anyone have an opinion on elect drive set up for mech pump or just get an elect pump? It's going to be for my Mavrick 302 drag project. Wanting to squize as much out as I can cheaply. So it well be all drag no street time , Unless I can get the title transferd. Don't want to run an alternator either, maybe two batterys?. thanks tim you cant total a race car you just get tired of fixing it.
I run an electric pump and fan. It lets you cool the motor between rounds. I also run 2 batterys but I run an Alt. Charging batterys between rounds is a pain to me. You loose very little ET running an Alt.
Amen! Keep the alternator! Power loss is negligible, and if you're running a modern electronic ignition, it needs a full 12 volts to operate optimally. Pulling the alternator belt is 60's & 70's thinking
Moroso makes the water pump drive. I used to carry a spare in the trailer. I use an electric Mezeire pump and am really happy with it. Problem is if something goes wrong you can't just run to the parts store for another. Even the gaskets are specific for that pump. I also run an electric fan and 2 batteries and use an alternator.
Thanks everyone for there input..I leaning towards the drive system.. and I guess I'll keep the alt. tim
Keeping the alternator is good, but it's not necessary, especially if you have very few electrical devices. Some guys want to power EVERYTHING from 12v. Datalogger, crossover/delay, electric fuel pumps (some cars have 2 or 3 of them), nitrous solenoids, etc. If you're planning on the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid), no alternator is fine. Just charge it between rounds. Doesn't take long to recharge if the battery is any good. The alternator doesn't pull much power. Water pump does but the electric drive is worth some HP. And it lets you cool between rounds. Electric water pump does the same thing, just more expensive. But it looks nicer and pumps a LOT of water. And it's a little bit lighter than all of the "kit" parts of the WP drive kit. That said, the going trend these days is to put a 16v battery in there and enjoy faster cranking, more water pump output, better lights, etc. Downsides: not everyone carrys and extra 16v charger with them, so if yours fails, you're more than likely SOL. Same goes for the battery. Costs more (battery + charger are $400-$500) but worth it if you ask me, especially if the engine has any balls. All of the 12v accessories work fine on 16v. At least mine do.
Ignition systems like 14 + volts also. If you don't want an alternator, the above mentioned 16v systems would be the way to go(with the stated downsides too)
I am no expert, but have been drag racing competitively since 1985 (some time off here and there) I used to run 1 battery and no alternator, 2 batteries and no alternator, regular batteries, deep cycles etc etc etc. For the last 10 years or so I have gone to 1 925cca battery in the trunk and one of the one wire mini alternators (hitachi) and its the best combo Ive had. I have always ran a water pump drive, and when you start going rouinds, and you haved to go right back to the lanes for the last 2 or 3 rounds, you start having problems trying to keep the car cool and keep the batteries up. and if you run an MSD, its a must, you need the the voltage. Duane
