Electric water pump for a 5.7 TPI. Good or Bad idea?

 

I would like to do this, but most of the companys I talk to say that they aren't Built for daily Driving, If there is one that says it is good for a daily driver I would like one also.

 

I would think bad because the water pump is part of the serpintine system. Unless you can find another suitable belt. Sounds like too much work for me, you'd probably be better off with a underdrive pulley system; it'll free up about the same HP I imagine. Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather have a mechanical input for a vital engine component than electrical.

 

I have to agree, underdrive pulley system and forget the electric water pump.

 

Meziere sells an electric water pump for the TPI setup, with a pulley and 55gpm capacity. It is 450$, but says it makes over 15 horsepower increase over stock... "suited for mild street to full race conditions". Part #'s 680-wp321s for the black version, 680-wp321u for the polished version (same price) through Jegs. They have it in the catalog, but not online... you have to order it over the phone.

 

Pros:
a) free up hp without having a loss going to you alternator and such (underdrive pulleys). Also, it hardly draws any power, so that isn't a problem.
b) provide such a high and constant flow, that it is crazy. I think that is why they say for race use, because they flow so fricken much that it would actually take a while for the car to warm up. And, its very constant, not RPM dependent like the pulley type.

Negatives:
a) price. 'Nuff said.
b) if it decides to die, your SOL. However, a lot of LT1 guys run electric pumps and have intalled a buzzer that alerts you if the pump isn't running
c) it might be a little difficult to get like another belt or something, but that info should be attainable from the company who makes the pump. Or somebody on here could tell ya.




hopefully this will help, one way or another.........