Water Pump Blanking Plate

[MK1_Oz]

I am making up a plate with a hose connection to cover where the Pinto water pump would have been (electric water pump going on). I have some 5-6mm aluminium or could get some suitably sized steel. Is either preferred over the other? Aluminium lighter but ally next to cast iron might cause corrosion?

What thickness of either material would you suggest? I was thinking of taping some holes for a standard thermostat housing to bolt onto but am not sure if 5-6mm would give anywhere near enough thread?

Thoughts?

[Momus]

[MK1_Oz]

ta very muchly

[jsa]

With all due respect, I'd go with a bit of 1.6 steel or 2 mm ally and fold up the perimeter to give the necessary sealing stiffness.

[Simon]

Or...

[MK1_Oz]

Steel is easier as I can weld and shape that. What is the standard pump housing made from?

And just for tonights stoopid question, is the pump housing the inlet to the block or the outlet?

[Danny M]

Or just save yourself the hassle and leave a decent water pump in it

[Momus]

Pump is the inlet.
Simon's solution looks effective if you are going to run an ewp.
Yep, 2 or 3 mm steel is easy to weld but, I'd predict, be difficult to get to seal under pressure- or to reliably thread for fittings.
It looks very average as well.

[Paul T]

Not sure how it all works out but would the additional current draw of the electric water pump create something like loss of turning a standard water pump?

I believe an electric water pump to be a potienal liability.

I have these water pumps available.

[ozstang65]

EWPs can be useful, high engine revs don't cause cavitation and they are still useful at low engine revs. Can also be run after engine shutdown to minimise heat soak.

[mickas]

[jsa]

[MK1_Oz]

Been here, had the arguments before.....yawn....... It was just a matter of time.....

Simon's solution does look good although I wanted to keep the original pump available for the certain failure of the EWP

Will buy some thicker ally me thinks with just a standard paper gasket?

[Warren Heath]

[MK1_Oz]

Warren/Simon, I presume the standard pinto water pump housing is either ally or cast steel? Either way I guess the average MIG could not weld it???

[ozstang65]

Why not just leave it as is and 'blow thru'?

[MK1_Oz]

[ozstang65]

Radiator to EWP to original pump.

[Warren Heath]

[MK1_Oz]

I guess I could. Just seems a more complete solution to remove the pump blades.