Electric Water Pump On The Street

[FastFox]

Been thinking about going to dual Contour fans on a Foxbody. I am going to add a KenneBell, and I thought about going all the way and doing the electric water pump too. It is a full street car with AC and power steering. When I do the electric fans, I will install a 4 row FMS brass radiator. Do the electric pumps do OK on the street ? Any comments on brand ? Sumit has Proform in a kit for about $270. Is the HP gain worth the trouble and cost ?

[Torinoman]

Avoid the cheap off brands. Get meziere. They have a higher flow model for the street. I ran one on my car for a while with no issues, and that was the lower flow one.

[turbostang]

There's nothing wrong with cheap off brands if that's what your budget requires.

I ran a proform on my car (that's what was on it when I got the car), ran it for a couple of years and had NO problems at all.

I had a CSR/CSI spring a leak about a week old, that can go both ways.

The only problem with proform is that they use a wierd gasket. Once you pull the pump off after youve sealed it, you have to either make a gasket or order one.

[majorownage]

Don't

Just get a larger diameter pulley and call it a day. Not worth the risk of overheating your engine. I know two guys that have ruined perfect engines from those turds.

[FastFox]

Thanks for the comments. I can see lots of problems on belt issues and maybe idler location with out a water pump in the loop.

[Torinoman]

I've only ever heard horror stories about the off brand pumps. My meziere ran for years with no issue, and kept my all iron big block cool in tx heat even in traffic. To me this is one of those things you don't cheap out on. Probably not worth the power savings but its definitely worth being able to kick it on at the track to cool the motor

[91CoupeMike]

Mechanical w/p rob power at high rpm, and IRC the faster they spin the worse the flow.

Electric w/p will be alright, I've been debating it on my car for sometime now.

You're going to defiantly want to upgrade your ENTIRE charging system.

For as far as ruining engines, I watch my gauges like a hawk, and I can tell when I start to loose power from overheating. Ive ran my engine dry on coolant 2 times, so low the gauge stopped working and the heater was putting out cold air. Guess what, it's fine, and it runs better then most 20 year old motors.

[majorownage]

Mechanical w/p rob power at high rpm, and IRC the faster they spin the worse the flow.

Electric w/p will be alright, I've been debating it on my car for sometime now.

You're going to defiantly want to upgrade your ENTIRE charging system.

For as far as ruining engines, I watch my gauges like a hawk, and I can tell when I start to loose power from overheating. Ive ran my engine dry on coolant 2 times, so low the gauge stopped working and the heater was putting out cold air. Guess what, it's fine, and it runs better then most 20 year old motors.

Electric pumps will only gain ~5hp against an underdriven pulley. And an electric will never be able to flow as much water.

The 5hp difference is on a 4.6 modular...but the analogy will still hold

[greenbullitt]

Don't

Just get a larger diameter pulley and call it a day. Not worth the risk of overheating your engine. I know two guys that have ruined perfect engines from those turds.

I guess they didnt splurge for gauges!

[FastFox]

Thanks for all the comments. Maybe since my car is not a track car the bigger pully will be the way to go. I am running an Edelbrock pump now and it handles the cooling part OK. As to the electrical system, I am running a 140 Amp alternator with the really heavy cables.

[91CoupeMike]

Electric pumps will only gain ~5hp against an underdriven pulley. And an electric will never be able to flow as much water.

The 5hp difference is on a 4.6 modular...but the analogy will still hold

The electric can flow more at low engine speeds, and even when the car is off.

5hp is 5hp the guy in the other lane doesn't have.

[FastFox]

Dual Contour Electric Fan Set-Up

Speaking of the electric fan set-up......Any thoughts on the Contour set-up ? I have the Painless Wiring dual relay wiring kit with the thermostats. I want to wire it so that there is a MANUAL cut off switch so that the entire fan circuit can be shut down if I want to. I thought about one of the hooded switches like the NOS guys use so that it cannot be accidentally shut off. Any thoughts or ideas ?

[FX331]

Sorry but I dont agree....

Sooooo many benifets from the electric pump... Consistant flow regardless of RPM will have HUGH advantages.

Manual pumps have their place on a low to medium rpm engine.. RPM plays a huge role in pumps. cavitation will screw you at high rpm and aeraite (sp) the system taking away from the pressure side of the cooling system and the way it functions. Steam will not cool.

Not trying to argue but look at how a pressurized system functions.

Electric pumps will only gain ~5hp against an underdriven pulley. And an electric will never be able to flow as much water.

The 5hp difference is on a 4.6 modular...but the analogy will still hold