Is it possible to convert the IC pump to an air-to-air front mount intercooler?

My older brother (turning 18 in september) might be buying a black 2005 SRT roadster. I was just wondering if we could do this or not.

 

Anything is possible given enough money and time. I think the major problem you would have is running the new plumbing. There is very litte 'extra' room within the engine bays of these cars. Intriguing idea though. Probably get much better efficiency.

 

I thought of this many times. There is plenty of room under the headlight assemblies if you move a few things around.

I spoke with a well known s/c designer(Larry at Endyn) about this. He said water to air will be more consistant and the gains of switching to air to air wouldnt be more than the hassle/cost.

Still i think of this idea often. Hell i even have it designed in my head with special manifolds. Just not willing to be the first ginuea pig on this one. $$$.

 

Liquidr-to-air intercoolers are more effiecent than air-to-air intercoolers. Liquids disapate heat quicker than air. It also carries more heat per volume. My quess is you would chance loosing power. The faster pro race cars all use liquid-to-air for a reason. They are more consistant. upgrade to a larger front heat exchanger and a larger pump and call it a day.

 

^ I agree, an air-to-air set up would be a step backward. There's a reason nobody makes an air cooled engine anymore...

 

I agree with NeverEnough plus the SC engine coolant separation mod.

 

Besides, there would still be the electronics issue to contend with. It's the electronics that shut down the boost when the IC pumps stop working (or become erratic). I'd bet you'd spend more time trying to make the ECU work correctly with an air-to-air set-up than any part of the conversion.

For what it's worth, there are enough tested mods covered in the various threads that cut down on heat soak and don't trigger any electronics issues: increasing the coolant capacity, modifying the plumbing to truly isolate the IC water lines from the engine coolant system, bigger heat exchangers, upgraded IC water pump, and auxiliary cooling fans. I guess it's cool to be the first with any mod, but unless you're so ambitious as to attempt a turbo conversion I don't know what the point would be to attempt an air-to-air IC set-up.