Are any of you guys running a Vortech aftercooler with a Vortech s-trim kit? How much boost are you able to make with the aftercooler? If you've run without the aftercooler, how much boost did you lose from it's addition? Thanks.

Raymond

 

The vortech aftercooler has negligible pressure drop. See here:

http://www.turboford.org/faq/ta.shtml

0.03 psi pressure drop. Granted, it was only making 300 rwhp, but I wouldn't expect more than 0.2 psi even at 600 rwhp.

The boost drop associated with these is due to the condensing of the air when cooled, and, YES, this lowers the pressure UPSTREAM of the aftercooler also.

My pressure drop from the blower discharge to he plenum is 1 psi. That includes losses due to piping, aftercooler, and 52 mm TB (where I think the biggest loss it).

Mike

 

Mike, your opinion on this, if I may ask.... what about the twin coolers on some of the ATI units? Do they have as low of pressure drop? What about efficiency? Do they perform better than a single cooler?

 

[let the debate begin] Air/air intercoolers, by design, have a higher pressure drop than water/air. In air/air, boost travels inside of the small cooler tubes. In water/air, boost travels around the tubes. How much pressure drop is there when air passes over the outside of the radiator? Close to zero, which is a similar comparison to water/air.

Mike

 

Very good observations.

(keep in mind i own a GN, so air/air, especially front mount, are my forte)

I often considered trying to contact PTK about purchasing their air/water IC and installing it on my GN. Being able to pour in a crushed ice/water mixture into the IC system when at the track or before street runs has always made me want to do this. I haven't checked my IAT temps on the current air/air setup (27-28psi), but i'm sure a very cold air/water IC setup would show significant gains down the 1/4. IIRC, some of the guys over on TB.com are reporting between 130-150 degree IATs at the pressures i'm running. Hopefully the air/water can lower them down a good bit. Good to hear the pressure drops are as low or better. I might make that change to the air/water....

Thanks for the info Mike.

 

Does anyone have pics of an "aftercooler" core?

 

This is a good thread...I'm curious to see what info comes out of it. I found a statement on Vortechs site and in the Aftercooler manual that it "supports UP TO 580hp", which I assume is a fwhp rating. I've been planning to call them and ask about it, but haven't done so yet...

 

I talked to them on the issue. Their lt1 cooler is supposedly good up to the 700cfm area or so, then it really is too small. According to the tech's at Vortech, at 14psi blower output, it will start to show, up to 1psi of drop. For an air/water that is a pretty big deal.

I'm making a custom air/water unit myself for that very reason.

 

How similar are the cores between an air to air and an air to water intercooler? Is a water to air intercooler core basically the same type of core as an air to air?

I had assumed the cores were very different, but then saw a picture of a Vortech aftercooler, and the portion of the core that was visible through the outlet side looked near identical to an air to air intercoolers core.

Any pics of an air to water intercoolers core would be appreciated !

Raymond

 

air/water cores are very similar. In fact you can use an "air/air" core for an air water core. The difference is where the charge flows in an air/air setup, now your cooling medium flows through, and the ambient side now flows your intake charge.

Make sense?

Spearco has a core that is supposedly specific for air/water setups. I wouldnt be suprised. For the most part though, it's no real big deal. As usual, using a crappy core gets crappy results.

I for example, bought an assembled air to air intercooler off ebay and hacked it apart for the core and am using that for my air/water intercooler. I shouldnt have any problems.

You should see some of the stuff the guys on the turbomustangs forums come up with!