Pvc drainpipe intercooler pipes
Discussion
This is a topic that brought on much hilarity years ago...
However, few years back I fitted a front mounted intercooler to a Cavalier Turbo... to mock up the pipes needed, I used bits of assorted B&Q black PVC drain pipe. The theory was that once the basic shape was found, a friend would then make them up in stainless steel. Thing is, the car was used daily and said mocking up took longer than expected so by night time I had no choice but to join it all together with assorted clips, Araldite and cable ties - the theory was I'd just drive to work "off boost" and sort it the following night.
The following night came and went and another and another and another... and with each passing day, I drove the car harder and harder whilst waiting for the inevitable bang / rough running / call the AA when one of said pieps or bodged joints gave up. The bang never came but a rolling road event did and so did the Nurburgring and it was still going strong running 18PSi of boost for nigh on 10k then I finally decided I should sort it properly and had bespoke hard pipes made up. Second day out,it blew on of the pipes clean off the end tank of the cooler.
So yes, they will work as long as they are 100% airtight and the boost is very low and the temps are equally low... but is it a good idea... no, it's not but it's one of those bodges / temporary fixes that for me proved to be rather good!
However, few years back I fitted a front mounted intercooler to a Cavalier Turbo... to mock up the pipes needed, I used bits of assorted B&Q black PVC drain pipe. The theory was that once the basic shape was found, a friend would then make them up in stainless steel. Thing is, the car was used daily and said mocking up took longer than expected so by night time I had no choice but to join it all together with assorted clips, Araldite and cable ties - the theory was I'd just drive to work "off boost" and sort it the following night.
The following night came and went and another and another and another... and with each passing day, I drove the car harder and harder whilst waiting for the inevitable bang / rough running / call the AA when one of said pieps or bodged joints gave up. The bang never came but a rolling road event did and so did the Nurburgring and it was still going strong running 18PSi of boost for nigh on 10k then I finally decided I should sort it properly and had bespoke hard pipes made up. Second day out,it blew on of the pipes clean off the end tank of the cooler.
So yes, they will work as long as they are 100% airtight and the boost is very low and the temps are equally low... but is it a good idea... no, it's not but it's one of those bodges / temporary fixes that for me proved to be rather good!
Davie said:
This is a topic that brought on much hilarity years ago...
However, few years back I fitted a front mounted intercooler to a Cavalier Turbo... to mock up the pipes needed, I used bits of assorted B&Q black PVC drain pipe. The theory was that once the basic shape was found, a friend would then make them up in stainless steel. Thing is, the car was used daily and said mocking up took longer than expected so by night time I had no choice but to join it all together with assorted clips, Araldite and cable ties - the theory was I'd just drive to work "off boost" and sort it the following night.
The following night came and went and another and another and another... and with each passing day, I drove the car harder and harder whilst waiting for the inevitable bang / rough running / call the AA when one of said pieps or bodged joints gave up. The bang never came but a rolling road event did and so did the Nurburgring and it was still going strong running 18PSi of boost for nigh on 10k then I finally decided I should sort it properly and had bespoke hard pipes made up. Second day out,it blew on of the pipes clean off the end tank of the cooler.
So yes, they will work as long as they are 100% airtight and the boost is very low and the temps are equally low... but is it a good idea... no, it's not but it's one of those bodges / temporary fixes that for me proved to be rather good!
Well im doing a top mount and more boost but mocking up with pvc is a good idea, I will definitely be doing that.However, few years back I fitted a front mounted intercooler to a Cavalier Turbo... to mock up the pipes needed, I used bits of assorted B&Q black PVC drain pipe. The theory was that once the basic shape was found, a friend would then make them up in stainless steel. Thing is, the car was used daily and said mocking up took longer than expected so by night time I had no choice but to join it all together with assorted clips, Araldite and cable ties - the theory was I'd just drive to work "off boost" and sort it the following night.
The following night came and went and another and another and another... and with each passing day, I drove the car harder and harder whilst waiting for the inevitable bang / rough running / call the AA when one of said pieps or bodged joints gave up. The bang never came but a rolling road event did and so did the Nurburgring and it was still going strong running 18PSi of boost for nigh on 10k then I finally decided I should sort it properly and had bespoke hard pipes made up. Second day out,it blew on of the pipes clean off the end tank of the cooler.
So yes, they will work as long as they are 100% airtight and the boost is very low and the temps are equally low... but is it a good idea... no, it's not but it's one of those bodges / temporary fixes that for me proved to be rather good!
Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff