[DeTomaso] Pantera A/C compressor bracket

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/28/09 9:41:12 AM, asajay at asajay.com writes:

> But in seriousness, I think Jack's question is the most relevant.  What 
> is rated capacity of a stock mechanical pump being driven by a belt at 6,000 
> engine RPM.  If we knew that number, we could do a side by side comparison 
> of the electric which we know has an advertised capacity of 55 GPM.  After 
> that, empirical testing is required.
> 
And the trouble with the 55 gpm is, pump mfgrs understandably advertize 
their wares in the way that makes the product look best. You can test a pump by 
motorizing it and running it in and out of a bucket (which I suspect 
Stewart does) or you can test it with much more expensive flow-meters installed in 
a vehicle with an engine, hoses and a radiator. One will give you the 
absolute highest flow possible while the other will give you what will happen in 
that car. The old apples and banannas comparison.... 

And a flowmeter won't tell you whether a pump in a Chev passenger car or 
truck in town on a warm day will work as well as a stock iron engine-driven 
pump in a Pantera on a long superhighway run ending in   heavy traffic. For 
$350-$400 for an electric pump, I'll wait for a while. The single example I 
know of that successfully made it to/from 'Vegas from L.A- once- was on a 
mildly tuned 351-C, driven legally, and he mentioned that the engine "got a 
little warm" at one point..... IMHO, with all the cooling issues in Panteras, 
for that price I want absolutely 2X better cooling   performance than stock, 
10+ yrs lifespan with zero maintenence and easy installation in a Pantera. 
Until then, they are race units- which is much less demanding than the street. 
Good luck, all- J Deryke