Intercooler tubing/hoses. What can you use?

[douglas vincent]

So obviously silicone and aluminum is best? What else can you use? In other words, can I use black PVC? Until I come up with the cash for the better materials?

[BAC5.2]

They make black PVC?

The only pipe I've seen that's black is iron and ABS. I wouldn't use ABS for the IC pipe since it's not pressure rated, and there are TONS of different ABS types. The heat cycling for PVC would be a bit to much for it to handle, and I'd be worried about cracking. You'd have to replace it every few months too, as PVC becomes brittle with age.

I paid $20 for my steel pipe.

[douglas vincent]

Yeah, ABS, that thick plumbing stuff.

Yeah, I am just thinking about when I "mock" up the working piping for the supercharger project I will want to actually get it working fast versus waiting for either money or mail to get actual parts that will last. I am going to make the big assumption that 5 psi is not that much pressure compared to the 10 lbs plus some of you guys run.

Running to Home Despot is an easy solution for all the angles and 90% bends until I get actual good pieces made or ordered. As well as allowing me to actually "tune" the engine then and there when I get it running versus waiting that agonizing week or so wait to get the "one" part when everything else is up and running.

[BAC5.2]

The pressure thing is more of a statement about reliability. It could fail after one run, or it could never fail. 5psi isn't a lot, but there's a good bit of stress under the hood, and crappy plumbing is a good way to throw a good tune way off.

A crack could lead to disaster, and ABS cracks VERY easily under stress. Every time it is heated/cooled quickly, little hairline cracks begin to form (Some types of ABS don't like quick thermal expansion). It's almost standard knowledge not to use ABS for Potato Guns, so I wouldn't use it under my hood.

A mock setup would work just fine, but I wouldn't start the car more than once with the ABS pipes.