LS1 Water Pump Mods

[Aussie Mike]

Hi All,

I had a go at the 2n'd round of water pump modifications. The Reverse rotation setup seems to work fine so I decided to try adding a filler neck to the water pump. This lets me delete the header tank to make some room for a power steering reservoir.

I machined up a filler neck and then machined out a socket in the top of the water pump and welded it in. On my first fire up I found I had a small pinhole in the weld and had to strip it all down and re weld it. It's all back together now and I'll fire it up again tonight to see if there are any leaks.

I built my radiator overflow tank with this setup in mind. The radiator cap is 16 pound vented unit so it will blow excess coolant into the catch can but will suck it back up as the engine cools.

The line from the cross over tube between the heads burps air out of the system to the highest point. The system seems to fill OK.





Cheers

[macloft]

Awesome Mike
Why didnt you do that a couple of weeks ago then I could have copied it and saved buying a large polished bling bling bottle.
Bruce

[leroy17]

O.k. I know that this is an old thread however I am looking for info surrounding LS1 water pump options.

I am wanting to remove all the idler pulleys and use the serpentine belt for crank, water pump and alternator. To do this will mean that the water pump needs a custom pulley to run the belt (see Mikes photo above) and that the impeller will be needing to have reverse blades. I know that there are other items like a tensioner (was going to modify a bracket for the alternator), however this is the easier part.

I have been looking (during breaks at work) for a water pump that has this already however I have not found anything so far. I have rung a speed shop and the engine builder however whilst they knew what I wanted they were not aware of a kit available however said that something does exist.

So, does anyone know any information on this, surely I am not alone in wanting to simplfy the pulley system and I am hopeing that there is some info out there.

I would imagine that with LSx conversion in hotrods with no power steering or A/c that someone may have encountered this already.

But the way, I like Mikes set up... purposeful.....nice!

Cheers.

[boxhead]

Here is my setup.

[jcraigau]

What about an electric water pump then you only need alternator belt.

[Aussie Mike]

Meziere make a nice electric pump that incorporates an idler pulley where the original water pump drive was. It wouldn't matter which way that turned, you could wrap the belt either way. With the Aussie dollar the way it is at the moment it make the $800 US price tag a bit more attractive too.

Meziere Enterprises

Cheers

[Jerry Clayton]

Try Katech here in the USA--They do a lot of these

And I wouldn't go electric pump EXCEPT for drag racing as the amount of flow and cooling is never right---the crank driven pump is always at the proper flow rates for the engine RPM

WWW.Katechengines.com

[leroy17]

Thanks for the suggestions... been looking at options and boxheads set up is a little neater that what I am running.

Just want to simplify and improve the looks of all these pulleys.

Cheers.

[dont]

Check this web site. They have some LS conversion ideas.
Foxlinders - LS Style Engine Conversions

[boxhead]

I was worried that with only quarter wrap of belt on water pump, it may slip.
So far though no problems (I have done 10,000kls) with runs at the drags, around Winton and Wakefield, plenty of driving in 40 degree plus days and extended high speed (150kph for 200klms)
The tensioner assy I used was ratted from a Fraud Telstar. It was almost a bolt on fit.

[leroy17]

Originally Posted by boxhead

I was worried that with only quarter wrap of belt on water pump, it may slip.
So far though no problems (I have done 10,000kls) with runs at the drags, around Winton and Wakefield, plenty of driving in 40 degree plus days and extended high speed (150kph for 200klms)
The tensioner assy I used was ratted from a Fraud Telstar. It was almost a bolt on fit.

I think that this is the way that I will look to go, one of the best options that I have seen that works for me.

Aside from Mikes reverse impeller and custom pulley set up which is awesome what I am looking for dosnt appear to exist. The electric water pump options are a nice looking kit and would achieve what I want and also there are a number of kits and all possible pulley locations and set ups as well.

This will not be solved as quick as I first thought however it has given me ideas on approaching this in a different way to suit what I want to achieve.

Boxhead, asside from less contact area on the crank and alternator, could that idler pulley be deleated.. or am missing something .

Cheers

[boxhead]

Originally Posted by leroy17

I think that this is the way that I will look to go, one of the best options that I have seen that works for me.

Aside from Mikes reverse impeller and custom pulley set up which is awesome what I am looking for dosnt appear to exist. The electric water pump options are a nice looking kit and would achieve what I want and also there are a number of kits and all possible pulley locations and set ups as well.

This will not be solved as quick as I first thought however it has given me ideas on approaching this in a different way to suit what I want to achieve.

Boxhead, asside from less contact area on the crank and alternator, could that idler pulley be deleated.. or am missing something .

Cheers

As you say, there will be less contact, weather that is detremental, I do not know.
But why do you need to remove the lower pulley?
In the car it is almost out of sight anf in most Cobra's there is plenty of room in that area, that lower idler is the factory one.
I dont think there was anything that would fowl the belt with it removed.

[leroy17]

I may have found what I am looking for. I clockwise spinning LS1 water pump. I know that this is not needed however it was the old school look and simplicity that I was seeking. This pump is simple and purpose, no heater outlets, no accessory mounts and the option to machine up a nice serpentine pulley. However no provission for a thermostat in the intlet, so I can only see that one may be able to be located in the outlet neck but I dont know that this will work. So in all whilst I found what I was looking for, it may not suit my requirement unless there is an option for the thermostat (I have contacted them seeking some details).

Short of this, this I like your set up boxhead, it deletes the high mount tensioner that I have on the water inlet and outlet side, neater and purposeful.

CNC-Motorsports.com is your resource for High Quality, Hi-Performance auto parts from industry names you trust. Stewart Pro Series GM Gen III / IV LS1 clockwise rotation long version

Prices are from around $350- and up depending on dealer.

[scottj]

Doesn't the Stewart pump relocate the thermostat from the stock location at the inlet, to the outlet at the top of the pump... RYR also makes a really nice surge tank:

http://www.ryr.com/wp-content/upload...Surge-Tank.pdf

I didn't use that pump on my LS7 because it interferes with the EFI throttle body.

IMO, KRC makes the cleanest pulley kits for the LS engines:

[stumpeater]

My 2 bobs worth! Similar to Boxheads, but with 2 belts.
I was concerned about belt contact too, seems to be ok at the moment, I have the option of increasing contact by moving the idler pulley closer to the air intake, and a slightly longer belt.

[Beejay]

I have recently fitted a polished water pump bought off ebay in the US.

It is probably made in China, but seems to work fine. Went to Wakefield yesterday and temps were the same as my old stock pump.

Ben

[boxhead]

More bling Ben?