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Bike rad for AWIC rad?
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:43 am
by Splinter
Anyone tried used a radiator from a big bike for their AWIC? My friend has a water-cooled 400CC, and the rad would easily fit in our lower grill, and has the same sized fittings as the AWIC
Im thinking a rad from a 600 or 800 would be ideal
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 5:13 pm
by Legacy777
What dimensions is it? I'm sure it'd work fine. My problem was they are typically thicker then the space I had. To do anything more, I'm going to have to notch the bumper beam.
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 11:11 pm
by Splinter
Actually I may have found something perfect, a charge cooler from an F150 Lightening
Its like 24x6x3 or something
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 5:04 pm
by farfrumwork
Yeah, Lightening exchangers - and check ebay and/or mustang forums for a Cobra exchangers. I think they may be the same thing, approx 24x6x3in and should fit nicely in the lower bumper opening.
I was going to source one and try it out, but carefull inspection of the 2 exchangers I have, run in series, led me to keep what the setup I have. They are really nice tube/fin with louvers on the fins to create more surface area and draw air in better. I do not know who makes them however.
As a side note (and pretty worhtless for the discussion, but whatever), for some reason I receive Appliance Design here at work (they send random publications to Engineers even if has nothing to do with their particular industy...), but anyway they had a great article on heat exchangers used in refrigerant/cooling systems - There is some really cool shit out there with very intricate design fin systems and different materials (cool stuff with gangs of plastic tubing)
carry on,
Chad
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 7:58 pm
by 555BCTurbo
A/C condensor ftw!!
My awic doesn't ever get hot...no matter what conditions it is subjected too...and the condensor looks factory...because, well, it is

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:56 am
by Splinter
Really??
Im surprised the AC condensor flows enough water, since its designed for a gas
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 6:16 am
by 555BCTurbo
It works...that's all I know...

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:06 am
by Splinter
How much boost/what turbo?
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:25 am
by 555BCTurbo
VF8 18 psi
Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:30 pm
by Legacy777
Nick....it may work....but I can tell you from playing around with the condensor, you could get the same cooling with a much smaller water radiator, and probably have less pressure drop across the radiator. The condensor is EXTREMELY restrictive. It works fine for the intended service, but isn't designed to be used as a radiator.
Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 9:20 am
by 555BCTurbo
Legacy777 wrote:Nick....it may work....but I can tell you from playing around with the condensor, you could get the same cooling with a much smaller water radiator, and probably have less pressure drop across the radiator. The condensor is EXTREMELY restrictive. It works fine for the intended service, but isn't designed to be used as a radiator.
Yeah, I don't doubt it...
Honestly, it's the way my car came, and I am not a big "fix what isn't broken" kinda guy...so it works, and therefore I am going to leave it...
Eventually I would truly like to find a proper AWIC radiator out of a Legacy RS and do it that way...
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:05 am
by Steeper
I am intrigued by the AC Condenser! Have you ever used one of those IR temp gauges to see how it works?
like after some spirited driving, both sides of the IC and both sides of the AC condenser?
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:12 am
by AWD_addict
Nick's AWIC water was warm to the touch, but not hot, on a ~90 degree day.
I agree with Josh, it works but a proper radiator would be better.