Any Issue with DOVE Water Pumps?

[BigNate]

A while ago I picked up a polished aluminum water pump at a local car swap-meet.  It was in an Edelbrock box and the price was good enough that I didn't spend any real time looking at it...  I got home and pull it out and it is a DOVE unit.  I have a nagging memory that there were issues with the DOVE water-pumps - but searches on the web have not given a consistent answer.  I do note that when I hit the RPM website and look at their parts list it looks like they are no longer making these. 

Well - the old OEMish pump is dead and needs to be replaced.  The pump "feels" solid (bearing feels tight - it rotates smoothly in my hand etc...) and looks new.  So - are they generally good?  Are they generally bad?  If they are generally/often bad - is there a mod / fix that makes them good?  I don't want to install this if the odds are high that it will cause me grief in the near future.  I also don't want to buy a different pump if I don't have to and this one is much purdier than the one I would get from Napa...

Advice?

[thatdarncat]

I'm wondering if it is a Dove pump, not Pond?

[BigNate]

In the words of Homer Simpson....  D'OH!!! 

Original post fixed...  although I'll now start searching for Dove pump info and may have better luck...   I guess that is what I get for not going and picking the thing up to look at the back cover again before posting. 

[jayb]

Easiest thing might be to bolt it on and try it.  Watch for leaks due to casting porosity, which have been reported with all Dove products.  If you wanted to make the effort you could make a couple of block off plates and seal the outlets of the pump with them, then pressurize the pump to 15 psi or so through the water bypass fitting and spray it with windex or a soapy water solution of some sort to look for leaks.

[BigNate]

Thanks Jay...