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effective intercooler systems on a beetle

urban_myth - April 2nd, 2006 at 04:14 PM

What have people done when transplanting a turbo engine into a bug about the intercooler. I am planning to transplant an engine into my beetle that as far as I know has never been attempted before (will remain a secret so hopefully nobody steals my idea :P lol) but the air to air intercooler in its stock location will probably not be effective in the back of a beetle.

Would water to air intercooling (with its radiator in the front of the normal radiator) or water injection be the only effective options to cool down inlet temps or is there an effective place I can run an air to air without having the inlet piping miles long?

silverbullet - April 2nd, 2006 at 07:59 PM

just scoop the air in through side scoops seems to work quite well, i have this fitted to my car. Just depends on how much you want to cut up the body.

1303Steve - April 2nd, 2006 at 08:12 PM

Hi

I have a RS Liberty water 2 air unit for my STI conversion, Im still thinking if thats the best way to go. Im going to run a whale tail the same as the one below, so that I can get some cool air into the air intake. I also want to run air con, so I need somewhere for the condensor to fit, its easy to run out of room with bug.

So I have 3 optiions,
1. air 2 water with its radiator in the front with the air con condensor in the tail.
2. air 2 water with its radiator in the in the tail with the air con condensor in the front.
3. air 2 air in the tail with the air con condensor in the front.

Steve

urban_myth - April 3rd, 2006 at 12:06 AM

I had a thought of using decklid stand-offs and positioning an air 2 air intercooler across the top of the engine bay. Would water getting into the engine bay be an issue if I drove it in the rain?

GeorgeL - April 3rd, 2006 at 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by urban_myth
I had a thought of using decklid stand-offs and positioning an air 2 air intercooler across the top of the engine bay. Would water getting into the engine bay be an issue if I drove it in the rain?

That is generally not a good location for getting a pressure differential across a heat exchanger, unless you introduce some aerodynamic device such as a whale tail.

With an intercooler the result of inadequate airflow wouldn't be as dramatic as it would be with the engine cooling system, but the intercooler certainly wouldn't be as effective as it would be with direct ram air cooling as in front engine applications.

If the whale-tail isn't your cup of tea, you might consider a scoop and duct arrangement from the top or sides of the car to the intercooler. The only other alternative is an water/air arrangement, but that leads to the need for yet another radiator. You might also consider a water spray system, which could make up for airflow deficiencies for a limited amount of time.

[ Edited on Apr 02, 2006 by GeorgeL ]

urban_myth - April 3rd, 2006 at 12:39 PM

Sounds like the water to air arrangement is the go. Dont really wanna modify the body so I can keep the sleeper look. I need to have another look at the subaru water to air setup though, there should be enough space for it under the decklid since I'm deserting the flat four arrangement.

urban_myth - April 3rd, 2006 at 02:31 PM

If i told u, i'd have to kill you :smilegrin:

boof2332 - April 3rd, 2006 at 10:55 PM

My air to air in the back works awesome. I would find it hard to better it! Just drove to servo, shops, servo( no one worth racing)and home. Was playing with the boost setting trying to fine adjust it..so was pulling max psi alot and inake temps were between 10 and 13 degrees.

Matt

urban_myth - April 4th, 2006 at 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by boof2332
My air to air in the back works awesome. I would find it hard to better it! Just drove to servo, shops, servo( no one worth racing)and home. Was playing with the boost setting trying to fine adjust it..so was pulling max psi alot and inake temps were between 10 and 13 degrees.

Matt

How is it positioned? Photos would be awesome

reub - April 4th, 2006 at 12:23 AM

a couple of my rear aluminium wing housing a pwr intercooler and twin 12" thermos...

boof2332 - April 4th, 2006 at 09:50 PM

Hey Reub.....Crazy stuff...well done! Another legal vwrx registered.

Nice work
Matt