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Electric waterpump for daily driver?

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Old 03-17-2009, 02:11 PM
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Electric waterpump for daily driver?

I'm doing some research on an electric water pump for my 1991 Corvette. Prices are all over the map ($185 for a Pro-Form, $300+ for other brands) so I'm not sure what to get.

My car gets about 8,000 miles a year put on it, so I need something reliable. I also road race it from time to time, so cooling capacity on par with the mechanical pump is necessary as well.

Is there a model/brand that you guys have used on daily driver cars that has been good? One that has been bad?

Thanks!
Old 03-20-2009, 10:28 AM
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Re: Electric waterpump for daily driver?

I have no clue, but remember to bump this every week so that it stays fresh and ppl see it. That way you might get your answer
Old 03-20-2009, 11:49 AM
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Re: Electric waterpump for daily driver?

Might I suggest you just use the appropriate Edelbrock belt-driven pump and find the 10 horses somewhere else?
Old 03-20-2009, 12:04 PM
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Re: Electric waterpump for daily driver?

If you want the best reliability and cooling performance, just get a mechanical pump.

http://www.stewartcomponents.com/
They make some of the best pumps.
Old 03-20-2009, 12:10 PM
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Re: Electric waterpump for daily driver?

several of my buddies have used them, and I have one but I haven't had a chance to use it yet...only thing is that you have to make sure your charging system is up to par, or you'll be up sh*t's creek. you're probably better off going with one of those high output belt driven pumps.
Old 03-20-2009, 12:17 PM
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Re: Electric waterpump for daily driver?

Well not only do i think that a mechanical pump would be better for reliability and cooling but the claims of improved hp are missleading. You assumeing for a moment comparing a electric pump to a equivalent mechanical pump when the electric pumps off yea there will be less load on the motor which can give a few hp. However the flip side is when the electric pump is on the power to run it is comming from the alternator. So that means the load on the alternator is loading down the motor in an ideal world negating any benifit the electric pump would give you in terms of reduced load on the motor. However this is not an ideal world and the alternator is not 100% efficient at converting mechanical energy to electric energy. Further more the electric pupm is not 100% efficient at converting electrical energy into mechanical energy to turn the pump. So now it actually requires more of your motors hp power to run the electric pump than the mechanical one. Now i suspect 2 things. Eather A thoes hp gains they claim are with the pump not running but neglect to tell the consumer what the hp losses are with the pump running or 2 to compensate for the fact the electric pump set up is less efficient, electric pumps do not flow as much which could yeild a small performance bump because its now doing less work than the mechanical pump. Long story short stick with mechanical cheaper better and more reliable.
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