HEMI Tech: Water pump. Change? Rebuild? Run it?

I ordered one from them one time, after seven months of them telling me that it was shipping the next day, I cancelled the order.

 

uh, 15 amps???

 

Well, if Steve and crew at EGGE can rebuild one for $80 then that is a helluva deal, we do the deed for $125 and barely cover the labor and parts. The stock pumps may not be the prettiest pieces but they are efficient. One word of caution, the stock pumps with the 'plastic' impeller is nearly impossible to dissasemble, don't waste your time trying to use a gear puller as it will only break the impeller.
We have prototyped an adapter to mount the B-RB housing on the 354-392, but do not have a 'package' to offer as yet. This system will clear the stock t-chain cover as well as the fat Moon cover. I have tried to attach a jpeg photo but the system will not allow due to 1.12 mb size. If anyone wants to see the installation, send me a note.

 

They can make em put out more, you just have to bust their chops...
I also have been looking at 5.7 (350) Mercruiser (marine) stator/h20 pumps, when I know more I will post up...

 

WHOA! That sounds cool!

 

That's pretty nifty... BIG BUCKS! GOOD LORD!!! **GASP**

 

Remember, trying to get a Hemi water pump if broke down someplace would be rather hard..You get a SBC or BBC any auto supply almost all super markets (lol)..
SBC conversion..get my vote. Use it on my 241 Red Ram..
Duane..

 

Yeah its a tough pill but it does clean up the engine bay huge. Look at the front of a hot rod (pre 34) with a hemi in it and you usually have a unsymmetrical shot due to the generator or gasp alternator. If it was cheap/easy everyone would do it... **** a hemi is a great engine its just financially stupid....

 

At that price from napa, I'll be picking up a second one as an insurance policy. I got a rebuild last year for my 270 on ebay for 40 bucks.

 

If properly rebuilt a water pump should last 50K miles more than what most rodders will ever drive... and, at least with the Mopar pump you do not have to remove everything from the front end to replace a pump.

 

Thought I would continue this thread with my 58 Dodge
truck 354" hemi. The cover that came with it mounts the
water pump very high compared to the rest of the front
covers. The pics show my block, and the original front
cover.

continued..

 

Here's how the front cover mounts on my block. The
spacer piece that goes on first is 1 1/4" thick.

 

After a lot of searching I located a front cover from
'***us' (thank's Jeff!) who also was a huge wealth
of info, and spent a lot of time helping me.

This front cover lowers the water pump 3 1/4", and
moves the fuel pump to the p***enger side where
I wanted it. Notice the original was on the drivers
, and I didn't want it near the steering box.

I picked up a water pump from 'wicked tin' (thank's!)

 

Now this all good, but remember that 1 1/4" spacer?
This cover doesn't use one which means the fuel
pump eccentric doesn't work! ***us to the rescue
again with the correct pieces! (on his own dime!)

 

Here's the complete cover with pump. I have nothing
against using the Chev water pump, but they don't
let me use the original fuel pump. This setup is for
truck, Indus., and Marine. A car block has a different
bolt pattern on the block. With a p*** cover you could use a Chev pump, and keep the orig fuel pump. Many thank's to Jeff for his help, I hope this may help someone else in my position.
Rich

 

Thanks for posting that Rich! With more and more truck, Industrial and Marine motors getting used, your effort to post that will prove valuable to some people around here. Good stuff! Also, good on the people that helped you out. That's what it's ALLLL about, right there! Helping people out with all this madness...

 

Scooter:
Thank's for the Hemi tech, it has been a huge
help!
Here's a pic of the p***enger front cover, and
one with the chev pump conversion.
Rich

 

My vote is to use something stock that is easily obtainable anywhere.

The SBC pump or the BBC would be my choice.

Looks and history are one thing, but getting home is another.

I made a big point out of using an absolute minimum of special parts on my 32.
Aside from the narrowed rear axle housing and one non-stock axle as well as not counting the hot rod stuff on and in the engine everything else should be fairly easy to find in any town.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And to play Devils Advocate on my own argument, a stock, well done rebuilt ChryCo pump should do it.
All the water pump failures I've had usually give you some warning with a little weepage or dripping so you could make it home if you had to.

My 455 Buick pump is doing well.
New and not rebuilt.
I run water pump lube in the coolant and it looks to me like it's a big help in extending the longevity factor.

Helps too that I drive the roadster at least once a week.

Last Saturday, 26* F to donuts and 29*or so on the way up the hill to a friends - unheated - shop.

Did get chilled, but once home, a couple hours wrapped up in a blanket with a couple dachshunds underneath things were just fine....

 

C9:
I agree with what you have to say. I have nothing
against using the Chev water pump. The conversion
will not let me use a stock fuel pump which I favor
over electrics.
Rich

 

I'll post a new question while on the subject of
front covers. Here's a pic of my front cover showing
the 1 1/4" hose bib. this connects to a stock intake
manifold just below the therm housing.
I plan on using a therm housing with hoses to the
intake ports like the HHH setup. I have no water
ports on my heads.
Should I just cap off the hose bib? I see no point
in using it, most conversions with the big blk Chev
pump have it plugged.
Rich

 

Another thought I had, me bein' a Hemi noob and all that, was to make an adapter plate to the Hemi timing cover and use a pump similar to the one Rich B showed above.

An adapter shouldn't be too hard to make if you have access to at least a drill press although - depending on where the pump has to sit longitudinally speaking - a lathe and bandsaw would be a big help.

Some years back, little brother wanted me to see if I could knock out an aluminum pump for his 455 Olds engine in his drag racing Henry J.

I got a good start on it and shown hanging on the wall with purple ****Em is a chunk of 1" aluminum that was to be the base plate.


The Olds impeller, bearings and pulley hub would be used.

After cutting out the first part of the pump, buying a 20 ton press and pressing the Olds water pump bearing/impeller/hub ***embly out of the factory pump, he decided to go with a Moroso electric motor/ small Gilmer belt, drive the stock water pump with small fan setup.

Nice part was, he could run the Moroso setup while sitting in the pits or staging lanes and cool down the engine without having to run it.

Made sense and the adapters been hanging on the wall for a long time.

Never can tell when I may need a chunk of aluminum....

 

Gotcha.

Cancel that reference to the Buick pump.
It has a highly ***ymetrical mounting flange.

Kerry - of blown Hemi 31 Pontiac coupe fame - did some research on this and he may be running a small block Mopar pump.

 

Hey rich b the p*** side pic of the hemi w/bbc water pump is mine , you cant believe all the **** ive gone through to make this work , having spacers machined for crank pulley and alternator (manual fuel pump and stock cover) to 2 different big block water pump fan bolt patterns and height of shaft , grinding the pump body for belt to clear etc etc etc , if i had used a hot heads cover , early bbc pump and electric fuel pump it would have been fine , but i wanted the manual fuel pump and spun g***er tank in front (3 way fuel valve) but other than that it was a piece of cake (by the way bob at hot heads was a huge help)

 

mopar210:
Meant to give credit to you for that pic, nice setup. Like
you say nothin's easy! LOL I would like to have seen
pics of the front cover mods.
I wondered about that 3 way valve till I saw the tank
up front, Cool idea.
Rich

 

I decided to use the cover from Hot Heads for my Desoto. I'd rather have an easy to find water pump ( and cheap too ). Also cleans up the front of the motor and looks a hell of alot better...

 

For my 54 331 Chrysler I went with the Chev pump and Hot Heads conversion, It may not be traditional but it's clean and reliable!'

 

Another HAMBer, Bulldogmafia, just sent this information to me on stock water pump rebuilds. Just wanted to p*** it on. The stock Hemi cooling systems worked well, so don't think you HAVE to make the water pump conversions.

Regarding water pumps for the Hemi's, Kantor Auto Parts, 1-800-526-1096, www.kantor.com, the one for the RedRam is $138.45 and a refundable $29.00 core charge, Lifetime limited warranty even, and they have a good reputation too.

 

Does anyone have any experience using a 440 (or 383, 318 or other) water pump on a Desoto 291? $20 is better for the budget than $140+ core from Kanter.

 

Rock Auto can also, & they have a better rep than Kanters.

 

Although some of the pumps look similar (392 vs 383), they are not, and having the proper relationship between the impellar and the housing is the difference between moving water and chopping water.
A properly rebuilt pump (any pump), should last lomger than most guys will have their car. Yes, there are exceptions to both.
If you must have something modern, and if you have a mill, then look at the LA front cover. It does require some mods but it is doable.

We have made mounts and installed the B-RB housing on 354-392 blocks but limitations apply.



FWIW, We rebuild pumps for $125.
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