where to get flex tube for intercooler?
 

Does anyone know where I can get that flex tubing for intercoolers? Just wonder, because where I am there are no places that custom fit/fab/bend tubing.

Couplers and pre-formed bends, or hosing you can actually flex to fit? That stuff flows like shit...

really? I heard the stuff is kind of expensive but works great and flows well to. can you do me a favor and look in the lounge area at the post dual rotary engine and look at the blue car on their and I believe that guy has some sort of flex tubing for his ic's. Thanks.

I have heard nothing but good things about a type of hose called ThermalFlex. Not your standard ribbed flex hose, and it comes in a bunch of jolly colors. :)

where do you get that?

http://shop.hyundaiperformance.com/shop/cat.php?c=90

so does this stuff actually bend? or does it still need to be fitted? Thanks.

I am guessing that either you get pre-bent sections of it or straight. I highly doubt that you can just bend that kind of hose. But if you can then that is a hell of a hose and that might bevery usefull for custom intercooler mountings and other things. But from what I can tell its just the same old type of hose. :/

I'll have to dig for the article again...

I took my old IC hoses down to the local autozone and went in the back where all the radiator hoses are (they have 100's) and I looked at them all and lined them up till I found a couple with the diameter and bends I needed. Has worked perfect for me so far. I just bought all the radiator hoses that had the bends I needed then cut them to size. I figure if they can hold the heat and pressure of a radiator; should be no problem with an IC. Cost me less than $25.


-Robert

Check out Summit Racing. They carry S/S flex for about $50 and insulated one for little more.

Re: where to get flex tube for intercooler?
 

Not even an exhaust shop? Or don't they fix exhausts where you live? ;)

Avoid that spiral wound flexible hose. The internal corregations cause a lot of turbulence and hence pressure loss.

ok sounds good guys thanks for the help. I like the rad hose idea but this would be one of those volvo radiator sized ic's witch I haven't had before so I guess I could meassure and then find the right hoses. Hummm..... Might just do that.

Re: Re: where to get flex tube for intercooler?
 

not all places have the capacity to make mandrel bends though. Maybe he was only looking for those bends. :)

did u notice any drop in boost rpeck?

Nope, not at all. I did this while i why trying to trouble shoot a possible leak (turned out to be poor turbo design, I have since replaced the turbo) I replaced all the hoses and got those hardcore solid clamps.. been perfect. The stock IC hose looks/feels just like radiator hose to me anyways.

-Robert

can i get some pics of your setup Rpeck? that sounds like what i wanna do, but id like to see it.

Re: Re: Re: where to get flex tube for intercooler?
 

Very few places can make mandrel bends; that's why they buy them and weld bends and straight lengths together. Any exhaust should should be able to do that.