Aerospace Components Vacuum Pumps and Vacuum Pump Kits

The most common Aerospace Components vacuum pump kit is the Big Block Chevy Complete Kit. In second place is the Complete Small Block Chevy Vacuum Pump Kit. The most popular Aerospace vacuum pump is the Billet 3-Vane Vacuum Pump. Another very popular product from Aerospace Components is the Aerospace vacuum pump rebuild kit, which is usually required after 1-2 seasons of race use.

Aerospace vacuum pumps start at just over $450 and increase to around $1100 for a complete kit, depending on the options, vacuum pump type, and application.

The main purpose of an Aerospace vacuum pump is to create high vacuum in a race engine crankcase. Horsepower is increased by improving ring seal and reducing the chances of detonation, blow-by, and contamination to the intake charge of air and fuel. Aerospace vacuum pumps are also rebuildable, making them more cost-efficient than competitors.

Depending on the vacuum pump and kit, the installation instructions will change. In general, the first step is locating a position on the front of the engine for mounting and then bolting the pump bracket in place, followed by the vacuum pump. Next, the front face of the valve cover is drilled and a fitting installed that will lead to the inlet side of the vacuum pump. This creates maximum vacuum and ideally will provide adequate lubrication to the pump without the need for manually adding oil to the inlet. The outlet side of the pump is then plumbed into a breather tank, which will require periodic draining. Next, the drive hub / mandrel needs to be bolted to the front of the harmonic balancer damper and the belt installed. With everything confirmed installed, the engine can be started and the relief valve adjusted so that 10-12 in/hg of vacuum is reading on a wet sump engine using a vacuum gauge in the valve cover. For dry sump engines, the engine builder will determine the correct amount of vacuum.