Water to Air Intercooler...bad for DD

[TimTurboZ]

Would I be an idiot for considering this? http://www.frozenboost.com/product_info ... 33893b3c89

I'm in need of a new intercooler and I came across this. I have known about them but never looked into them. Besides being a little odd to fit in the car is there any downside to this? will this actually flow better than a normal setup?

Tim

[Darius]

The only hang-up I see is that it will take extra effort to fit the coolant radiator and intercooler radiator in front of the RB. Anything is possible with money and time.

As far as performance, it will be superior to an air-to-air intercooler in terms of heat transfer and boost response.

[Yellow4g63]

X2 to that. I prob would have done this back in the day if I knew about it lol. Shorter pipe too.

[Bluefire]

I wouldn't really bother with air-water setups with low horsepower/stock setups. Yes, its more efficient than typical air-air intercooler setups, but you also have to fit the air-water cooler, radiator, pump, reservoir, redo all your intercooler piping, run water lines, and hookup electrical. Its also going to add a good amount more weight to the front end. I usually only recommend these setups for mid-hp levels around 500hp, that go road racing often. For low horsepower, mostly daily driven setups, its far easier and cheaper to just go for a quality air-air intercooler, ie no cheapo godspeed intercoolers.

[TimTurboZ]

I wouldn't really bother with air-water setups with low horsepower/stock setups. Yes, its more efficient than typical air-air intercooler setups, but you also have to fit the air-water cooler, radiator, pump, reservoir, redo all your intercooler piping, run water lines, and hookup electrical. Its also going to add a good amount more weight to the front end. I usually only recommend these setups for mid-hp levels around 500hp, that go road racing often. For low horsepower, mostly daily driven setups, its far easier and cheaper to just go for a quality air-air intercooler, ie no cheapo godspeed intercoolers.

Here's my issue I wanted a hi-mount intercooler setup .

A greddy type manifold for my NEO (that will accept a topfeed injector set, and my IACV) costs more than I am willing to pay http://www.ebay.com/itm/R34-skyline-RB2 ... 27b2ae94d6

If I get an ISIS or ebay knockoff I have to: change my IACV and purchase a r33 fuel rail (i'd prefer to keep top feed injectors) if I were to buy the rail I would want bigger injectors ($300-500) and a topmount turbo/manifold ($$$), then I'd need new intake piping, a new elbow/downpipe...as you can see a better flowing less piping setup will lead to more money being spent then I see a need for

I dont even think a greddy manifold will help my power a great deal, my power goals are around 350-400whp (Nistune, 440's, and a metal wheel turbo)

A few hours of time dedicated to setting up this intercooler and running 1 power wire to a pump seems easier then a 5month-1yr process of saving and spending for a hi-mount and extra's. Especially if this will flow WAY better.

My current intercooler is about 8"tall, 20-24" long, and probably not even 3" thick I feel it flowed enough for my rb20 and will be restrictive on my NEO.

The best/cheapest intercooler I can find to use in my setup is $200 shipped

For another $200ish I feel more benefits could be had from the Water to Air IC...Plus I'm all about having something different. Just felt the need to learn some more info about it and ask your opinions

-Tim

[danielmcn]

My buddy has a worked mrs with a water to air intercooler and he dds it everyday.

[TimTurboZ]

^^^Thx! I figure with the mini radiator it comes with will cool the water enough, plus it'll be fun to add ice cold water to it at the racetrack before run groups lol

[jetdriver]

Water intercoolers have their merits in a few situations, no room for air flow to air intercooler, using colder than ambient temp water in drag racing, infinite cold water supply (marine). Other than this you will most likely lose efficiency transferring the thermal energy from air to water back to the air. You would be compounding losses in efficiency for every heat exchanger you have in the system. If short piping is the goal, or drag racing, it should work well.

[TimTurboZ]

Why you think that? it flows better than a standard fmic (so it states) plus it is for the responsiveness I'm trying to set it up with a series of couplers I figure may work I need to measure in the engine bay still. The intercooler will sit beside my cone filter in the corner (between the PS reservoir and driver headlight) I'll see what happens tho wont have money for awhile to spend on it. Just wanted to get my info straight