting in the yard with a saber saw with an OD slightly less than the OD of the vane tips cuz you weld it at the vane tips then had my welder tack it on & drill a hole in the center to weld it there where the shaft is also. First mockup & need .040" or more clearance but no less than that (.040" is perfect) to the timing cover "flat" keeping in mind your gasket thickness. Easy to do & greatly increases pump efficiencey & lets you run a higher pump pulley ratio for more flow/better cooling without cavitation. Short answer: buy another one anywhere & toss it on there as is & you will be fine

RR i agree one from a parts store is just as good as the hi buck ones.Its all Ive ever used on any SB.Some time you can get a new not reman for not much more $$$.When I did the pump on my 3.3 it was new Advanced.It was a factory Mopar part in their box new.Rocky

For an aluminum 70 and up type I run the Milodon water pump.

It has a anti cavitation plate welded on and the impleller distance is checked and reset as necessary. Milodon says the parts store ones are all over the place.

There are millions of parts store ones running around.Back in the day do you think MA wasted time and $$$$ adjusting them.Then they were daily drivers and went hundreds of thousands of miles.But its your $$$$ so pay and take tour choice.I run an aluminum pump and body on my BB.But it was cheap and saved weight.Rocky

AFAIK the only thing separating the Flowkooler from the regular parts store water pump is the anticavitation plate so ably described by Blazin' Bob.

If I had a 1-year-old NAPA water pump that was leaking out of the front seal I'd take it back and use the warranty. Even an el cheapo water pump will last for years unless there's a gorilla tightening the belts.

Gates makes a nice pump. They also have a heavy duty one, Rockauto carries them.
I think you can get a Milodon for about $100 if you care to go that route.

There are a lot of options, but water pumps are not high wear items, they usually last over 100K miles. They are almost foolproof since the bearings and seals were put in one cartridge. Housing, impeller, shaft, cartridge, front flange. That's all there is to a water pump.

R.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I should have time later on in the week to determine if the existing pump is an issue or not. I just wanted to start getting some opinions just in case it needs to come out.