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Old 03-10-2011, 02:58 PM   #1
svynx
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 210371
Join Date: May 2009
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: York, pa
Vehicle:
2002 hybrid 16gxt
'03 Lifted TS

Default The air/water intercooler thead

There has been a lot of talk about air/water intercooler systems lately. For a lot of us, we thought that the only real application for these was for drag cars. Also, the thought of using one for a daily driver was usually shot down by our fellow forum members, mainly because the majority of people didn’t understand them. I still researched what it would take to make an AWIC system work. That’s when I ran across a thread by Turbineguy. He had a very good write-up with documentation and true real world data to back things up. I’ll sum it up since it is a fairly long thread:

- AWIC systems work very well and efficiently
- For a daily driver, the heat exchanger is the most important part. If not properly sized, the system will not work as well
- having a reservoir mounted outside of the engine bay helps tremendously because of the added water volume and cooling effects

A little data:
- intake temperatures at the throttle body rarely went over 12 degrees over ambient temps with most times staying 5-10 above ambient
- water temps never went above 6-8 degrees above ambient

If you feel like looking/reading the thread: http://www.iwsti.com/forums/water-meth-injection-nitrous-intercooler-cooling/199117-t-gs-air-water-ic-build.html

He linked the website where he purchased his system, and it’s where I went as well. All parts are being purchased at www.frozenboost.com. I’ve had good communication from them (I’ve always gotten an email back within 24 hours of sending them one), and their parts are quality as of yet. I first purchased all the fittings, silicon parts, and clamps that I will use on my system. In the next few days, I’ll place another order for the core, heat exchanger, and water pump. I will be purchasing a system that can handle 600hp…much higher than what my goal is. Main reason is the core. The one I would like to have can only flow 450cfm’s. The turbo I’m looking at can flow more than that, so there is no headroom at all. The core I am purchasing can handle 700cfm’s. My plan right now is to hit 300whp and stay there until life allows me to purchase another daily driver. That would allow the subie to sit if needed while work is done to it. At that point a EJ207 would be installed, and who knows what output I’d go with. By going with the 600hp system, I won’t have to worry about changing it at that point.

I’m hoping that once my AWIC system has been up and running for a while that we can finally say that these systems are truly worth looking at. It should give standard air to air front mounts a run for its money. Hard to argue with front mount cooling capabilities (or better) without the 8 feet of piping and a large core to pressurize. I will have about 2 feet of piping and a core that has less cubic inches than the stock intercooler has. Cost wise is also a plus. The cheapest front mount intercooler I found (new) that kept the fog lights was from Godspeed. $405 plus shipping. Then you would have to buy a new intake. If I had gone with the standard equipment for the AWIC, I would have spent around $350 for the whole thing (the 350hp setup is a little cheaper than that). The direction I’m going will have another $150 or so into it. So, if you are looking at some of the well known, respectable, quality front mount systems out there that cost $600-$1000, with or without a new intake, going with an AWIC might look like a good place to save a little cash (which could then be put towards something else).

I will try to document the install as well as I can. Even though this is high on my priority list right now, my wedding plans are higher. So, I’ll work on the car as I have the free time. I'll post up a pic of the parts I have already soon. Camera is charging.
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