air to water intercooler

[taylor.o1]

the ac condencer could be used as a radiator to cool the water and with the ac compresser gone you could use a machanical pump in its place such as a power stearing pump mabey? or just go with an electric pump.

Im thinking this would be a great way to go, there smaller, more efficiant and they dont require all the piping that is a nightmare in our engine bays and you wouldent have to cut out your front bumper support, they can be located right befor the throttle body giving you better throttle responce

anyone have thoughts or imput?

[Meemperor]

Re: air to water intercooler

the ac condencer could be used as a radiator to cool the water and with the ac compresser gone you could use a machanical pump in its place such as a power stearing pump mabey? or just go with an electric pump.

Im thinking this would be a great way to go, there smaller, more efficiant and they dont require all the piping that is a nightmare in our engine bays and you wouldent have to cut out your front bumper support, they can be located right befor the throttle body giving you better throttle responce

anyone have thoughts or imput?

Electric pump is the way to go. Stick with an OEM Ford Lighting pump if doing it.

My Cartuning kit doesn't cut the front bumper for the IC. It's a similar amount of piping for an A2W IC, but they are not that great for street cars. They will get heat soaked driving around on the street, but you can get them real cold at the track.

Personally though for a turbo car I would always go air to air. But for a roots blower like on a GTP A2W all the way!

[Mogobs30th]

Re: air to water intercooler

Personally though for a turbo car I would always go air to air. But for a roots blower like on a GTP A2W all the way!

An Air-to-Water is better for any FI, problem is that you have to have some reservoir for the water. If you're drag racing with an FI engine, Air-to-water is the way to go. Street, air-to-air.

From what I have seen though, air-to-water is much messier. They can be smaller, and more efficient, but much more expensive, and actually require some attention. I wouldn't consider it practical for everyday street use.

[Meemperor]

Re: air to water intercooler

There's no problem of using them in a daily driver, just check the reservoir once a week or so. They are heavier when all said and done though, because you generally want a lot of water to reduce heat soak as much as possible. A2W can lower your intake temps below ambient, and an A2A can't do that unless you're spraying it with CO2 or N2O before a run.

But like I said in my post, not the greatest for a street car.

[taylor.o1]

Re: air to water intercooler

Thanks for the replys. I'll agree they are much more expencive, and complicated. But If the ac condenser is used as a "heat extractor" (it's huge and already has fans) it would be very efficiant. That just leaves a pump and a resavor which IMO would be easier than pipeing to a air to air.

Heat soak would be a bit of a problem though. I've never seen an insulated a/w intercooler but that would fix 80% of that problem.

How do you have your intercoolers routed?

[pace2006]

Re: air to water intercooler

Main problem I foresee is the AC condenser not being a thick enough core to make for an efficient heat exchanger. I'm looking at adding an A2W setup to my DD and am looking at a heat exchanger with a 2.5" thick core.

[ssms5411]

Re: air to water intercooler

I would just use a A/A intercooler and then use methanol progressive kit, it would save you alot more money and probably work alot better for DD and at the track.

[Meemperor]

Re: air to water intercooler

I would just use a A/A intercooler and then use methanol progressive kit, it would save you alot more money and probably work alot better for DD and at the track.

This.

Air to water works, but heat soaking occurs when you're driving for a long period and you're pushing all that hot air through the IC. The liquid will get hot and your efficiency will go to crap, same thing happens with an A2A IC, but it won't stay hot all day!

There's a reason almost every aftermarket turbo set up uses an A2A IC (On all cars!) But at the track A2W rules, because you can fill it up with ice and ice water :D

[taylor.o1]

Re: air to water intercooler

thanks for the imput guys! just the kinda stuff i was looking more. ill do some more thinking and planing then :)