NC-car-guy Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 So I have two watery pumps. One with 3 find one with 5. Anyone know why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1956322 Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 The one with 5 vanes is for an ac car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 2 minutes ago, 1956322 said: The one with 5 vanes is for an ac car I was hoping so! Upgrade! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 Am I seeing things or are the mounting holes different? Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 3 minutes ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said: Am I seeing things or are the mounting holes different? Ben The front casting of the water pump is definitely different but the holes all line up I tried it on a timing cover I have sitting in the shop 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 I count 3 and 6 vanes......... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1956322 Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 You're right there's six.. Never heard of one with 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 I found one with 5 and one with 6. I'll be having both rebuilt 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
56 Buick Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 It looks to me as though the 3 blades are deeper in cross section and would likely move more water than the 5 bladed unitiui where the blades are shallower - unless its the angle of the units being different in the photo!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1956322 Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I think it's the angle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 31 minutes ago, 56 Buick said: It looks to me as though the 3 blades are deeper in cross section and would likely move more water than the 5 bladed unitiui where the blades are shallower - unless its the angle of the units being different in the photo!?! Interesting. I'll measure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Now that there are NEW water pumps available for 53-54-55 Buick, I would never consider rebuilding ever, ever again! I have had to go through at least 3 rebuilt units before one gave satisfactory performance. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 The blade geometry is different. Look at where the blades meet the base of the pump on the shaft. The 3 blade vanes are flush on the bottom with the shaft while the 6 blade vanes are not. This is most likely due to cavitation issues in the pump head. Bear in mind if you upgrade to a 5 or 6 blade water pump, your engine will have to work harder to pump it. However, the faster and more turbulent your water flow, the greater the heat transfer. I have also had bad luck with water pump rebuilding. These old guys must be getting shaky hands on these precision jobs. I've always wanted to try out a FlowKooler water pump because they CNC machine their pump rotors to be high flowing with minimal cavitation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 16 minutes ago, Beemon said: The blade geometry is different. Look at where the blades meet the base of the pump on the shaft. The 3 blade vanes are flush on the bottom with the shaft while the 6 blade vanes are not. This is most likely due to cavitation issues in the pump head. Bear in mind if you upgrade to a 5 or 6 blade water pump, your engine will have to work harder to pump it. However, the faster and more turbulent your water flow, the greater the heat transfer. I have also had bad luck with water pump rebuilding. These old guys must be getting shaky hands on these precision jobs. I've always wanted to try out a FlowKooler water pump because they CNC machine their pump rotors to be high flowing with minimal cavitation. Yea well I dont like "out running" my water pump. And the additional "work" would be worth it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 Maybe get some play-doh and see how close the vanes run to the case. That might tell you a lot. It may be an optical illusion, but those 2 pumps don't even look like they are meant for the same housing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 I haven't checked clearances but it bolts right on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 That clearance (whatever it is) might very well make a huge difference in how well it pumps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 Guess we'll find out... I'll report... Once I have a car here and running to report on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 I have put a Flow Kooler on the 64 Riv that I had and loved it. No issues keeping it cool in the summer heat with the AC on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 Wonder if there's a big enough interest to get a few to split the cost to produce a 322 nailhead flowkooler. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Its just a pump rotor that they make. Now that 322 and 364 patterns are back on the market (used to just be the 401/425 AC pump available), I'm sure a deal could be struck. After all, all they would need to do is just swap pump rotors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 Yes but they said to custom fab one its 600 to 1000. I can't pay that. I'd need to split the 5-800 dollar "setup" fee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 @wndsofchng06 How does this work? The set up cost is $800, and that gets split, and then it costs another $200 for one water pump? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted February 13, 2019 Author Share Posted February 13, 2019 2 minutes ago, JohnD1956 said: @wndsofchng06 How does this work? The set up cost is $800, and that gets split, and then it costs another $200 for one water pump? Just going by their website. https://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/products/numbers-matching-water-pump-rebuild 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Hmmm...I do outrun my water pump. I know where I'm going when I need a new one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted February 13, 2019 Author Share Posted February 13, 2019 Just now, avgwarhawk said: Hmmm...I do outrun my water pump. I know where I'm going when I need a new one! Let us know before you do so we can get some group purchase power.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 19 hours ago, wndsofchng06 said: Just going by their website. https://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/products/numbers-matching-water-pump-rebuild their website says they already did a 56 Roadmaster pump and a Buick 322 pump. Unless I misinterpreted the label on the chart in the Restored and rebuilt tab. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted February 13, 2019 Author Share Posted February 13, 2019 7 minutes ago, JohnD1956 said: their website says they already did a 56 Roadmaster pump and a Buick 322 pump. Unless I misinterpreted the label on the chart in the Restored and rebuilt tab. Thanks. I missed that 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 The pump impeller should be pretty close to the same as the 401/425 pumps, so you most likely do not need to pay the $1000 to have a custom one designed and made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted June 14, 2019 Author Share Posted June 14, 2019 So I found out today, if i'm recalling the convo correctly.... 54's had 6 veins, the 55's all had 3 veins, that were larger, and the 56 had three vein or 5 vein (for A/C). He also mentioned that the 56 is a superior pump and while it will bolt to the earlier nailheads, should only be used on the 56 timing cover due to how the water passages line up. Well if you put a 56 timing cover on a 54/55 car, you're suddenly missing cooling to the transmission. Anyhow, I'm leaning toward the flowkooler at this point... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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