Liquid-Air Intercooler for '59/'02 truck project

[59Cummins]

Originally Posted by MCummings

Put the radiator in the bed, and the intercooler in the front of you are really gun-ho about keeping the intercooler.

If you aren't going to work the motor real hard, you can run w/o an intercooler. Faster spool time, and you can run a water injection system to keep it cool when using very heavy throttle.

Remote mounting the radiator might be a better option....

You can run a aluminum radiator in the bed with dual electric fans. These Diesels really don't generate much heat unless you are really working them hard (aka towing)

Merrick

Good ideas, thanks guys. Remote mounting the radiator would be a lot simpler than bed mounting the intercooler. Low profile electric fan, delete the mech fan would provide more space up front. Lowest profile elect fan that I can find is about 2.75" thick, might work. Don't know a lot about water injection, will have to look into that.

I want to use the truck as a daily driver, probably won't tow/haul a whole lot, but would like to have that option if I need it. Mainly just shooting for a dependable daily driver, and since it's a 5.9Cummins, I'd like to be able to put it through its paces a little when i need it. Thanks guys, I'm glad i discovered this forum- great ideas, I appreciate the help. Will work a little more on it this weekend (hopefully) and keep you updated.

[slicknapier]

Keith, I'm totally into this build and I've been trying to get as much info on the liquid/air intercooler idea. Before you posted I had never heard about it. I'm sure you have looked into as well, but here are some of the links to a few possible options:thumbsup

Water to Air Intercooler
Liquid to Air Intercooler Installed - TDR Roundtable

eBay Motors: Liquid Intercooler Air/Water Intercooler opposite Inlet (item 310058054006 end time Jun-13-08 14:12:18 PDT)

Liquid To Air Power Coolers Performance Racing Products for International Sales from SSAutochrome Inc.

Air to Liquid Intercoolers

[59Cummins]

Andrew- Thanks for the input, I've sorted through a lot of options to my front end space constraints and keep coming back to the L/A intercooler. Bell Intercoolers say they can build a L/A cooler that'll work for my application, and Spearco sells a unit (Spearco 2-230) with specs that seem in line with stock Cummins numbers, in fact that's the unit the guy from TDR Roundtable (frm link you noted) installed in his rig- He's running with a cooled water tank, I'll run a remote radiator with an electric fan.......if i go with L/A cooler. L/A intercooling, is in my opinion, somewhat of an unknown for street apps, really much more applied to racing or pulling competitions, I think that's why the opinions regarding L/A applicability to street apps is so variable. I want to get the truck on the road by November-December, so I have to make up my mind soon. I'm to the point that I'm feeling like I do if I go shopping with my wife- "too many options, just buy something, and let's go.......but, because it's a costly project and I don't want to ruin an engine, or end up with something that doesn't perform well, I'm taking some time to mull over the options. Anyway, glad you dig the project, it's different, and definatley not everyones cup of tea.

[jonathan357]

you can do a liquid to air cooler with a heat exchanger like a 2003-04 cobra or a lighting they are a lot shorter in height and it looks like it could fit on your truck
and you could get on off the shelf i think for around 3-500 dollars

[59Cummins]

Thanks jonathan357, I'll look into it. Also talked to my brother who suggested a long, narrow L/A intercooler might fit behind the front bumper. That's sort of a precarious position in my opinion (though stock is FMIC). Will have to get the ol' yardstick out and then call Bell again. More possibilities than I thought, good to get more than a couple brains on the problem.

[slicknapier]

Keith, Dave called me the other day. Wow, kind of a smart guy huh. Sounds like your truck is in good hands. The pictures are nice that he sent me the link to...Keep in touch...

[59Cummins]

Yep, Dave is an honest to goodness rocket scientist-with a pretty much life long interest and involvement in hot rod building. I took the project as far as my limited skills, tools, shop would go, and Dave is taking it the rest of the way. Plan for immediate future is to get the truck running so it can be driven to frame shop to get the minor frame tweek straightened, then proceed from there with frame shortening, etc., etc. Will keep you updated.

[59Cummins]

I'm attempting to create a webpage to organize project details, info, etc. It's still under construction and I'm new to web page creation, but check it out:

PowerGiantProject

[dezl]

any progress?

[59Cummins]

No substantial progress the last couple weeks, too busy with work Will keep everyone updated

[59Cummins]

A little progress, a lot to go. Some pics of brake pedal and firewall fab:





Spearco liquid to air intercooler should be in in about two weeks. I'll update when we get it installed.

Also still looking for a power distribution center compatible with the '02...any leads on that?

[59Cummins]

Hi- Pics of power window kit install: