Just bought this PWR liquid / air intercooler, just awaiting shipping.

It's 6" in diameter at its widest point, the wide part is 10" long and the overall length is 19". I half-assed measured, and it should fit in place of the section of charge pipe between throttle body and front of car.

Best part: No big increase in pipe volume or total pressurized volume. Should be nice with more boost and my 440cc injectors, still sitting on on my workbench.

What do you guys think? Anyone else tried one of these 'barrel' intercoolers?

 

Can you please post the link to where you got this. I am very interested in this . Btw if you need any help with installing your emanage and injectors just let me know. I can send you some directions that might help.

 

Yes, please send me emanage and injector instructions!

I bought the intercooler privately, used, from a guy who had two on his pro drag truck. He switched to running alcohol, so he doesn't need the cooling anymore. He sold one on ebay and sold me the other. Here's a pic of the setup he had on his truck:


By the way, how does your stock muffler sound?

I have y-pipe, test pipe and mandrel B pipe with stock muffler. Mine sounds like ****; veryy rattly - buzzy. Prolly broke loose a baffle.

 

Yea i looked at the companies website and i think by looking at the price i will stick with my water alcohol injection.

I like the way my exhaust sounds. Its a little louder with the headers but still very smooth. Are you running a resonator on your b pipe? If not that is what is causing that buzzy sound

 

These types of things are very popular with the Miata guys as they don't have the room to run effecient piping for a FMIC. http://www.superchargersonline.com/p...er=JAC-999-656

In general I'm not really a fan of AWIC's because I like pushing for extended periods of time. But if you want 1/4 and dyno #'s thats the way to go.

 

The cost on manufacturers website is a bit extreme, BUT these things come up on ebay every once in awhile. PWR wants ~$1,300 for a kit that includes this cooler, pump, radiator and fan. I paid $300 for intercooler (used) and $105 for pump new. I still need a $50 radiator and $50 fan, plus probably $50 worth of water hoses and switches. I'll also need about $50 worth of silicone reducers, couplings and clamps; so let's say total cost is about $600, give or take. A bit more than a FMIC, but not too bad.

Cheap FMIC is going to be at least $150, and I'd still need a bunch of mandrel bends, couplings, crazy sabre saw surgery on sheet metal. FMIC might cost $300 or so?

Compared to a FMIC, I get reduced total volume (piping+cooler), much greater cooling potential, as water has a higher heat coefficient than air; better than FMIC performance for dyno, 1/4 mile and passing. Depending on size of radiator and fan, performance should be similar to or better than FMIC for extended boosting. This is same I/C used in porsche 996 supercharger upgrade. Should be no sheet metal cutting, hoping for clean looking install, and the ability to run max s/c boost with full timing and no fear of preignition or detonation. Plus I get the fun of trying something new, and reporting on it!

Yes, I have a new resonator. I think my muffler is a bit blowed-up.

 

my aftercooler is nice. broaner, you felt my aftercooler at GLD. that was after a 30 minute straight 100+mph run up 94. they work like a charm.

 

Totally awesome Mike! Looking forward to tracking your progress.

- Josh

 

I've seen one of these in person...VERY nice unit.

I tried to pick one up used that the local Honduh ricer shop had laying around in a junk pile, but no luck.

 

There was an I30 that had one of Votech's aftercoolers. Did you guys see that? I wish I saved some pics/links. Not sure which kit he bought from Vortech since none are specifically made for us. But assuming the inlet/outlet dimensions are what we need, it seems that one of the Mustang kits or Civic/Integra kits would work for us. Since they form a 90^ in/out, we could place it just before the MAF replacing the existing 90^ built into the crossover tube. That's assuming there is enough room there (radiator hose might get in the way).

http://www.vortechsuperchargers.com/products/coolers/

I like your barrel design though Mike. What are your inlet/outlet diameters? And if you place it before the throttle body and it is 19" long, where are you going to put your MAF? (I think I just answered my own question, you have a 2000, huh? - MAF is before the SC). Are you going to have a reservoir capable of accepting ice? Good luck! Keep us updated.

 

Inlet and outlet on intercooler are 3". For now, I'll just cut Stillen's pipe and put in silicone reducers. Maybe later I'll change whole pipe for 3" and do Latinmax's trick for the air filter in the fenderwell.

If this barrel design fits, it could be a real quick easy aftercooler setup. No battery relocation, no extra pipe. We'll see...

I'll see if I can find a reservior that will take ice. We have a store here that sells everything from farm equipment to tools, to auto parts to industrial surplus. I'm going there this afternoon to see what kind of cheap surplus stuff can be pressed into service to create this set-up. I still need a radiator, fan, & reservoir, plus some hoses.

 

I found that wicked beast of an I30 I was referring to. He has a Vortech aftercooler. This thing is intense.

I'll post a few pics but if you want to see them all, go here and scroll to about the middle of the page. Aftercooler, Level 10 tranny, roll cage, 5 pillar gauges, nitrous .... sheesh.










Anyway, didn't mean to get too far off topic on Mike's thread but I just wanted to show another aftercooler example.

 

He's also running an Aquamist alcohol/water injection.

That guys from Vegas and has everything, but a MEVI and the kitchen sink in that beast.

 

That is i30krab's car. He is still on every once and a while. I looked into getting that radiator he has. That was a while ago. They wanted $700+ as his was custom made by Griffin. That thing really would benefit from a VI.

 

I just noticed his "triangle strut bar"....always wondered about doing something like that.

 

Hey Broaner! He still has his airconditioning!

 

I don't know if you're being sarcastic. If you aren't I agree that is stupid. If you get to that level you need to start removing **** like the stock seat that doesn't hold onto your jewels tightly enough. I respect the beastlyness of that car but the rest is just not my style.

 

I've looked into doing water to air IC and it's AWESOME! Well, for me anyways since I'm such a 1/4 mile *****. And the streetable capabilities are much better than most people think if you have a water tank of atleast 2 or 3 gallons in size. Some people put in a 1 gallon fuel cell for their water and it hot heat soaked in just a little time on the street. But you can solve that problem by having more water. When at the track, you can jam as much ice as you can in that tank and shave 3 tenths just like that.

I'm really thinking about doing an AWIC just b/c of it's 1/4 mile capabilities and it will save me in the area of pressure loss and extensive piping.

I won't get that PWR IC just b/c it doesn't do as well as most larger AWIC. Most people say if you plan on staying under 300hp, then this canister will work well for you. But I am really considering this type of AWIC:



I found this on: http://www.sr20forum.com/showthread....er+intercooler

 

Also, I like this guys setup:



I found this at: http://www.sr20forum.com/showthread.php?t=71707

 

Mike, did you find a reservoir yet? What about buying Vortech's water/ice reservoir which they apparently sell separately? Here.

 

I've thought about using ice in my water alcohol setup at the track. Do you guys think the gains would be seen? I figure so since it is colder air.

 

Not yet Josh. When I do, I doubt I'll spend Vortech-type bucks! I decided to do injector, pulley and emanage install first, tune and dyno; then put in AWIC and dyno again. That way I'll know whether the AWIC gives more power or just cooler charge at some cost to power; and settle the debate.

I've got my garage cleaned out and parts arranged on bench. Just waiting for Chris to send me his injector & emanage installation tips!

Chris, I don't think chilling your water/methanol mix will make a difference. You're cooling by turning the liquid to gas, not temperature differential. If you figure out the mass of the liquid you are using and the energy differential by different temperatures, it's probably inconsequential.

 

Check your PM's daddio

 

Thannks Chris! I'll try to take some photos and do my own write up on this.

 

Awesome. I was hoping you'd say that.

 

Cool, but i doubt you will feel like it

 

So I've got the thing on my bench, and it's 19" long:

Inside, the heat exchange is the whole interior diameter:

I thought I'd stick it in this way:

But it looks too long, and even if I wedge it in, I'll have a sharp bend right at the throttle body.

Much better if I can take out both of Stillen's pipes and stick it in this way:


It's intake and outflow diameters are both 3", so maybe I will go 3" all the way from blower to throttle body? Injectors first, then play with cooler...

 

Agreed. When you first linked us to the Miata barrel design aftercooler and I went out to my car to look around, I imagined placing it where you are showing in the second pic. above. Of course that's also because I have a MAF in the way of your pic. one above but I still thought it might be a better fit up front. However, while I think a 4th gen. could get away with it, I don't think you will be able to Mike with the dual crossover tubes. I hope I am wrong. Perhaps you can get the MAF on the passenger side of your car and ditch one of the tubes. ? Good luck.

 

I found the install instructions for the Jackson Racing Miata aftercooler. This is interesting, what do you guys think of this?: The aftercooler does not us its own water supply, it taps into the car's cooling system. I'm not sure how I feel about that. It might make adding an ice reservoir more difficult... but I suppose it can still be done as long as the reservoir is located in-line just before the aftercooler. ? But it would get pricey if everytime you purge a little coolant to add ice, you are draining your Redline Water Wetter. :\

Which would result in lower intake temps? Sharing the car's coolant supply or having its own?

http://www.jacksonracing.com/Shop/Vi...eIndexID=38790

 

How much did that run ?? I would run its own seperate cooling system if I were you...did it come with any pumps or reseviors or lines ??

-matt

 

I have a thought. This of course would only work in the summer, but thats the only time it would be needed. Now I havent really looked at the AC condenser, but would it it possible to coil a few turns of tubing around it to help cool the water down a bit? If it gets cold enough to drip water under the car from condensation, shouldnt it be able to cool the water some? Or is my head simply up my a$$...

 

The condensor is where the high pressure gas converts to a high pressure liquid, which releases heat(exothermic).

The evaporator is where high pressure gas turns to low pressure gas(endothermic), however it is inside the blower unit. It could do what you're asking like on the new Ford Lightning.

 

Gotta give the aftercooler his own separate cooling system. Charge air is calculated to max out at around 189 degrees - not a lot hotter than hot engine coolant. If not boosting, and you are using engine coolant; you'd be heating the air coming in.

Already bought the Bosch / Ford Racing electric water pump. Wanted to put in a B&M unversal cooler like this:

However it has a built in thermostat that starts fan at 175 degrees. I want one that kicks in at just a few degrees above ambient and haven't found one. I guess I'll go with a simple switch; or no fan, just the cooler.

 

When I had this idea a year ago, I thought I was original and brilliant, and didn't think I had my head up my ***!

Unfortunately, I was not original. You can buy an A/C chiller to add to your AWIC system for 'only' $950 here; bringing the total cost of your AWIC system close to the cost of your FI system! All this to save buying ice for a buck a bag.



Maybe my head was up my *** after all.

 

I bet something could be done DIY for alot cheaper.........
And you're right I shoudl have said the Evap,not condensor

 

So which way are most people going , air air or air water IC ?

Cheers A .

 

Wow, I can't believe this thread is approaching a year old. Seems like yesterday.... lol. It's hard to answer you which way 'most' people are going because 'most' SCed guys don't even use an aftercooler at all. However, I think more people over the years have gone air to air. The only water to air set-ups I know of are i30krab's (Vortech charge cooler), Slimer's (custom) and mine (Jackson Racing). Soon to be The Wizard and, if he ever surfaces again, mhadford (I hope he's o.k.?). I can't list all the air/air guys but I think there are/have been more than 3-5. So if your only question is which way are most people going, then the answer is probably air to air. Now if you are asking which way you should go and/or which is better.... then that should be left to a 3 page thread all by itself. Personally I think water to air but there are arguments both ways. Good luck.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=453847


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