MTFCA Forum

I will be reinstalling my Chevrolet overhead conversion which because of small water passages between the block and head need a water pump to help move the water but will not be able to use the bock mounted pump if I use the cross-drive magneto setup I just got.
Does anyone make a 6-volt pusher pump that would mount it the lower water hose? I have seen 12-volt ones. I would consider using a side drive but there is no room on the other side to mount an alternator.

I ran an electric pump on my speedster for years… not sure I recommend it. Problem is they are constant flow, your engine requires variable flow. A small aquarium size pump would stimulate flow, but would also inhibit the thermosyphon effect. So you need a pump that is big enough to cool the engine at max load for some period of time. This adequately sized pump will draw more power than your charging system produces. So you install a thermostat to cycle the pump as needed. Then you will find that driving with the headlights on is a losing battle. Like I said, not sure I recommend it, but it can be done…

A modern thermostat with some bypass ought to regulate the flow. A a simple, open face impeller centrifugal pump will actually draw less power if it is throttled on the discharge side. Some bypass is needed to prevent the pump heating up.

Condition of the radiator will be biggest help. Plus a fan.

So you might consider the upper outlet 'puller' type circulators.

Hi Mark,
Chevy head & water pump in one post, You are risking being burned @ the stake A friend of mine has a T-Go over head & it will not thermosyphon enough to cool the engine with a new Brassworks radiator & the exhaust is in the way of 90% of T water pumps so we went
with a electric ( for other reasons he is running 12 VDC ) My BIL runs a GM auxiliary water pump for late model GM's they run $60 -$180
but do a good job. He also has a new Brassworks radiator & runs 12 VDC. I don't know who well they will do on 6 VDC but I have found some
motors work well on either ( 6volts will not be as fast of flow but that may not be of much consequence because they tend to pump to much
anyway.) As far as a thermostat goes thermostatic temp sensors ( used for electric engine fans could be used to control a water pump) upper
outlet circulators may not line up with the Chevy head adaptor & keep in mind that any pump/circulator that is in the top of the cooling
system will not work once the coolant level allows air/vapor onto it. The fact that you are using a Chevy head means you are not concerned
about originality & everyone keep in mind the Frontenac was owned by the Chevrolet brothers! this in my BIL's pump setup. The GM style pump may be worth a try.
Craig.

Craig, thanks. That is helpful. The water inlet is in the same location as stock. When I was running before, I did use a pump and also added a 1/2 pipe off the water pump to the back of the head to help push water through the head. Never did any extensive testing but seem to run/cool fine.

Burned at the stake but

Dan, I thought about one those and they might just work.