SBC V8 Water Pump Failure, 3 Styles of Pumps Tested BYPASS THERMOSTAT UPDATE Options

[nick mironov]

My Renegade water pump failed yesterday. The pump impeller is stamped steel and the blades all just folded over or sheared off. I understand that the cast impellers are much stronger, but that not all manufacturer's cast models will fit into the Renegade housing. Anybody have experience with cast impeller pumps that will fit into the Renegade housing?

Since there is no bypass in the Renegade system, Renegade instructions are to limit the motor RPM to 3,000, or less, untill the thermostat opens. I have observed this, but the pump still failed after 5,500 miles. Renegade now makes a bypass kit, which I going to try, but I would still like to get a more durable pump.

Nick

[nick mironov]

This type of failure is a typical problem with the SBC conversion, since there is no bypass water flow circuit for cold (closed thermostat) operation.

I talked to Renegade, and they are now preparing to market a bypass system and they are going to sell me one. This should elieve the stress on the stamped impeller, but I would still like to have a cast impeller.

I found the previous thread on this subject, and it still appears that no one has identified a specific model number for a cast impeller pump that wil fit the renegade housing. Stamped impeller pumps don't seem to be a problem to find or fit.

Although one would expect that the stamped and cast impellers to be manufactured to the same specifications to be interchangeable in the same housings, apparantly they are not. Steve at Renegade says that some of them will fit with a double gasket and some need to be trimmed to fit in depth and even in diameter. Steve runs a 6,000 rpm 302 at the track and is successfully using the bypass with a stamped impeller pump.

Nick

[messix]

This type of failure is a typical problem with the SBC conversion, since there is no bypass water flow circuit for cold (closed thermostat) operation.

I talked to Renegade, and they are now preparing to market a bypass system and they are going to sell me one. This should elieve the stress on the stamped impeller, but I would still like to have a cast impeller.

I found the previous thread on this subject, and it still appears that no one has identified a specific model number for a cast impeller pump that wil fit the renegade housing. Stamped impeller pumps don't seem to be a problem to find or fit.

Although one would expect that the stamped and cast impellers to be manufactured to the same specifications to be interchangeable in the same housings, apparantly they are not. Steve at Renegade says that some of them will fit with a double gasket and some need to be trimmed to fit in depth and even in diameter. Steve runs a 6,000 rpm 302 at the track and is successfully using the bypass with a stamped impeller pump.

Nick

look for the marine aplication. that would have the brass impeller. jegs and summit are your friend with hot rod parts [yes you have a hot rod].