HP gaining techniques?

[ozconnection]

Things like electric water pumps should not be relied on for HP increases. Your talking about minute HP that people chasing thousands of a second may do. I would wager this is not you. Never underestimate the quality of stock Datsun parts. Shiny parts in a catalog look good on paper, but seldom live up to the hype in actual returns. Use stock when you can, focus your efforts on parts that will make it run strongly and reliably. Build your engine for the driving you do every day. Trying to live day to day with a high strung motor that is only happy at 6k+ every day is not money well spent. Sacrifice some of that peak HP for strong daily reliability.

This is of course unless your building a drag car. Then ignore my post entirely.

I agree, many of the factory Datsun parts are suitable for performance orientated engines. I do ask the question as to why a company will produce an aftermarket part for an engine when there appears to be no reason to do so (read electric water pump)? And when there seems to be a need to have a performance intake manifold for EFI, nobody has produced a replacement en masse when so many people seem to think there are serious flaws with the factory unit? What's wrong here I ask you?

So, back to electric water pumps. Red_dog007 asked the question if there was any performance benefit in using an electric water pump. I think the answer is yes. The L series water cooling system is not perfect and the engine was designed a long time ago. An electric water pump overcomes one of the problems inherent with a crank driven water pump, rotational speed. It's a big topic and there is a heap of information about this on hybridz if you want to find out more. All I want to say here is, look at the complete 'system', understand how it works and then look for ways in which it can be improved before you decide and tell everyone else that something isn't worth the money or effort.

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[Zedyone_kenobi]

Hey peace buddy, I agree. Every system can be improved, but the stock system has been working on my car for 37 years. Something to be said for that. If you want better cooling get a larger radiator, cheap, easy install, and dead reliable. Again, with a engine rebuild, you cannot stress enough protection or reliability. Also, with your electric system, should you decide to go that route. It has its own set of problems. It has a constant draw from the battery, and does put a stress on the electrical system. Older 240's charging systems to not like too many more amps than stock. So be mindful that you may want to upgrade to a later model alternator (60amp maybe). If for whatever reason you lose power to the pump, your stranded. A mechanical pump is fairly reliable, and was designed to go there.

In the end its your decision, but if it were my money, I would spend it elsewhere.

[doradox]

I'm with 280~Master on this. Removing the fan/fan clutch and using an electric fan can actually be felt. Snappier throttle response at the very least. The engine seems smoother and quieter also.

Electric driven water pump? On a street car why introduce more points of failure? You still have the belt and pulley for the alternator ( which was shared with the water pump) but now also wiring, switching, electric motor, belt and pulley for the pump. And you won't find replacements at your local NAPA if you break down on the road.

Steve

[ozconnection]

I guess red_dog007's original post is a little vague on what degree of 'performance' he was chasing. Maybe he could chip in.

But as part of a hypothetical analysis of what parts should be included in a performance build up, things like carbs, cam, head and exhaust get the nod without even an eye blink. Then the guy who has just spent this great wad of cash starts blowing head gaskets on his 10:1 webered street monster.

Chucks in more cash to get a bigger radiator because the temp guage says he should and the head gasket problem is not fixed. Takes out the thermostat because he 'thinks' this will help, but no luck yet. Hell, ARP head studs may fix the problem, but how much money and time has the guy spent and has he really solved the problem? Damn, what is the problem?

Then he reads around the forums and sees that the aftermarket water pump that he bought is of such poor design that it doesn't flow anywhere near as well as the original Nissan one did (if you can still get 'em). So, not only does it not push as much water around but it also fluctuates in terms of flow in relation to engine speed. In a bane attempt to get the rotational speed of the pump right for high speed, a larger water pump pulley is used on the water pump. Great! Pump speed is optimal for 6000rpm. But everwhere else it's a lot worse and the gasket blows again because there isn't enough water pressure in the BLOCK and HEAD to prevent local boil from dead flow spots created by poor water flow from the pump!

One solution....a water pump that flows the 'right' amount of water through the engine at all speeds so that flow is at a constant, regardless of engine speed. That way block pressure is restored, the thermostat can be put back in and the problem of buggared gaskets all but gone.

Now the guy can spend a few extra bucks getting his electrical system upgraded. Why not, he's found the cash for everything else.....