Hey guys, I have an air-to-water intercooler left over from a 200sx project that I want to use on my s5 TII and I have a crazy idea. I have researched the pros and cons of air/water versus air/air intercooling, and I want to try something that I haven't heard of anyone else doing, so tell me if you think I've gone completely nuts. I know the factory TMIC is good for up to about 10 or 12 psi, I am planning on running 15 to 25 psi (s5 hybrid, Megasquirt, etc.) and I have never been crazy about using a FMIC due to the long piping runs and the pressure drop that all contributes to lag. What about coming right out of the turbo and into the air/water intercooler and then into the TMIC???...in this way, I would have the low pressure drop of the air/water unit combined with the additional drop in outlet temps of the TMIC and still be able to keep a shorter distance for airflow between turbo and combustion chamber. Have I gone completely mad??? LOL!

 

25psi on pump gas?
You're asking for trouble...
Unless you're running 100 octane stuff as pump gas?


-Ted

 

I agree with ya Ted I would fry my motor with that kind of boost on pump gas. With intake temps under control, and spark mapping and fuel mapping carefully tuned (Megasquirt/ Megatune) I figure up to 14 psi on pump gas and at the track with higher boost definitely race gas.

 

you could always run alky injection, look at bdc he runs 25 psi on the stock top mount.

 

you're probably better off just doing methanol/alcohol injection with the stock top mount.

 

i was just thinking about a air/water intercooler today......i think you should try it....y not...if it doesnt work then you can always remove it...dont forget to post pics

 

Part of the reason to going to a larger intercooler is that at a point you start seeing significant boost drop across the stock intercooler because it just cant flow well.

Anyway, if you ran it through an a/w intercooler, and then through the stock intercooler you would probably heat the air back up.

If you have an a/w use it, and ditch the stocker. Just get a big heat exchanger and mount it up front in a position that obstructs the radiator as little as possible. I personally question the idea of cramming a huge air/air ic up front in the path of the radiator on a rotary anyway. These engines can get so hot in stock trim that I wouldnt feel comfortable blocking up the radiator anymore than was absolutely necessary.


BC

 

If I do decide to use both intercoolers, I plan on monitoring air temps at the outlets to see what happens. You can only get so much heat transfer with an air/water unit without adding ice to the reservoir. If the top mount removes additional heat (such as a heat soak condition when you park the car to get groceries, etc.) then I will use it as planned. I like the idea of keeping the hood scoop functional.

 

I agree with you BC, I plan on using an aluminum radiator from an ATV that uses it's own shroud and fan. It's just big enough to handle the needs of the air/water unit, but small enough not to block much of the main radiator, condenser, oil cooler, etc. I'm thinking of using a stock electric coolant pump from a supercharged F150, I have seen all this stuff on eBay pretty cheap.

 

Really? Could've fooled me.

I used a stock intercooler converted to an air to water unit 8 years ago with wild success. Although at first blush you'd think it wouldn't, but it honestly does work very well. The core is very well designed. It's just in a bad spot.

I agree on not blocking the radiator (or the oil cooler; things that most people don't talk about).

I say go for it Scrip.

Here's an old pic of my old A2W unit from Apr 2000:
http://bdc.cyberosity.com/v/ProjectC...fc_17.jpg.html

B

 

Thanks for posting your pics BDC....that's the size air/ water unit I'll be using but I'll mount it right in front of the turbo by the pass. side fenderwell and plumb it into the top mount unit. That's a sweet-looking car and a very clean engine bay you have there my friend. I'll post pics of the install when I get things started....I am collecting the last few parts needed to do my engine build so it will be a little while until I have pics.

 

Just curious if you monitored pre-IC pressure and post-IC pressure. Im not saying that it couldnt work. I actually think modifying the stock intercooler for an A-W setup is a very efficient use of your money, but I question whether a larger core, or passing water through the core and the intake charge over it, is a more efficient approach.


BC