Cooling a sbc 434, machanical or electric

[rdy2fly]

Guy's I have decided to build a 434 for my( STREET ROD) yes street rod. How best do I cool this engine, mechanical or electric water pump? The engine will be around 575 hp. I want to keep her cool.

[DRTRCR22]

In my honest opinion... trying to use an electirc water pump on ANY street machine is a BIG no-no...
Jim

[kwkracing]

Run one of these

http://www.jegs.com/i/Meziere/680/WP301U/10002/-1?parentProductId=756625

[rdy2fly]

That is the pump I am looking at, will it be dependable on the street and long term? What thermostat to run with a 55gpm pump? Mechanical the way to go? I will be in heavy traffic at rod runs, I am thinking that the electric will give me the same gpm idle or running all out.

[kwkracing]

I run one in my blown small block that i drive when ever i get the chance. No problems and its been on there a little over 2 years. I run a restrictor instead of a thermostat, it has about a 5/8" hole in it.

[russ67chevelle]

electric,with restrictor so i agree with previous dude...im makin 800 horseys without big shot involved and use it on street

[rdy2fly]

So, that is one vote for a mechanical and two for electric. Please give me a few more voters and pro's & con's, so I can make the right choice. I am thinking electric, does the pump mentioned above come with everything needed to install, wiring harness and such?

[MEMRACING62]

In my honest opinion... trying to use an electirc water pump on ANY street machine is a BIG no-no...
Jim please explain why?

[kwkracing]

In my honest opinion... trying to use an electirc water pump on ANY street machine is a BIG no-no...
Jim
That was what everyone thought before about 2 years ago.

The thing i love about it on my blown car is that i have the electric fans and waterpump wired up to the thermostat for the fans, the pump will run for about 1 minute after i shut the car off, curculating the water and cooling it through the radiator. So atleast it always gets a nice cool down rather than turning the key off and the engine holding heat for 30 minutes. Usually my engine runs warm, the air temp here is 100 degrees and i run more boost than i should, i highly recommend the electric pump above.


What size and type of radiator are you gonna use?

You might have to buy the lower radiator hose fitting that screws into the pump according to what size hose you use. I Also believe i wired in a 20 dollar relay to the pump.

[DRTRCR22]

Hmmm... well, maybe this old dog can learn new tricks...?

I am from old school, and wasn't aware of the claims made by this pump company, and the testimonials from the above users...

I am also in the HOT desert climates, in southern New Mexico, where you only go cruising at night after it has cooled down to under 100* ambient temps, otherwise you won't get very far no matter how good a cooling system you have.

So, I digress my recommendation and will investigate further myself...

[rdy2fly]

I am running a Griffin radiator, with I think 1.5" outlets, just a guess haven't checked. I believe we have determined that electric pump is the way to go. Now on to the next big ? What distributor to use? Pro comp any good? I need to keep things small, tidy and in budget, the firewall is close. I really want to light her candles.

[slowmotion]

I use a proform on my car. It's been on there all season with no problems.

[rdy2fly]

kwkracing, first you mention above that you run an electric pump and a restricter, then in a later reply you a using a thermostat. Which is it?

[russ67chevelle]

when he said thermostat he was talking about a switch with a sensor-not a traditional radiator thermostat...


u can use them for other purposes like turning on and off nitrous blankets when the line pressure is to a certain amount

[kwkracing]

Sorry, maybe i shoulda said thermo swithch?

[rdy2fly]

I just need to catch up, I am new with hot rodding, so I need all the help I can get. Thanks guy's