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any trick to building a/w intercooler

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Old 02-12-2011, 09:01 AM
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Default any trick to building a/w intercooler

going to take this on in the next week or two, i have the cad design done, left it at work of course, but uses two 4.5x6.1x10 cores and fabbed end tanks.

few questions
-bell cores the ones to go with?
-my current cores are 4.5x4.5x10 and was rated at 900, so i am figuring the new cores will get me in the 1300hp range
-where to get the 3" pipe flanges, maybe with the barbed lip. i see companies using cnc pieces but should i just use a small section of aluminum pipe with a rolled lip?
-on the water port end tanks, on the side with the in and out port, what gets done with the divider panel between the ports.. is it welded to the end tank or is it welded to the center of the two cores?
-is there any funny business going to happen when welding on the cores, something i need to be careful of to keep from f'ing it up and having flow or leak problems.


thanks very much in advance. ill post my design monday.
Old 02-12-2011, 02:34 PM
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Bigger is better.

Normal 3" pipe would be fine, and you can weld a bead around it. Or even just 4 small beads. Doesnt need a full circle, just enough of a bump to prevent the hose/clip from going anywhere

No idea about the rest
Old 02-12-2011, 05:52 PM
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I have the barbed ends in 2.5 to 4 inch out of 6061, they are made to be welded on.

Kurt
Old 02-12-2011, 07:35 PM
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If you haven't welded on cores before you should probably leave it to the pros at Bell and save yourself alot of time, headache, and possibly alot of wasted $$ if it doesn't go right on your first try. I'm a DIY'er at heart as well and have been down that road many times, believe me. If there's a 50% or better chance I will screw something up due to inexperience, I just cut my losses and pay the pros first. Just my .02
Old 02-13-2011, 03:36 PM
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who here has welded a water core.. what are basic do's and don'ts??
Old 02-13-2011, 03:53 PM
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I imagine you'd need to design in, proper and even flow through any core. Whether by internal ducts or channels etc...dont know what is best. And perhaps same with airflow ?

Also enough volume to allow the air to smoothly flow into each core, and back out.
Old 02-13-2011, 05:46 PM
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This is the A/W I built for my car. I used 3 of the 1000hp Garrett cores... They're cheaper than bell, more efficient for their size. Hard to get though.
Attached Thumbnails any trick to building a/w intercooler-ic.jpg   any trick to building a/w intercooler-hj.jpg   any trick to building a/w intercooler-icli.jpg  
Old 02-13-2011, 06:10 PM
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Damn that looks nice...can u duplicate lol?
I'm curious as well on this so...subscribing.
Old 02-13-2011, 10:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 6techniques
Damn that looks nice...can u duplicate lol?
I'm curious as well on this so...subscribing.
I could definitely duplicate it...
Old 02-13-2011, 10:39 PM
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I know if I was working with bell I would just have them fab the complete thing.
Old 02-14-2011, 12:45 AM
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Originally Posted by MIGHTYMOUSE
what are basic do's and don'ts??
In all seriousness. If you have to ask, pay someone to do it for ya.
Old 02-14-2011, 03:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Shearer
In all seriousness. If you have to ask, pay someone to do it for ya.
true, but then again everybody starts somewhere. If I had a dime for all the times I had to ask and managed to get it right.....
Old 02-14-2011, 04:30 AM
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this is the one we made up for our car.. sits where passenger seat used to go..

uses a PWR core that is 350x350x180mm

works pretty well, gone 8.2@170 on 14psi..

temps start at 3deg c and finish at 7deg c










Old 02-14-2011, 05:12 PM
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Holy Hell that is just plain sexy what are you usuing for a pump?
Old 02-14-2011, 05:15 PM
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its a davies craig electric water pump, its used to circulate the water around the core to make sure it is a even temp accross the whole thing
Old 02-14-2011, 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted by CarsandWomen
true, but then again everybody starts somewhere. If I had a dime for all the times I had to ask and managed to get it right.....
I agree.

There are some nice looking intercoolers in here. Good luck man!
Old 02-14-2011, 06:35 PM
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last time i was looking at building one...i was looking at the price of cores, and unless i was looking at the wrong place...they were stupidly expensive.....I know A/W intercoolers are not cheap....but i dont know how much money you would actually save.....Might be wrong
Old 02-14-2011, 07:48 PM
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any competent welder should be able to do it. ive done it and im pretty bad at aluminum. ive got a friend that can do it if you want just give me a call
Old 02-15-2011, 10:00 AM
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post the cad renderings. i remember you saying you use Solidworks in the past. I am actually sitting in a solidworks training session as i type this. I use it everyday at work and am always curious to see models people do for their shadetree stuff
Old 02-15-2011, 04:08 PM
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here ya go
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