jns

I'm trying to get an idea of how many owners would buy a system such as this at roughly $300-500 over the cost of a stock 944/951 belt and water pump kit. I'm looking to get some local manufacturers to build some of the parts and would need a 100 order minimum for it to be cost-effective. I know many owners have had good results from their stock belt/pump but this system takes a huge leap forward in reliability and would be ideal in high-horsepower applications. Ideally, I would like to sell the design(s) to a Rennlist sponsor so they could begin production fairly soon and offer a discount to members.

This system is incredible! It has reverse flow cooling which has been discussed in previous posts and is used in the new model corvettes as a means to create more power. Another member even said he was able to use lower octane fuel with reverse flow cooling(who had the Lamborghini?). The new timing set has an industrial type steel corded belt that is wider than the continental belt and covers the whole width of the sprockets as well as having more ribs routed onto the sprocket teeth. There's also another timing set which is essentially bulletproof which would be optional. There is an electric water pump so the timing belt isn't turning a water pump impeller which means less drag, more power/mpg and the belt won't break from a seized bearing. There is no welding required and minimal mods needed to the stock water pump.

Please keep the responses positive as this is just a feeler to see how many actual orders could be expected so we can get this system available as soon as possible. I don't get much time to check these boards but I'll be checking back in a few days or so. Thanks for your support!

Scootin159

If reverse flow cooling is better, why didn't the factory use it? Not trying to be rude, just really want to know.

Also, what's the reliability of an electric water pump in practice?

mroberts

My guess would be that it's not necessarily more reliable, but if it siezes, it doesn't destroy your timing belt in the process. You can deal with an overheating engine more easily than you can with bent valves.

sharky47

There is nothing wrong with an electric pump, I plan on putting one in my tow vehical (F150) soon. Even at idle - you still have full flow, I like that.

por944trs

I would be interested in all of it.

por944trs

[QUOTE=Scootin159]If reverse flow cooling is better, why didn't the factory use it? Not trying to be rude, just really want to know.

15 yrs .

AznDrgn

What is the expected life span of this new setup?

Scootin159

I think that provided it's a well-executed setup, I'd be pretty interested. How soon could such a setup make it to market?

KuHL 951

The full flow idle speed water pump would be a great improvement here in hot climates. If the WP and WP blockoff plate could be sold separately that would be a real plus. Those of us that do our own belts might not benefit as much from the 'bulletproof' belts. Personally I don't think the 30K interval is a big deal. You might also consider working in a new self-adjusting belt TB tensioner into the mix just for fun.

cas951

This is interesting. Honda S2000 has this setup to squeese out more power. Keep us posted.

inactiveuser92616

from a mechanical efficiency standpoint, I really dont see how an electric waterpump is more efficient than a mechanical one, unless the mechanical one is pumping too much water. It takes the same amount of energy to pump X gallons of water at Y pressure regardless of how you do it, but with the electric you first have to generate the electricity (at a loss), put a greater load on your charging system, ....

Scootin159

I believe (and somebody correct me if I'm wrong), but the reason for the improvement is that the cooling needs of the engine aren't directly proportional to the engine rpm's. The electric water pump could be controlled by the engine temps, while the mechanical one varies directly to engine rpm's. Thus at high rpm's, you may be 'overcooling' with the mechanical pump, while at low rpm's you may be 'undercooling'.

Porsche-O-Phile

Interesting idea. I'm not certain steel is an improvement over say kevlar for belt construction though. 30,000 miles at 30 mph (average) at 3,000 RPM (average) just to pick some numbers equates to 180,000,000 revs. Even for metals acting elastically (below the threshold of plastic deformation) this is a LOT of cycles. I suspect this would absolutely make the belts stronger, but require their replacement more often.

In my 944s I've seen one electric pump fail (turbo water pump) and zero mechanical pumps fail. Just something to consider.

Scootin159

http://www.theherd.com/articles/lt1_cool.html

Just found that on google...an interesting read on reverse flow cooling & electric water pumps.