From knowing nothing to having a Thunderbird supercharger on an m20b27i

[Ether-D]

Also, I think NA guys get 240chp out of a m20b28 relatively routinely. So I must be able to do that well. I would think.

And Will, I'm going to ebay now...

[The Dark Side of Will]

That's a pretty raucous engine, though... Not a fun drive when you get stuck in traffic.

[Ether-D]

True dat. I really want my whole car to retain that OE drivability. I want to get in, start it, and drive without any bs.

I'm trying to find a good spot for the external heat exchanger (hood scoop looked terrible, just terrible). So I was thinking about putting the 6x18x1.5" one next to the a/c condenser. There's almost enough room. I also thought of stacking two a/c condensers and using one for the intercooler, but I thought they would affect each other's efficiency. Dammit, I want ideal! Why can't ideal be my friend?

[Ether-D]

I think I'm gonna stack the a/c condensers and use one of them for the intercooler. 3/4 of the year, I don't use a/c anyway. And when I'm using a/c, I'm probably not gonna be beating on it (the car...). So, how should I stack them?

Intercooler first,

pros:
coolest air for intercooler
increased power
increased detonation protection

cons:
Greatly decreases the efficiency of the a/c whenever the a/c is on

A/c condenser first,

pros:
coolest a/c for all occasions

cons:
less intercooling on the hottest days (only when a/c is on)
increased detonation risk (only when a/c is on)
less power in the summer (only when a/c is on)

If the a/c is first, then it would be keeping the intercooler from cooling as well when a/c is on. But, when I want to have strong intercooling, I can just turn off the a/c and in 20-30 seconds, full power intercooling available. That's the solution I think. Thoughts?

[TheTacoMan]

I would first see how you intercooler cools, get some numbers of your IATs after its all hooked up and go from there with A/C. That said, I would consider running an electric fan(automotive, no more computer fans please :)) with a higher cfm if you decide to stack a/c and you intercooler.

Get some more baseline numbers and once you have everything record what you get after. Including A/c vent temps and such.

[Victell]

AC condensers are designed to cool gas, not liquid. A heat exchanger designed for liquid may be more efficient. Since you're on a budget, maybe a junkyard/craigslist radiator from a small car?

[Ether-D]

Now I have to use the computer fans just to prove that they'll work. Damn youuuuuuu!!!!!

[Ether-D]

AC condensers are designed to cool gas, not liquid. A heat exchanger designed for liquid may be more efficient. Since you're on a budget, maybe a junkyard/craigslist radiator from a small car?

Yeah, I'm just gonna start out with the computer radiator (koolance) and see what it does. Then upgrade if needed. The a/c condenser is just bigger than the Koolance one.

[Q5Quint]

like this?

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5426692-Air-to-Water-intercooler-set-up

[CorvallisBMW]

Let me preface this by saying I've never tried this before, but I don't see any way you could possibly, physically, within the laws of science, use an A/C condenser as an IC. The lines running in to a condenser are 1/2" and designed to carry liquid, not gas. Most ICs have 2" inlets, sometimes 3". You cannot physically force enough air through a 1/2" condenser to make your motor run, it's far too restrictive. How big is the outlet on you SC? How could you possibly neck it down to 1/2"?

[Ether-D]

like this?

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...rcooler-set-up

No, but whatever I do will have to be some crazy thing made of jy parts.

[Ether-D]

Let me preface this by saying I've never tried this before, but I don't see any way you could possibly, physically, within the laws of science, use an A/C condenser as an IC. The lines running in to a condenser are 1/2" and designed to carry liquid, not gas. Most ICs have 2" inlets, sometimes 3". You cannot physically force enough air through a 1/2" condenser to make your motor run, it's far too restrictive. How big is the outlet on you SC? How could you possibly neck it down to 1/2"?

You just don't know exactly what I'm doing. Look up "water to air intercooler". Then put a shit load of poetic license on it and that's what I'm attempting.

[Ether-D]

Rockers and such...

So I replaced all 12 of my rockers today. There is a reason. They were all some kind of aftermarket rockers that I took off of a very fresh AMC head that I got at the pull a part. Long story short, the new AMC head was murdered by the installer. He used a sledge hammer to beat the rocker shafts in to submission. Irrrrrrregardless, I used the nice brand new rockers on the head that I rebuilt for the yard motor. Then I broke this one last week and I decided to do a comparison of the ones I have. So, here's a pic for posterity. Does anyone want to guess which type I broke?

[Ether-D]

One of them is OE bmw, one is the redesign by Febi, and one is an aftermarket piece of dog shit.

[LJ851]

I'm going to say the dog shit is on the left.