Vacuum pump on street

[6667fan]

Considering a vacuum pump for Fairlane. I have looked at GZ set ups. I still have a mechanical wp and belt driven fan. Anyone running their stuff in a street environment? It looks like they have crank pulley options to turn alt/fan and a bracket to mount pump to driver’s side head.

Thanks

[blykins]

I have quite a few engines out there running vacuum pumps on the street.  GZ Motorsports makes a nice kit, they are who I use.

It won't do you much good though unless the piston rings are setup for it, or you're trying to bandaid a crankcase pressure issue.

[Joey120373]

What is the proper rung set up for running a vacuum pump on the street?

Or is it just that the pump lets you run a lower tension oil scraper?

[blykins]

What is the proper rung set up for running a vacuum pump on the street?

Or is it just that the pump lets you run a lower tension oil scraper?

Vacuum pumps are generally used with low tension piston rings.

[6667fan]

Mahle 1,1,2 ring pack. Not low tension. Top ring gap .018, second ring gap .020.
And yes, I am trying to band aid a crankcase issue. At 1K or more makes for a very expensive one.

[jayb]

I'm personally not a big fan of vacuum pumps on the street.  You will get some build up of oil in the can that the vacuum pump breathes into, and if you forget to drain the can periodically, oil will start puking out of the top of the can and you'll get a big mess in the engine compartment.  Plus, to generate a lot of vacuum with the pump you really need some decent engine speed.  So I think the benefits of a vacuum pump on a street car are not really significant.

I always run a vacuum pump when I race at Drag Week, and just take the belt off when driving between tracks, plus I reconnect a breather to the valve covers. 

For what it's worth, my first experience with a vacuum pump was after the first Drag Week in 2005.  I purchased a GZ Motorsports setup and went to the track to do a back to back.  The engine had the standard rings, not low tension, and the car still went from 10.60 to 10.45 with the pump installed.  That was a real eye opener.  Vacuum pumps are definitely worth some HP...

[JC-427Stroker]

Mahle 1,1,2 ring pack. Not low tension. And yes, I am trying to band aid a crankcase issue. At 1K or more makes for a very expensive one.

Before you spend $1k on a kit, you should try a Ford Taurus electric smog pump for $150 -$175.

On the 565 it  pulled a static -3.8" and -1.2" at 7,000 rpm. 

If you run one you should use an oil separator and pull the foam out of the smog pump ( if it has any)


Give it a shot before spending $1k on a full kit.
 

[6667fan]

I have done a little research on alternative systems. One concern that came up was is the pump engineered to survive an oil mist running through it. As it is a street car it will get some hours on it. 

Thanks for suggestions/tips.

[JC-427Stroker]

I have done a little research on alternative systems. One concern that came up was is the pump engineered to survive an oil mist running through it. As it is a street car it will get some hours on it. 

Thanks for suggestions/tips.

I did a bit of research as well. Those who are running them on the street ( for long periods of time) have used an oil separator to keep the oil to a minimum. 

It's an inexpensive test compared to buying a high end kit up front.   

What exactly is the issue with your engine ?    Is it building positive pressure about 4,000 rpm ?  Is it blowing oil out of breathers ?

When I get around to building the 452 stroker the current plans are to use an electric pump with an oil separator and as one of the guys did, have it wired thru the MSD control box and only have it turn on passed a certain rpm, say  4,200.  That way it is not on all the time constantly sucking oil.

On the 565 ( lite tension oil rings) it was worth 10 hp at 7,000. The high $ GZ kit was worth 20 hp. (Least registered on any one pull was 18 and the most was 24) So I’m calling it 20 hp for $1,000.  Now when the 600” pump gas deal gets built it will have a smaller ring package and will certainly need a very good pump.  I don’t see my stroker FE needing that expense.

[cammerfe]

Or you could run a dry sump...

KS

[Falcon67]

I like my Aerospace Components pump and parts, works very well.  The big thing on the street would be controlling how much oil the pump picks up.  The belt driven units expect to get some to keep the vanes lubed and working.  Too little would burn up the vanes.  Too much and you'll need a gallon sized puke tank to go anywhere LOL. 

In either case, make it a ritual to drain the puke tank after every trip.  At the track check it every 2~4 passes.  People regularly forget to check them.