Adding an Electric water Pump 95 Northstar

[jimzilla]

I am interested in adding an Electric water pump to replace or augment the existing water pump in a 95 STS Northstar. Has anyone installed one? Any recommendations for pump, fittings, plumbing?

[chubbyranger]

Crickets... I've never seen that option considered or discussed here or for any car. What would you gain with an electric pump?

[Krashed989]

I've only seen electric water pumps on race engines. It's to gain that extra 0.00001 horsepower to get you to go down the track one thousandth of a second faster.

[MrEldo97]

Save your cash. The "Kool Factor" isn't worth the heartburn IMHO.

[Ranger]

Why?

[submariner409]

Not necessary and the specially manufactured piping and water pump housing changes would cost more than the car is worth. Do you know what and where the water pump is on a Northstar ??? .......and how it goes in and comes out ???

Have you looked at the Northstar water pump and bypass setup and determined that it all bears NO resemblance to ANY form of water pump setup in a timing cover on the front of an engine? An electrical pump would have to be some sort of part-time booster pump in the heater circuit, but no room, no power gain whatsoever, and what for ??? Bling ?? Look what I got ???

[jimzilla]

I am quite familiar with the hydronic system utilized in the N* system. I am well versed in where the WP is located, its removal and installation, thank you.
I have an idea for a unique product, and I would like to validate my theory. It would be a great help if someone has some information about actually using an electric waterpump in this configuration. Thanks in advance.

[submariner409]

.................lotsa luck, and again the prime question: Why ?? The installation would gain nothing in exchange for a decrease in system reliability.

(BTW - In all the time CF has been in existence, no one has successfully installed an electric WP in a FWD Northstar drivetrain. MAYBE in a sand rail or some sort of hybrid kit car, but not in a daily driver.)

[Ranger]

Yes, injuring minds want to know.

[jimzilla]

Patience fellow CF members...patience...and the sooner I find out some plumbing implementations that have been tried, I shall certainly share sooner , in the mtm I will be researching and evaluating on my own....as this should be of interest to a few members...

[Krashed989]

I remember the guru at one point saying something like, at 6000rpms the stock waterpump will fill two 55 gallon drums of water in one minute (probably not his exact words, correct me if I'm wrong).... That's pretty impressive if you ask me. I don't know what you're going to gain with an electric waterpump. They're normally just set to high speed for racing because it needs to be able to disperse the heat of WOT quickly.... But in a daily driver, I suppose you would only lower the normal engine temperature. Which would cause the car to constantly run rich. Which would cause spark plug fouling, burned valves, and fun stuff like that. This is pretty close to being equivalent of running the engine without a thermostat (except that in a northstar it's possible to actually overheat by running without the thermostat).

So... Why are you trying to do this? What is there to be gained?

[jimzilla]

I am intrigued Krash...do tell why a N* would overheat without a thermostat?
Is this based upon some heat transfer properties? Interesting do tell....let me know more.
Regarding electric water pump, why must it be only run at full speed?
I also do not understand why a richer running engine would have burnt valves? It sounds like I could learn a lot here in this forum.
This enquiring mind would lie to know more...

jim

[submariner409]

Stop being such a condescending idiot and learn something about Northstars.

Krashed is trying to tell you that the N* loves to run hot - 200 degrees or so, and running it colder will upset the temperature controls in the PCM. You know darn well that the temperature controls have absolutely nothing to do with heat transfer - that's just your smoke and mirrors showing.

Yes, rich fuel/air mixtures create cool combustion chamber temps while lean mixtures burn valves.

The bling of an electric pump is totally wasted in a Northstar. Cutesy on a street SBC or Ford 302, but WHY ???

[JimD]

Originally Posted by jimzilla

....do tell why a N* would overheat without a thermostat?

Do tell? You would do well to lose the attitude.

Below is a quote from a three or four year old posting by a qualified and respected former forum member.

And if your question above is sincere, and you are really do not know the answer, I suggest you are facing some time-consuming research before returning to the water pump question.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Northstar has the thermostat on the water pump
inlet. Most thermostats you are used to on other engines
are on the exit side of the coolant from the engine, not
the water pump inlet side like the Northstar. In
addition, the Northstar has a large coolant bypass
passage to allow coolant to recirculate thru the engine
to minimize hot spots and maximize flow. Only a portion
of the coolant flow goes to the radiator. The thermostat
controls all of this besides just controlling engine
temperature. If you remove the stat and drive without it
the coolant flow will be totally screwed up and very
little will go to the radiator. There is a spring loaded
paddle on the Northstar stat that controls the bypass
flow independent of the thermostat position or coolant
temperture. Without the stat this paddle is missing and
the bypass port is wide open. You do NOT want to run a
Northstar without the stat. It will cause it to run hot
and overheat.

[dkozloski]

Originally Posted by JimD

Do tell? You would do well to lose the attitude.

Below is a quote from a three or four year old posting by a qualified and respected former forum member.

And if your question above is sincere, and you are really do not know the answer, I suggest you are facing some time-consuming research before returning to the water pump question.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Northstar has the thermostat on the water pump
inlet. Most thermostats you are used to on other engines
are on the exit side of the coolant from the engine, not
the water pump inlet side like the Northstar. In
addition, the Northstar has a large coolant bypass
passage to allow coolant to recirculate thru the engine
to minimize hot spots and maximize flow. Only a portion
of the coolant flow goes to the radiator. The thermostat
controls all of this besides just controlling engine
temperature. If you remove the stat and drive without it
the coolant flow will be totally screwed up and very
little will go to the radiator. There is a spring loaded
paddle on the Northstar stat that controls the bypass
flow independent of the thermostat position or coolant
temperture. Without the stat this paddle is missing and
the bypass port is wide open. You do NOT want to run a
Northstar without the stat. It will cause it to run hot
and overheat.

The guy that wrote that was the leader of the GM Powertrain design team that was responsible for the NorthStar cooling system.