Model T Water Pumps

Our 26 had one when we bought it and I could never get it to stop leaking so I removed it. Saw no noticible difference on the motometer. Our 27 speedster had one (on there when we bought it) as well and never gave any problems but I did grease it occasionally. Our 22 RPU never had one.

Now I'm just going to sit back and enjoy this :D
 
WE currently have one on one of our cars......with a new brass rad.......the head temp is approx 100 degree hotter than an other car without the pump and a old tired rad.
 
Do they both have the same heads? The high head has more cooling space inside and could contribute to the difference in your readings. Carb settings? Timing settings?
 
The theory that usually holds true is that the pump moves the water past the hot engine interior too fast to absorb the heat. The result is usually overheating. A solution often is to put a restriction in the upper outlet area - a washer or thermostat. This is kind of like solving a throttle that sticks open by driving with the brakes on.

Probably the best solution is to follow the lead of the Ford Motor Co. who removed the water pump after they built about 2500 Ts, the next 15,000,000 worked fine without one.

Here is an early T engine with a water pump - nothing wrong with it, just not needed.

Now the red T does need its water pump -- under the seat.
 

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My Model T mechanic, Gordon Williams, who made the final tour to Model T Heaven last August, spent his entire life restoring these fine automobiles.

Every time a client brought in a T equipped with an after market water pump, he promptly removed it.

There will be a huge auction in Harvard, Illinois in July (exact date not set at this time) to sell off his business assets (parts,tools, fully restored cars, partially restored cars, a trailer hauling diesel truck and a 24' enclosed trailer.

If you feel you really need a water pump on your T, there is a huge pile of them waiting for your bid in Harvard, Illinois
 
Dad bought a T in 1950 and it had a water pump on it. It still has the same pump and I still drive the car 500 to 1000 annually with no problems. My torpedo has a TT Parts leakless, greaseless, do nothing to it pump which also works well. On a recent tour a friends 14, also with a TT Parts leakless pump leaked and could not be fixed, so he cut the body off, pulled the pump internals and used the housing a inlet flange, attached a hose and ran pumpless for the balance of the tour with no problems.
 
I had 2 T's that came with pumps. One worked fine the other needed a shot of grease every now & then. I didn't remove either because every thing, heat wise, was OK. Now for the facts: 1, On a properly operating system it isn't necessary. 2, If you're overheating and it's not poor spark control, flush the system. Especially if it's never been done to your knowledge. If you're still getting the hots at that point you may need a radiator (provided head gasket, ect. is all well). On the other hand I had a guy tell me that he paraded his car a lot and the addition of a pump stopped over his over heating problem when going slow for long periods. Did he have another problem? Can't tell you.
 
I have run with and without with no noticeable difference, that said if on long runs the water/coolant level is allowed to get low through natural boil off then the system can no longer thermosiphon and will over heat very quickly.
Once over heated the recovery to normal temperature is slow until fluid is added to start the thermosiphon affect again. What the water pump truly does is to ensure flow is maintained by lifting fluid into the top tank, again if a low coolant level is allowed the system will eventually over heat due the volumetric thermal inefficiency.
There are some concerns in regards heat transfer on systems where coolant speed is too great but these can be addressed by larger pump pulleys or restrictors and thermostats.
Finally if your system is clean and clear of blockages, your top tank coolant level not below the top outlet then cooling will not be affected by the addition of a water pump as the cooling surface has not been increased. Remember this is not a modern pressurised system.
cheers lins
 
Gosh, Is this argument over. On the MTFCA forum they can argue much better and usually minds are not altered.
Have fun with or without your water pumps.
 
I have one on my Center Door Sedan with a thermostat works perfect. It used to
boil over during a parade. We have one parade that takes over an hour to go thru.
The motor in the Center Door looks stock but is hopped up so develops more heat.
I also have a bone stock touring car still with cast iron pistons and original radiator
It will boil in the long parade but in normal driving and touring it works just like
it should.
I am using a Model T water pump on my Model A Powered speedster........
 
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