Intercooler piping

[CTX-SLPR]

Howdy,

Will 2.5in piping be a restriction with a modern DBB turbo, 2.5in intercooler fittings, and a 65mm TB? This is a 4000lb street car so I value useable low end power over all out power. Real estate in the front end of the car is limited and 2.5in tubing would help free up some space over 3in.

Thanks,

 

[ijames]

I think I've answered this for you before, but back in the day Tony Dequick of CAS said that down to very low 11's 2.5" piping was all a front mount needed. Customers demanded 3" anyway, so that is what the vendors supply. Given the small volume difference and the large airflow from the turbo the pressurization lag is negligible. I went from 2.5 to 3" piping on my CAS V2 and couldn't tell a difference in spoolup or et in the low 12's. You will be happy with the 2.5" pipes.

 

[CTX-SLPR]

Wonderful, first hand experience is so much better than speculation. Now just to get the nose of the car reassembled so I can figure out how much real estate I have for the core and start pricing the units out.

 

[CTX-SLPR]

Other than the weight is there a particular reason people use aluminum tubing?

Thanks,

 

[ijames]

It doesn't rust? I've seen bare and barely painted mild steel, pretty powdercoated mild steel, stainless, and aluminum over the years.

 

[CTX-SLPR]

I can weld stainless and mild steel, but not aluminum. Was just wondering if there was something special about the thermal properties of aluminum for its use.

 

[DCVING 6]

"turbofabricator" used some oval tubing for a TTA front mounted intercooler. That might be something to look into.

 

[CTX-SLPR]

Expensive stuff but it does help with clearance. Honestly, the 2.5in round stuff will work great as there are so many bends in different planes it would be interesting to get it to work in oval. I'm already using oval to get a "3in" pipe over the rear axle between the spring and the tire. I hope I don't have to buy more of it as the 90deg bend and 2 45deg bend pieces cost me $200 roughly. Atleast what I might need more of for the over the axle setup is straight. I've got to take more pictures of what's going on under the hood.