JeremyL

what are the benefits over air to air? i was thinking a2w would provide for less pressure loss cuz you would have less piping right? also how do you feed the water for an a2w IC?

Canuk_SiR

depends on where its mounted and how you run the plumbing, but yes, there is the potential for less piping, and in turn less volume to pressurize. That wouldn't do anything for pressure loss, it'll just take a bit longer to pressurize the greater volume. Water is fed with an external pump.

JeremyL

so you have to keep a bottle filled that this pump draws from? what did your system cost you?

paulzy

iTrader: (1)

I reccomend a/a for street driven cars...

a/w is too much to deal with for an everyday cruiser.

I myself am getting a PWR a/w cooler for my drag car

JeremyL

why would it be too much to deal with for a street car? if that means keeping a bottle filled i would have no problem with that since i pop my hood to check my oil EVERY time i get gas which is almost 2x/wk

paulzy

iTrader: (1)

it's a maitenence thing...If I were running w/a in my street car, I would be changing teh water/coolant mixture every other day...I wouldn't know about you though

JeremyL

what would affect the maint cycle? wouldnt it renew itself like your cooling system?

GOLDBERG

i was under the impression u needed too keep cold *** water in there and that some people even use dry ice or something..so i was thinkin youd need too change it alottt during the day..keep the ice water flowin so it can cool...

JeremyL

what about a Vortech aftercooler? couldnt one of those be fabbed up to an LS/T

MiraiZ

kinda like water injection

JeremyL

i thot that Vortech AC was a self contained unit?

MDA

I run one in my daily driver... for about 2 years now... and I've NEVER had to change or add water. The system is a closed loop. The water doesnt ever leave. Because I live in a cold climate I have a 50/50 mix of water / coolant.

Also, contrary to popular belief the water does NOT get hot. If I hit the drags I can add ice to the tank to make things a little colder. Do some searches on this... It's been discussed quite a bit....

It can be a very good system and super efficient if you do it correctly. The only downfall is that it's more work to install since there are more pieces to the puzzle.


[Modified by MDA, 5:31 AM 1/16/2003]

GOLDBERG

wow does the intercooler have too be somewhere where there is airflow too keep it cool?? or could i put it someplace in the engine bay??? also how is the cooling affect vs air too air??

MDA

The cooler itself is in the engine bay because it's soo small ... fits nicely inline with the charge pipe.

They are extremely efficient. I personally have an extra little cooler that ensures the water never gets warm... which it doesnt since water can absorb huge amounts of heat.

Goto Spearco's site, I'm sure they list the efficiency ratings and how they perform. I dont recall the numbers at the moment. When I was doing the research I was surprised more people dont use air-water. I think the reason is people like the huge intercooler that says, 'I'm turbo'd, don't mess with me'. Personally I like the low down look. Keep it a sleeper.


[Modified by MDA, 8:19 AM 1/16/2003]

JeremyL

well what attracts me even more is the space saving factor and the lack of charge piping needed to make it all work right, ill be removing my AC and all the lines along with my PS so i will have a lot more room in the bay to make everything fit

Ash J. Williams

That's great and all, just don't forget about the water pump, the heat exchange and piping.
stan

double0Si

Yes the Vortech uses a A/W IC. It is a closed loop system, with it's own water pump, resevoir, and a heat exchange or radiator mounted in front of the A/C condensor.

Some have plumbed a cooling can inline, like ones drag racers use to cool fuel. This way the temp of the water/fluid in the A/W system can be cooled with out changing the water in the closed system; you can cool it by simply packing the cool can and then drain the cool can when not in use.

It works great for a track car.

Vortech's system behind the front bumper cover:
nevermind the crunched fender.

JeremyL

for a street car you could probably get by without a cooler since it would take a serious amount of heat to make the water in the IC lose its cooling capabilities

but even if you wanted to run a cooler which im assuming looks similar to the oil coolers and trany coolers on the market you probably wouldnt need to front mount it

double0Si

by cooler, do you mean the heat exchange in the front or the cool can that I talked about.

I wouldn't run an A/W without a heat exchange.

The one that comes with the Vortech is exactly like some of the aftermarket oil coolers.

GZERO

just adding something, water absorbs heats at least 4 times more than air, and for the one that has a mix of 50/50 with coolant, i would recommend taking off coolant and putting more water to make a mix of perhaps 20/80?? remember that if the water freezes it could be good for it (maybe? not sure though)

JeremyL

by cooler i meant the whole unit, but also i meant that would it be necessary to mount to the heat exchanger in the front by the bumper? probably not unless you live in Phoenix or Death Valley

if the water in the IC froze wouldnt it basically break the pump?

earl

Can you post some pix of your set-up?

chdesign

I think that air to air would be best for a daily setup.

Dublocivic

Earl has PWR come out with the pump and heat exchanger setup yet?..?
I have decided to run l2a on the street car.
Thanks!

earl

Not yet but keep asking as it should be soon