Water pump for SBC Vortec engine?
 

For the first time in my life I have purchased a crate engine. It's for our shop truck, advertised as a "1996-2000" L31 long block. What water pump do I run? I've seen pictures of a hose running from the intake to an outlet on the water pump.


P.S. I cannot build a stock 350 hydraulic roller for the price I paid.

Never really worried about it, but I am going on a long cross country trip soon and figured I should get it looked at. My mechanic said there is a small coolant leak near the water pump, suggested to maybe change the water pump if going on a long trip. However after a bit of online research, I found that the water pump gaskets on the 5.3 engine tend to leak and often need replaced. the water pump seems to work fine, so im thinking maybe just replace the gaskets to fix the small leak . its quite a cost difference from water pump, and money is an issue would hate to change snaptube vidmate outna perfectly good water pump