Is the baffle in front of the spacer and behind the waterpump on the T-Bird engines necessary?.  I see the exploded view in the Ford parts book that does not show the baffle but the Thunderbird parts houses do sell this item.  Is there an overheating issue with not using the baffle?  Also, does using the baffle change the pulley spacing to a sigificant enough degree to be concerned?  I’m clueless on this one and wasn't even aware of the baffle until seeing it in one of the aftermarket catalogs.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Ted,

          Think about how a water pump works and you'll see how ridiculous that idea is. Similar to the magnets on fuel lines, or the Silly ignition crap they used to sell us for "oil burners"

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Only "proven" function I know of is big time slowing down of coolant flush/draining.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

Ted - have a look at the CASCO site and see their article about testing the modified water pump. Frank has his own version of the extended impellor pump and I understand it works just as well as the CASCO set-up.

The main trouble is the itty bitty impellers on the stock pumps (spinning in that big hole on the front of the T-bird motors) - then couple that with the restriction of the el cheapo small port thermostats........the flow rate is ugly.

For whatever reason - the baffles make the flow rate worse. There is logic in closing up the huge clearance hole left by the one inch front cover spacer - but it doesn't seem to do the job as intended. You can get more pump performance out of a bigger thermostat than the baffle.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Hey Ted;  Casco has a article on the baffle with graphs of temps.  Had one in our tbird -- overheated.  Put on Casco's water pump with the modified impellers and was fantactic.  John Mummert is now building was stroker engine, and ater talking with Frank will be using his water pump and timing cover. He thinks his pump is pretty close to the Casco one. And do those piecies from Frank Polish up good.  Really pretty!!!  Engine close to firing.  John sure knows his stuff, so glad he is close by.  Thanks everyone!!!   God Bless!!

Eddie

Lake Forest, Ca 92630

Eddie

Lake Forest, Ca. 92630

Eddie - are you running the small diameter pulley with the larger pump impeller?

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Hey Steve;  Yeah on the small pulley.  Got from Concours.  Also running HD fan and Fan Clutch.  Have A/C condensor under right front fender with pusher electric fan.  No heat problems.  Hope this helps   

Eddie 

Lake Forest, Ca

Eddie

Lake Forest, Ca. 92630

And they still sell those things everyday! You T'bird guys, i think your biggest problem is getting the hot air OUT of the engine compartment, Eddie and steve seem to have the right answers. Does anybody make a shroud for an Early 'Bird though?

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

g,day ted

i might have an idea on the baffles, years ago fords main rival in aus holden had a problem with the water pumps on their v8's they had a huge housing with a tiny steel impeller the housing in the timing case was huge as well, the impellers were open like a multi bladed boat prop they would cause cavitation in the water making them boil easily & thumping in the radiator like a stuck thermostat the answer was to buy an aftermarket pump with a full cast impeller it solved the problem, so maybe the t'birds had the same problem & fords fix was the baffle whuch obviously doesnt work.

moz.

moz. geelong victoria australia.

graduate 1980, bus, truck, car, hot rod, boat, submarine, hovercraft, hydrafoil, firetruck, mobile home, jet, helicopter, cruise ship, motorcycle, bicycle, santa's sleigh, clock, alloy bullbar, alloy fuel tank, lens, dr who's tardis, matter - anti matter warp drive buffer & y-block lover

Moz, you're right about the stock and aftermarket impeller being too small. Actually the diameter is ok, it's the area between the fins that's too small. Won't let any water through.     The baffle thing is an aftermarket idea by somebody who didn't grasp how a water pump works. The rotation actually pulls the water out of the radiator (like a prop) good analogy. Doesn't really matter a whole lot what's in back of the impeller as long as the pressurised water can get out of the timing cover into the engine. The issue with the opening in the impeller is most likely a foundry fix to prevent running scrap parts. Thicker is easier. My impellers are more difficult to cast, and I get a lot of complaints from the foundry, and "helpful" suggestions about how to "improve" them. They haven't convinced me!  

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart)