[E-Type] Ali Water Pumps

Hi Gang -

The recent discussions about the aluminum replacement water pump now
available from Vicarage has piqued my interest. I’m not likely to
benefit much from the weight reduction, but the fact that it puts out
twice the flow is very appealing from a cooling standpoint. And
since the newest version sounds to be a complete bolt-up replacement,
it sure is an easy upgrade. I’m reaching for my checkbook. But…

This weekend I was at Summit Point for the vintage races, and I got
a chance to chat with Terry Lippincott, who did the restoration of
my car a few years ago. I’ve always had a lot of confidence in
Terry, and after watching the 63 OTS race car he built for Ray
Kennedy blow the doors off the field in the all Jaguar race on
Sunday, I’m even more respectful of his skills and expertise. [I know I’m biased, but I spent 8 hours watching virtually every kind of classic British, Italian and German sports car built between 1960 and 1975 sail around that track on Sunday, and nothing approached the thrill of watching and hearing that 345 hp E-type. Its ability to outclass all but the newer and more sophisticated Turbo Carrera Porsches was remarkable]. But I digress.

When I broached the subject of upgrading to an ali water pump with
Terry, he expressed concern about the lifespan of this replacement.
His feeling was: it’s a great idea for a race car whose component
lifetimes are measured in running hours, not miles. But you might
find it wearing out awfully quickly in a daily driver like mine. I
will note that Terry has no experience with ali pumps, but was
simply speculating based on his general E-type expertise.

So, I pose the question to Tony at Vicarage as well as anyone in the
group with a couple of years experience using an ali water pump: Do
these things last? Or is the answer “who cares, they’re easy (and
relatively cheap) to replace for the known benefits of improved
cooling”?

Eagerly awaiting your thoughts…

Dave=========================================
Dave Lowenstein
Washington, DC
@David_Lowenstein

67 E-Type OTS S1.5 driver
71 Olds Cutlass Convertible
79 Triumph T140E Bonneville
Keeping parts guys in business nationwide

David Lowenstein wrote:

The recent discussions about the aluminum replacement water pump now
available from Vicarage has piqued my interest. the fact that it puts
out
twice the flow is very appealing from a cooling standpoint. And
since the newest version sounds to be a complete bolt-up replacement,
it sure is an easy upgrade. I’m reaching for my checkbook. But…

Hi David…

Thank you for your concidered thinking… perhaps the following line by
line commentary might be helpful in actually getting the checkbook out of
the pocket. Getting the pen to paper will be the next hurdle.

This weekend I was at Summit Point for the vintage races, and I got
a chance to chat with Terry Lippincott,

I do not him personally but know of him and his fine reputation.

and nothing approached
the thrill of watching and hearing that 345 hp E-type. Its ability
to outclass all but the newer and more sophisticated Turbo Carrera
Porsches was remarkable.

Our full race car is 395bhp at the wheels and did beat the 750 bhp
Porsches… In fact, in England it was retired undefeated ( Allen Lloyd)
after 3 years of racing … except for a loss to Rob Beere’s huge V12
Etype.

When I broached the subject of upgrading to an ali water pump with
Terry, he expressed concern about the lifespan of this replacement.
His feeling was: it’s a great idea for a race car whose component
lifetimes are measured in running hours, not miles. But you might
find it wearing out awfully quickly in a daily driver like mine.

Fair comment, but the Mercedes, Audi, and BMW etc cars that have used
this pump for normal every day driving typically fail before the pump
does. And you might recall that the V12 Etype has an ali pump and so does
my A8 (in fact it has an ali body as well). The XJ40 uses an ali pump and
as we know the Germans have been using them for years … life expectancy
questions? I don’t think so… Ali disapates the heat better as well…

So, I pose the question to Tony at Vicarage as well as anyone in the
group with a couple of years experience using an ali water pump: Do
these things last?

Yes…

Or is the answer “who cares, they’re easy (and
relatively cheap) to replace for the known benefits of improved
cooling”?

Not a Vicarage philosophy … to sell units for the purpose of their
ultimate replacement? NO.But you raise an interesting question … should
we raise the price?

Kind regards,
tony

VICARAGE JAGUAR… Specialist Jaguar Restoration
Anthony Parkinson - Owner
USA/uk/Netherlands
Florida Tel 1 305 866 9511
fax 1 305 866 5738
Web Site: http://www.jagweb.com/vicarage Email: @Anthony_Parkinson

David Lowenstein wrote:

The recent discussions about the aluminum replacement water pump now
available from Vicarage has piqued my interest. the fact that it puts
out
twice the flow is very appealing from a cooling standpoint. And
since the newest version sounds to be a complete bolt-up replacement,
it sure is an easy upgrade. I’m reaching for my checkbook.

Aluminum water pumps have been around for a long time. Keep in mind
that the only wearing part is actually the bushing and shaft. My daily
driver has an aluminum pump and I’ve only replaced it maybe 3 times in
25 years! But then again the replacement only costs $20 at Auto Zone.

Embarrasing question for Tony, how much is your aluminum pump? I know
that rebuilt pumps for the E-type can be had for around $100 and the
“kit” is around $50. Water pumps tend to be one of those “black art”
parts. They either last forever or just turn to garbage when you least
expect it!

I once actually had a pump seize and the shaft snap apart after the car
was parked. When I went to start it, the pulley would not even turn. I
took it off and the impeller and part of the shaft fell out into my
hand. This was not a Jag, of course._______________________________________________
George Cohn '70 OTS http://www.xke-lovers.com

George Cohn wrote:

Embarrasing question for Tony, how much is your aluminum pump?

Not embarressing at all, the kit is now totally bolt in and inclusive of 2
two inch right angle flex hoses, aluminum connector, pump, mounting plate
two gaskets, pulley, spacers, and assorted bits and bobs.Wholesale is (
increased) now… $225 … suggested retail is $295

I know
that rebuilt pumps for the E-type can be had for around $100 and the
“kit” is around $50.

Yes, that is right …a useless rebuilt original pump is around $130 … the
most useless part is the gasket which self destructs in 6 to 12 months…

I took it off and the impeller and part of the shaft fell out into my
hand. This was not a Jag, of course.

Of course…kind regards
tony


George Cohn '70 OTS http://www.xke-lovers.com

VICARAGE JAGUAR… Specialist Jaguar Restoration
Anthony Parkinson - Owner
USA/uk/Netherlands
Florida Tel 1 305 866 9511
fax 1 305 866 5738
Web Site: http://www.jagweb.com/vicarage Email: @Anthony_Parkinson