cold air for blower...

badchargedboss · #1 04-06-2006, 01:13 PM

Okay okay... I have heard about the "super cooler" concept, but I don't know too much about it. What is stopping me from running a tube from my A/C of some sort to my cold air box, to provide some crisp, dry, cold air for my supercharger to eat up? Also, I have another idea.. I am running a Vortech blower, which is lubed with oil, pumped from my engine. The engine oil is very hot, and it makes my blower hot, and im sure that doesnt help my cold air situation. what would happen if I ran an oil cooler in between the engine and the blower, and mounted it down low? has anyone done this? It seems too easy. How important is cold air in all actuality? I just made a custom airbox, that has piping routed outside the fender well, and I lowered my IAT by an average of 25 degrees, and at WOT, my IAT is at whatever the outside temp is. How does that equate in horsepower and performance? How much could an air to air intercooler help? Sorry about the numerous questions, but this aspect of upgrading seems so easy, and I want to know what works best.. Why should I buy some overpriced plastic "cold air" box with a sticker on it for hundreds of dollars, when I can fab my own devices, and make them work better?... What have you guys done?

phil6608 · #2 04-06-2006, 10:52 PM

Your best bet is to go with a SNOW Performance water/meth. injection kit.
It will cool the intake temps and up your power.

Phil

JASON'S98S/C4X4 · #3 04-09-2006, 09:43 PM

Hey that sounds like a pretty good idea with the engine cooler before the supercherger. Every little bit helps. I have a powerdyne so it would not help me any.

1JT · #4 04-10-2006, 12:07 AM

badchargedboss, I too have a vortech on a 5.4. When measureing your IAT's did you relocate you sensor to the discharge side? I have also read where the mustang guyes with the vortech's have added a oil cooler in series with the lubrications system. The alkey injection is a cheap good idea. I made my own for alot less then they are sold for. Just an FYI, I installed a air to air intercooler a couple of years ago and had nothing but problems, also vortech makes an after cooler for you set up.

Matt 05'FX4 · #5 04-10-2006, 09:49 PM

I can't see using your A/C to provide cool air for the intake very energy effecient at all. The power gained will be lost turning the A/C compressor anyway so in that case it takes power to make power. Using an injection method as mentioned earlier is a good idea, alcohol and water injection is usually a cheap easy way to get cooler air. I have this kit sitting in my garage waiting for the release of the Roush intercooler. It is a neat idea using CO2 sprayed onto the intercooler to increase its effeciency by as much as 50% they claim. And I do believe it will help a lot because CO2 is VERY cold when sprayed onto stuff. Plus CO2 is really cheap, like 80 cents a pound from a welding shop vs N2O which is a LOT more. It would be neat on race day to freeze the intercooler right before a run. When I get this hooked up, I will do a run without it and with it, and I can look at charge air temps with my X2 and laptop to see if it is really working. Here's a few pics of what I am talking about...

badchargedboss · #6 04-11-2006, 11:13 AM

Will I have to get my truck re-tuned if I go with the alcohol injection? how about if I build an air to air intercooler? What problems could I expect from adding an intercooler?

Matt 05'FX4 · #7 04-11-2006, 09:26 PM

If your intake air temp sensor is located on the charge air side (the side that comes out of the supercharger) then the engine should accurately compensate for the cooler air by adding more fuel, just as if it were colder outside.

01TruBluGT · #8 04-11-2006, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt 05'FX4

If your intake air temp sensor is located on the charge air side (the side that comes out of the supercharger) then the engine should accurately compensate for the cooler air by adding more fuel, just as if it were colder outside.

Only problem is the air comming out of the s/c will be hotter than the air going into it even with an air-air or water-air cooler. It is basic physics that when you compress air you heat it up.

The snow meth kit is about as good as you are going to get but unless you are at the track or racing the truck weekly it really isn't cost effective. I have seen the CO2 systems and they work, though it is cheaper it is not as effective as nitrous is when used to cool your intake charge.

air-air intercoolers are about the best you will get for daily driving, for a dedicated track system where you can add ice water after every run then a water-air would be better.

As for running an a/c duct to the s/c intake, for one you are using power to create power as stated above, but on the other side of the coin your cars a/c system will never be able to produce the amount of cold air your motor needs so after it sucks up whatever cold air is available at idle it will run out before you even get close to WOT.

CDB03STX · #9 04-11-2006, 09:50 PM

Just outta curiousity...What's the meth/water injection run a guy?

The CO2 does look pretty COOL also, but I think the injection method would be better.

01TruBluGT · #10 04-11-2006, 09:54 PM

you are looking at well over $600 by the time it is said and done, between the system, switches, check valves, controlers etc...

Like I said for the occasional racer it isn't worth it

badchargedboss · #11 04-13-2006, 09:39 AM

I have found a dual stage adjustable boost controlled water/ methanol injection kit for less than 300. But... will I have to re-dyno tune my truck to make it run better? Should I spray before or after the blower?

1JT · #12 04-13-2006, 03:35 PM

You would have to get your vehicle retuned, this will take avantage of the cooler intake temps. You will need to locate the alkey injection after the blower and ideally before the IAT sensor, but keep this in mind you cannot get the IAT sensor wet. This will be hard to do with your current configuration as the intake pipe to your throttle body is only about 8-10 inches long. Troyer suggest if you relocate your IAT and wish to use alkey to locate your IAT somewhere in the intake manifold.

badchargedboss · #13 04-16-2006, 06:43 PM

At what location did you locate your alky sprayer? My temp sensor is located in the hole in the blower inlet pipe. I would rather avoid taking off my intake manifold, if I could. I have a cheap throttle body spacer sitting around, and I was thinking about tapping that out for both alky sprayers. If I move my temp sensor after the blower, how do I ensure that it stays put under full boost? Where is a good location to install my boost sensors? 1JT, sorry about all the questions, but I have this kit sitting in the box, unopened, and I am anxious to get it out and start wrenching, but I need a plan first. One more question.. as I understand, the temp sensor needs to be located after the sprayers so that the computer can adjust timing and fuel to the intake temp.. right? any help would be very appreciated. thanks. -Rob

1JT · #14 04-17-2006, 12:29 AM

1st you need to purchase a new IAT sensor, I can't find the part number right now but it goes to the new Thunderbird and is threaded, its about $10 for one at NAPA auto. I not sure how much spray the snow kit delivers. But if I were you I would locate the IAT sensor as close to the intake throttle body as I can and locate the snow spray nozzle as close to the discharge side of the blower. I used JB weld to plug the IAT sensor hole on the intake side of the blower. If you have some way of data logging I would record my before and after temps. If you need to talk on the phone post you email and I will send you my phone number.

to mount the IAT and the spary nozzel you need to weld a bung into the plemum (sp)

rafa26 · #15 04-17-2006, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt 05'FX4

I can't see using your A/C to provide cool air for the intake very energy effecient at all. The power gained will be lost turning the A/C compressor anyway so in that case it takes power to make power. Using an injection method as mentioned earlier is a good idea, alcohol and water injection is usually a cheap easy way to get cooler air. I have this kit sitting in my garage waiting for the release of the Roush intercooler. It is a neat idea using CO2 sprayed onto the intercooler to increase its effeciency by as much as 50% they claim. And I do believe it will help a lot because CO2 is VERY cold when sprayed onto stuff. Plus CO2 is really cheap, like 80 cents a pound from a welding shop vs N2O which is a LOT more. It would be neat on race day to freeze the intercooler right before a run. When I get this hooked up, I will do a run without it and with it, and I can look at charge air temps with my X2 and laptop to see if it is really working. Here's a few pics of what I am talking about...

Hi Matt, that CO2 sprayer it's really cool and i considering buying one. Also i think that maybe we can install 2 instead of one and get even more gains. One more thing, what do you think about the CryO2 Intercooler Water Sprayer ? Look picture !