High flow water pump, which is best?

281pony

Active Member
Aug 31, 2003
2,681
2
46
Oly, WA
my oem contour dual fan recently (so i thought) went out. i ordered a dorman replacement for the contour. it clearly doesn't flow as much air, the car runs 10-15 degree's hotter. we are nowhere near summer weather yet. basically after seeing the temps hotter, i want to maximize my cooling system efficiency.

which high flow water pump works best for a street car. i dont think an electric pump is my answer. i just want to best cooling i can get, i've got an oreillys factory replacement pump on there. i think i can help things out by dumping that.

3 core radiator, contour dual fans and a dcc controller is the rest of my setup.
 
Ive heard good reviews on the Tuff Stuff pumps, but I also second the Stewart/EMP pump I have used them for years with good results, they also offer a polished model if you want to go that route.
 
You are probably going to make the problem worse with a high flow pump. Now the water is going to spend even less time in the radiator getting cooled off
 
Ive heard good reviews on the Tuff Stuff pumps, but I also second the Stewart/EMP pump I have used them for years with good results, they also offer a polished model if you want to go that route.

ok, i was just attracted to that pump cause it is black. i have slowly been turning my engine all natural silver/black. just details. thanks for the feedback, i might go with the stewart then.
 
281, i couldn't edit my post because i was filling time on my phone while out.

But, a high flow pump isn't going to help you at all.
You are going to have to get a better fan, not sure what kind of clearance you have, but look at fans made specifically by ford.

If the water goes through the radiator faster the inadequate fan is going to have even less time to cool it off.
 
281, i couldn't edit my post because i was filling time on my phone while out.

But, a high flow pump isn't going to help you at all.
You are going to have to get a better fan, not sure what kind of clearance you have, but look at fans made specifically by ford.

If the water goes through the radiator faster the inadequate fan is going to have even less time to cool it off.

i definately took that into consideration. the fan will be swapped back to an oem unit unless i figure out why only one fan is working. regardless, it will be an adequate fan, bar none.

have you had any experience with a high flow pump moving water more then the fan can cool it? i didn't expect it to fix the entire issue for me, cause i saw the temp increase from switching to dorman crap. i just want to make it as efficient as possible while im focused on it.
 
i definately took that into consideration. the fan will be swapped back to an oem unit unless i figure out why only one fan is working. regardless, it will be an adequate fan, bar none.

have you had any experience with a high flow pump moving water more then the fan can cool it? i didn't expect it to fix the entire issue for me, cause i saw the temp increase from switching to dorman crap. i just want to make it as efficient as possible while im focused on it.

Me personally with the pump? No, but it's the same theory as with the 160 thermostat, the radiator can only cool so much.
On my last pushrod setup i was suggest to not use a high flow pump, so i didn't.
I've always used the ford racing pumps which are cheap and reliable.
 
Me personally with the pump? No, but it's the same theory as with the 160 thermostat, the radiator can only cool so much.
On my last pushrod setup i was suggest to not use a high flow pump, so i didn't.
I've always used the ford racing pumps which are cheap and reliable.

fair enough. i understand what your saying completely. my main concern is the sitting temp control, so the high volume wp may work against me regardless as you were saying.

i just cant help but think, there has gotta be something better then the oreilly replacement pos lol. maybe i will just order the fms pump, its only 45 bucks or so on AM.

i know you have been there done that with this. i just want a super reliable setup on everything, so i'm going over the whole cooling system. :nice:
 
fair enough. i understand what your saying completely. my main concern is the sitting temp control, so the high volume wp may work against me regardless as you were saying.

i just cant help but think, there has gotta be something better then the oreilly replacement pos lol. maybe i will just order the fms pump, its only 45 bucks or so on AM.

i know you have been there done that with this. i just want a super reliable setup on everything, so i'm going over the whole cooling system. :nice:
Most pumps are actually the same exact flow, it's the seal that the quality control lacks on usually.
 
I have the edelbrock victor series water pump for three years now with zero cooling problems on a 340 horse power motor with flexalite black magic extreme single fan. The quality of the pump is the best i have seen, compared to replacement water pumps.
 
281, i couldn't edit my post because i was filling time on my phone while out.

But, a high flow pump isn't going to help you at all.
You are going to have to get a better fan, not sure what kind of clearance you have, but look at fans made specifically by ford.

If the water goes through the radiator faster the inadequate fan is going to have even less time to cool it off.

What if you are using underdrive pulleys? Would a higher flow pump help counteract the flow that the pulleys slowed down?

I am Using a Flow Kooler pump with U/D pulleys and Flex-a-lite Extreme Puller fan on a Be Cool radiator with no cooling problems.
 
What if you are using underdrive pulleys? Would a higher flow pump help counteract the flow that the pulleys slowed down?

I am Using a Flow Kooler pump with U/D pulleys and Flex-a-lite Extreme Puller fan on a Be Cool radiator with no cooling problems.

You have a very high end radiator. Probably one of the best available.
I'd expect fall through spring you could probably drive without a fan at all.

302 engines don't just need more flow to keep cool. They need fan cooling power and capacity, flow has never been an issue.
 
You have a very high end radiator. Probably one of the best available.
I'd expect fall through spring you could probably drive without a fan at all.

302 engines don't just need more flow to keep cool. They need fan cooling power and capacity, flow has never been an issue.

That's good to know the next time I need a pump. Come to think of it I never had a cooling issue with stock pump on old motor either. So oviously the Ford Racing unit would work just fine.