Air-Air vs Air-Water Intercooler
 

Looking for a little guidance on my next upgrade. I currently have a Vortech SQ-Trim, non-intercoolerdrunning 12 pounds of boost (I know too much without an intercooler), which is why I'm looking to intercool it. Since this is my daily driver and I need the trunk space I don't want to go with the Vortech aftercooler kit as it required a battery re-lo to the the trunk. My speed shop is suggesting I go with a custom fabricated air-air intercooler. Idea sounds great to me, anybody have any experience with an air-air intercooler, pro's and cons of going with each setup. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Given a Vortech setup, a custom Air to Air sounds like it will cost more that the water to air. And I think the water to air is $1600. Something to keep in mind.

For drag strip duty a water-to-air system is the better way to go, which you can pack full of ice too. However, for street duty an air-to-air system gives you the best cooling solution still in the long run in my opinion.

Air to Air is the only way to go in my opinion. ATI makes a 3 core for mustangs that run about $1100. There intercoolers are pretty consistant on keeping the intake air at about 20 degrees above ambient, on a hot summer humid day. Especially runnin 12 lbs i would definately recommend 3 core air-air, its the best for all around conditions, daily drivin or friday night racing.

Air-air's are nice for street use, but really require speed to be effective. Below 60 mph they really aren't good for anything.

Air-water has a higher efficiency and can't be beat...but as mentioned above are very costly.

If I was gonna bother, I would be doing an air-water myself.

Another viable option would be a nice water/alcohol injection kit. SMC makes a great kit.

BTW - 12 psi isn't that much :D

If you was to go with an air to air, and still wanna get good use out of the intercooler at lower speeds for times like strip use, a street race, or dyno tuning, you can put some nitrous jet behind the intercooler and shoot it when needed, or you can rig up a water mist system for it. But with the other guys yeah water to air is better for draggin it or dyno, but for everyday use I like the air to air cuz then the water cant get to 150 + degrees.

After reading everyone's input, I think I still want to go with the air to air. My intake temperature at my last tune was over 200 degree's and it was a relatively cool day (70's). So if the air to air would keep me well below that, even spiking at 120 to 150 degrees that wouldn't be bad compared to what I'm at now. I found a kit from Paxton ($1350 delivered, couldn't find the ATI kit) which looks like a pretty easy bolt on and when I spoke to the folks at musclemotors.com they say they've had a number of these kits sold to Vortech owners. From a cost stand point that is quite a bit less than the air-water kit from Vortech (over $2000 delivered with battery relo kit), plus no install cost, as I'll do it, air to water is a bit much for me to install.

Keep the input coming. Thanks!

Re: Air-Air vs Air-Water Intercooler
 

the paxton air to air seems to lose alot more psi then expected 4psi lost vs .5 to 1 on the water to air.