Darton LS-1/LS-6 Coolant System Flow Testing

Setup: An unmodified LS-1 Chevrolet engine block and an LS-1 Chevrolet engine block with Darton cylinder liners installed are received from Darton International for flow testing. The engine blocks are mounted on the test stand both with the unmodified water pump then with the Evans water pump. The test stand consists of a 10 horsepower electric motor mounted on a frame. The engine block to be tested is mounted to the frame and a belt from the electric motor drives the water pump mounted in the proper location on the engine block. The electric motor is controlled with a variable speed controller to achieve the different water pump shaft speeds simulating engine speeds up to 6000 RPM. A driven pulley for the water pumps is manufactured for the production and Evans water pumps. A gasket plate is manufactured to locate the production head gasket in place during the pressure head testing. Photos are taken to document the results and to note flow characteristics of interest. The tests run with the heads in place are run as a closed system and are plumbed to incorporate a flow meter and various pressure readings through out the system. A stopcock valve is installed in the system to simulate the restriction of a radiator.
Testing:
Test 1: Production LS-1 block without heads, with production water pump at 3750 RPM engine speed.
Test 2: Production LS-1 block without heads, with production water pump at 5000 RPM engine speed.
Test 3: Production LS-1 block without heads, with Evans water pump at 3750 RPM engine speed.
Test 4: Production LS-1 block without heads, with Evans water pump at 5000 RPM engine speed.
Test 5: Production LS-1 block with heads (closed system), with production water pump.
Test 6: Production LS-1 block with heads (closed system), with Evans water pump.
Test 7: LS-1 block with Darton liners installed without heads, with Evans water pump at 5000 RPM engine speed.

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