Is the bike water pump strong enough to mount the rad up front? any suggestion?

Sorry I can't specifically answer the bike pump question. However if you were to go ahead then an inline electric booster pump could be fitted.

Davies Craig do one for example approz £90

Fitted my rad up front, just like Z-Cars do in their Mini to bike engine conversions.

Assuming you use nearly straight smooth, reasonable diameter tube you should have no problem - if you use ally or copper you will improve the heat dissipation (you can even have fins welded on if you're keen to further improve). Once a system is full it requires little energy to circulate - if you imagine what you pump up syphons back down. The only losses are through the drag caused by turbulence and in the side of the pipe. Avoid using that 'flexy' convoluted stuff. HTH

With car engines standard water pump is usually OK -- bike pump is more marginal, if it were me I would try it first but leave provision for an electrict pump if it dosen't work.

With front rads the bigest problem tend to be avoiding airlocks forming --- fittinga swirl pot at the engine water outlet is a good move. Also fit bleeder points at the high points in the system.

Have you got room to put the rad to the side of the engine but still in the airflow, I found room for 2 engines 2 rads & 2 fuel pumps so anything's possible if you try!!!

I might end up squeezing it in back, but it's good to know that others have tried it up front.

blackbird, busa & ZX12 all pump water too the front ok in mid engined cars, most prob more do but these 3 i have seen in the flesh under race conditions.

That's where the rad is mounted on the LMP, in the front (ZX12 power, Davies Craig electric water pump).

Apologies for the size of the pic and the tatty state of the prototype vehicle!




[Edited on 2/3/06 by tadltd]

[Edited on 2/3/06 by tadltd]