As mine's leaking I figured I'd look into the upgrade. How hard is it and are there any drawbacks?

 

The only drawback I can think of is reliability. IMO those things are more for racing applications or when the car isn't driven regularly. As for difficulty you will need to do something with what was turning the old pump and provide power to it when you turn the key.

 

You need a press to remove the stock impeller. And, a circuit to drive the wp. Painless makes a relay kit, and, I also have a switch to turn it on/ off from driver seat. I also removed the front cover and machined a plug for the stock drive. Pull the intake manifold to tap out the wp drive, also need to drop pan to re-assemble the front cover (alot of work). You can run with the stock drive not connected with the electric wp though.

 

dude, all you have to do is pull the old water pump off and pull off your fan shroud. might have to also pull a few things in the way if your car is stock (like smog pump). but anyways, once the water pump is off, youll take off the front cover of the pump. once youve done that, youll just need a mallet to pound out the impeller shaft. takes a couple minutes but it isnt that difficult. then youll take and pound the bearing out from the other side (do a search on this website and youll find some links to web pages with pictures on how to do all this, in great detail). place on the new electric water pump. simple wiring procedures. throw the pump back on using felpro water gaskets that you get from oreilly's auto parts (much better gaskets than the ones you get with the water pump kit). throw everything else back on and your good to go. i use mine on an every day driver. reliability would be a concern with these things. someone makes some kits that have an audible alarm for when these pumps fail to work properly. thus giving you ample time to stop the vehicle preventing any damage. this pump along with a 160* t-stat keep my engine from going over 160* in the hottest of days sitting in traffic on a hot florida afternoon. to me, its worth the trouble.

 

It's not that hard to install maybe 3 hours. You have to take off the fans, air pump(if you still have it)and the water pump. Then you punch out the internals of the WP clean mating surfaces of the WP and block then put everything back together. Then you have to wire the pump.

 

I have driven my CSI electric waterpump in a lot of driving conditions. I have been in stop n go traffic on the freeway in Honolulu. I use a 160 degree thermostat. I have only had one problem with it and it was my own fault because I accidentally disconnected a power wire, and my car overheated. I hooked the wire back up, and it works fine. I don't think you will have any reliability problems. Go for it.

Z

 

I have had my Meziere electic installed since 99 and 50,000 miles ago. She's still going stong.