Water To Air Intercooler

[ARTZ]

hey guys Im throwing this up just for discussion cause I have been wondering..

what if I was to ditch the normal intercooler and put a water to air intercooler where the stock airbox usually is, lets just say for now the pod is directly on the compressor housing, maybe with some tube directed cooler air to it..

a water to air cooler would easily fit in that space where the airbox usually is, there would be next to no intake pipework for good respnse and also more airflow to the radiator

im not real sure yet how well these coolers cool either. are they any better/worse than normal air coolers.

Im thinking the box type not the inline pipe style and a quick hunt around cheapbay

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p0.m570.l1313&_nkw=water+to+air&_sacat=See-All-Categories

found some basic kits start at low prices so wouldnt be hard to slap one together for shnitzngiggles

has anyone tried it..

Am i missing something, any thoughts???

[GTSBoy]

What is the usage pattern of the car? Street, drag, circuit, hillclimb? Power level? These things have an influence on whether W2A is a good idea or not.

[ARTZ]

nothing in particular...just an all rounder..

[luvpsi]

My Neighbour has a W2A on his Dato ute with sr20 response seems great and doesn't give cops to point you out while driving past other than that I don't know to much nut you do need a separate water pump

[R31Nismoid]

Well from a legal/Victorian point of view - You'd be defected in an instant.

Problem is one intake mod, meaning if you did - you'd have to rip the entire setup out just to get past!

[luvpsi]

Well from a legal/Victorian point of view - You'd be defected in an instant.

Problem is one intake mod, meaning if you did - you'd have to rip the entire setup out just to get past!

I find that a bit stupid really as it's sits in engine bay not hanging out the front but the police and transport departments have weird views

[R31Nismoid]

It has nothing to do with hanging out the front, it's emissions related.

[Rolls]

Water to air vs air to air, how is the air to air not a defect then?

[tweety bird]

i've been thinking about doing the same thing, but mounting in the corners (were the stock side mount intercooler is on a gtst) and the otherside of the car for a gtr (were the bov's are).

if you hide it good enough you might be able to fool a cop....... maybe.

[luvpsi]

It has nothing to do with hanging out the front, it's emissions related.

I don't understand how a W2A will effect emissions it. Works the same as a A2A but shortens the piping

[GTSBoy]

I don't understand how a W2A will effect emissions it. Works the same as a A2A but shortens the piping

I think what R31N is saying is that ANY change to the intercooler is a defect in Vicistan. If you change from a stock side mount to a FMIC, then you have altered the inlet plumbing and you're no longer kosher.

cheers

[luvpsi]

I see what your saying now

[Rolls]

Did not know that FMIC was a defect in VIC, they don't even question it at regency in SA.

I thought NCOP was ratified anyway so that all states essentially should be basing their laws on the same text?

[bubba]

My understanding is that A2A is better for sustained loads whereas W2A is more effective on a street car with short bursts of WOT. Sustained thrashing with W2A will eventually heatsoak the system and start doing more bad than good.

[SargeRX8]

One intake mod is a joke. Not being able to mod our cars freely, and within certain limits(I'd say sound levels mainly and heavy toxins from the exhaust) is a joke. You can have a full built motor with massive turbo and run E85 and have emissions cleaner than most other standard petrol cars, but will be defected because you have a magical filter sitting infront of your turbo.

The thing with the water 2 air cooler is what happens when the water reaches a temperature higher than ambient? Won't that make it useless? Or is that effect voided out due to the better heat removing capacity of water over air? I think a front mount intercooler is the best way to cool your intake charge. Its at the front, low to the ground, has air directed into it and nothing infront of it.

Everything is a defect in Victoria, I think they have the most strictest rules on modding cars.

Edited December 22, 2011 by SargeRX8

[MrStabby]

hey guys Im throwing this up just for discussion cause I have been wondering..

what if I was to ditch the normal intercooler and put a water to air intercooler where the stock airbox usually is, lets just say for now the pod is directly on the compressor housing, maybe with some tube directed cooler air to it..

I thought water to air was just a workaround if you dont have space for air to air, so not necessary for a skyline.

LINKY

[R31Nismoid]

We have a 1x Intake mod rule. Pretty self explainitory - you can only make ONE modification to the intake. If you had a normal A2A I/C, and an airbox. You'd be 100% legal. So for any R33 GTS-T owner, that is a FMIC given stock one is rubbish.

So when people put on Pods, yes it's a defect - BUT it's a very simple fix.

If you get pinned you have to:

1. Take the entire W2A setup out

2. Re-install stock airbox & I/C (cause both need to be present to be legal)

3. Clear defect

4. Re-install the lot

That is a hell of a lot of studding around for a street car.

water to air cooler would easily fit in that space where the airbox usually is, there would be next to no intake pipework for good respnse and also more airflow to the radiator

Indeed it would fit that part easily... HOWEVER you'd still realistically need to mount a decent radiator for it into the front bar section, then mount the pumps, lines & storage. So it would still limit flow to the radiator somewhat with a W2A rad core @ the front.

Overall to setup W2A would be harder than A2A without a doubt, and obviously weigh more due to having the water weight.

Not disputing though that W2A would be better at cooling over A2A, no doubt about it.

It's just dependand on whether you can get the setup correct (i doubt a $400 ebay kit will work decently).

And then eat the hassle of a defect if you get pinned.

Side point flow to the raditor shouldn't be of a concern. 380rwkw GTRs with upgraded radiators & FMICs run acceptable temps on a 30 degree day. If you are having temperature issues then the first port of call would be a decent radiator & ducting.

Going W2A won't fix any overheating issues of the car cooling system (if you are trying to fix this?).

[zebra]

W2A cores are huge!

the small ones are only good for 300hp or so

something like this

http://www.frozenboost.com/product_info.php?cPath=218&products_id=210&osCsid=e000b70a3e9fdd6bc4bb5d7e6537d46f

would be the bare minimum for a stock 25 imo. and you will never fit it where the side mount was.

Trust me I tried

you may be able to fit it where the stock airbox goes, but you will have no room for an air filter/ intake pipe

I also tried that

[ARTZ]

leaving defects aside...lets pretend its a world full of flowers and fairy dust and they dont exsist..

there is no inherent problems with my car overheating or anything that I have discovered yet, 52mm radiator solved that..

In fact there is nothing wrong with my pieces of car except its in pieces..

I was just thinking about it and wondered how well it would work..sure its probably not feasable or even worthwhile doin as Im already setup

but I'm very interested to know how well would or wouldn't it work..

[zebra]

Drag car use they are brilliant. Anything else not so much

Once the coolant in the core gets hot it stays hot for ages