[GuyBFF]

Braided stainless is very expensive, very stiff, and for the exterior size has a very small ID. It will however look good and not kink easily, but be sure it's not leveraging on those water blocks, and that you select a large enough ID.

AN fittings on the other hand are wonderful as they keep a constant ID threwout the fitting. If you must go stainless, consider replacing the barbs with threaded in AN adapters as well, at this point why not go all the way (I once road raced a Mustang, and strip 'Cuda as well).

If you compare an Eheim and a Mag-Drive of about the same size (take a Danner #3 - 350gph and a 1250 Eheim) there is almost equal max head height and flow at each level of restriction. Centrifugal pumps do lose flow fast as effectively they're very easy to cavitate, but both are relitively equal, and where most rated pumps loose faster is when people compare the pumps with a base rating at 0' versus 1' (both the eheim and Danner Mag-Drive advertise 1' ratings). If the pump was rated at no head, then it would abviously start in a higher curve exponentialy for its drop in flow rate.

The eheim is however a better pump and I only put the best in my computer, but it's not enough of a difference to matter (regardless of the price I bought a Danner).

Your estimation of about 50gph is probably correct in most systems, however, a good low restriction rad (like a Big Momma / D-Tek / Heater Core Style) and the new "upgrade" Maze 2 with 1/2" tubing will have a MUCH higher flow rate. I haven't measured the difinative speed, but before I installed all of my components I ran the pump with just tubing on it to break it in while I recieved each part, then added a part at a time and I haven't experienced much of a decline in the rate which the tiny bubble flow in my system. Once I got all the air out it was MUCH, MUCH, faster than my best friend's system with a BE Cooling Block, and a tranny cooler rad with 3/8" hose. (and you have to assume the velocity of flow would be faster in the smaller 3/8")