Air/Water Intercoolers?

[dmention7]

Just curious if anyone has any experience with them....

I've more or less decided that's the way I want to go with my car. For the money I'd drop on a SMIC upgrade (let alone a FMIC setup), I can rock something like this kit and get improved cooling and throttle response due to the smaller core and shorter piping. Plus, it sounds like a good fun DIY project.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions?

 

[asellus]

Do it up, air/water intercoolers are leet. That's what I should've done for my setup. :\

 

[Big Nate]

water is a way good way to go. I would be down with the install and piping. I want to go with the air/water for my car. Then i can get the colling of a front mount without the IC pipe running all over.

 

[dmention7]

Saw this for sale on 247 recently (unfortunately it's sold now), but it looked like a pretty sick setup.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123715576

 

[Matt D.]

If you have the room to run an air to water intercooler setup then go for it.

 

[Workdawg]

Water is significantly better at transferring heat than air is. I can't see how it'd be a bad idea.

 

[asellus]

@dmention -- if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to see this kind of setup in person and lend a hand if one is needed. Gimme a shout if you go through with this.

 

[dmention7]

I don't know for sure when I will actually get around to getting started.... I mostly opened this thread as kind of a general discussion in case anyone had any thoughts or comments on the topic.

But when/if it gets off the ground, I'd definitely welcome anyone who wants to lend a hand or check it out.

I have an idea where I would fit the IC core... removing the stock airbox, SMIC and piping frees up a giant hole towards the front driver's side of the engine bay. If that location did work, it would also make for a very short total path from the compressor outlet to the throttle body. As for the radiator, my inclination would be to go with a long thin core located where a normal FMIC would go.

I wish the idea would have popped into my head sooner, because I'm just finishing up a set of DIY hardpipes for the stock IC... doh!

 

[dmention7]

Hehehehe... teaser pic! Stay tuned for a project thread!

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