Bizarre Water Pump Inlet Arrangement

[macdonge]

Has anyone seen this type of water pump inlet before and know its history & applications? Instead of a full length 'spigot' for the inlet hose to attach to there is a shallow (~1/4") land that a separate solid bronze spigot attaches to with a longer (and no longer) 'hidden' bolt. These pumps came off my Canadian '39 Merc/Commercial Truck block (a 99 'keystone'). The engine was only ever used in stationary service, hooked up to drive a water pump for fire hose practice at our local fire hall. The arrangement certainly allows lots of options for radiator hookup so I'm wondering whether this engine may have been military surplus.

 

[tubman]

Finally! A reason for the hidden bolt!

I don't have anything more to add other than how cool it must have been to have a specialized Mercury flathead commercially supplied for fire hose practice!

 

[flatford8]

Always seeing something new. I got one from a paper mill here in Maine that was a water pump...... Mark

 

[macdonge]

Mark: Mine came with the old control panel (along with the start PB, oil pressure & temperature guages) that the fire department had bolted to the bellhousing. I've since incorporated it into a test stand for the engine.

 

[JSeery]

Mark: Mine came with the old control panel (along with the start PB, oil pressure & temperature guages) that the fire department had bolted to the bellhousing. I've since incorporated it into a test stand for the engine.

That would make for a cool test stand.

 

[alanwoodieman]

saw a 60 hp engine in a criscraft with an adapter to the pump pulling water from the lake to cool the engine

 

[Jason in TX]

Finally! A reason for the hidden bolt!!

HAHA! Exactly! Best post I've seen today!

These are great! Thanks for posting pics of them. I love that there is always something new to learn about these V8s

 

[mhsprecher]

I'm wondering whether this engine may have been military surplus.

A lot of military surplus ends up with local governments and the like in the U.S., so that is a possible source.

 

[flatford8]

Here’s some more pics. My brother just retired from the paper mill it came from. He said they had them in the basement to protect the turbines when the river flooded.... Mark

 

[supereal]

Most non standard parts came from fire trucks or stationary application, and some from boats.