Electric water pumps (was) alt charging cont sw

[Frederic Breitwieser]

> What did you use for your intercooler in the intake?  me

An aluminum transmission or oil cooler - forgot which it
was... bought it at a local parts store, and sanded off all
the paint, brazed it inside the center of the plenum on a
homemade aluminum intake, and the airflow went into the top
of the plenum, through the cooler, then into the lower area
of the plenum which fed the 14-15" runners going to the
Buick V6 heads.

The only *major* mistake I made is I made the upper plenum
and the lower plenum in two pieces, brazed in the cooler,
then brazed the top plenum to the bottom plenum.  I went a
little weld happy, and of course, anything that gets into
the intake, will sit on the intercooler and block airflow. 
And if it leaks, is now a disposable intake.  But the
concept was pretty good.  If you duplicate my efforts, make
sure the cooler is removable and of a standard size in case
you want to replace it.  Welding it all together was pretty
stupid.  We were in a rush to play.  Make it a bolt together
system much like the 5.0L intakes - and use gasket sealant. 
If I go this route for my Dodge truck, I will definately
make the plenum(s) in seperate pieces so they can be
assembled and disassembled easily.

Anyway, the top half of the plenum was an aluminum box, the
bottom have was rectangular from a top view, but from a
rear/front view (facing the pulleys or the bell housing) the
bottom plenum was triangular, and the runners left the
triangular bottom at a 90 degree angle to the sides of the
triangle heading into the aluminum 3/8" thick head plates,
into the heads.

I've been meaning to post pictures but I keep forgetting to
pick them up from the body shop.

Anyway, we experiemented with ice water from an igloo
cooler, but over time the water of course heated up and
proved not to be a good constant driving solution.  Then, we
attempted to insert freezer coils from an old freezer into
the igloo, which helped maintain a constant temperature of
the water, but of course, this required a freezer and a
long-ass extension cord if you drive <g>.  We hadn't
fabricated the freezer compressor to the engine, but the
intention was to do so, with an A/C clutch, so that under
high power use (WOT), the compressor would be disconnected
and use the volume of water as a buffer for a period of
time.  The draw from the cooler was at the bottom, therefore
always taking in colder water than the return feed which was
at the top of the cooler.  Warm water is always on top, so
why not put it there.  Anyway, after the basic idea worked,
we abandoned the freezer bullshit and started pushing the
motor to its limits.  The intercooling was provided by a
long garden hose that was connected to the sink.  The water
at the body shop where we had the motor on the dyno has
freezing cold well water.


-- 
Frederic Breitwieser
Bridgeport, CT 06606

http://www.xephic.dynip.com
1993 Superchaged Lincoln Continental
1989 500cid Turbocharged HWMMV
1975 Dodge D200 Club Cab (soon to be twin turbo 440)
2000 Buick GTP (twin turbo V6)