So under ideal working conditions, which is best? This is not a race truck even though i like to go to the track every once and a while. Other than the pump not working on the air/water set-up, what else can go wrong? Which would give me better stop and go performance red light to redlight? Which would keep my IAT's lower in the mid-atlantic hot and humid summers? Im trying to see which gives me more bang for my buck here and which does a better job cooling my IAT's....

1. whipple air/water I/C, direct bolt in, 4 hour install @ $1600
2. DMax or equivilant air/air I/C @ $750 - $800 + moderate plumbing and mounting fabrication and downtime

 

"Other than the pump not working on the air/water set-up, what else can go wrong?" I heard of Air-to-Water having water leaks which could be pretty disastrous. I don't know alot about this so i'm not too sure though.
"Which would give me better stop and go performance red light to redlight?" I would have to say probably the Air-to-Water, but once the water in the system gets hot it takes some time for the water to cool down.
"Which would keep my IAT's lower in the mid-atlantic hot and humid summers?" I think the Air-to-Water would unless your Air-to-Air had Meth like kbracing96 said.

 

You seem more like a plug and play kind of guy, so I'd say, go with Wipples kit. Easy and seamless. It's only money

Nope, meth is a fuel and has a higher octane then gas. Nitrous is an oxidiser that when combined with a fuel, makes lots of power. Its like a super compressed oxygen.

 

Oh OK. I heard about Turbos and Nitrous being used together because they help out each other or something like that (ricer friend).
Linda: As for the intercooler thing, I think that unless you get an SS bumper, all the cutting and fabricating would be a pain, so I vote for the AtW setup

 

I feel like i should tke offense at that...LOL. Im actually not afraid to do some fab work at all...done plenty of it, im just looking for the most reliable, economical, performing bang for my buck. Air/air seems like the easier and less expensive way to go but will it give me the same performance and drop in IAT's as the air/water? I dont really want to do meth injection, i cant really explain why, it just isnt what i want to do. It makes me wonder why Whipple would have went the extra mile to design a air/water setup for the 8.1L when it would have been far easier and less expensive to put out an Air/Air setup instead. Dont mind me, just thinking out loud.. . I dont mind forking over the coin for a better product as long as it performs...and unfortunately it seems like im a black sheep when it comes to my setup. I cant seem to find anyone around with an 8.1L whipple (or kenne bell) with or without an intercooler that i can talk to that has done anything like what im trying to do. I dont mind playing the guinea pig, it just takes longer to work things out with out blowing all your money. Why cant they make a radix for the 8.1L? I think i would have had an easier time...

 

I'd just spend the money and get the Whipple kit. As long as the tank is big enough to put ice packs or lil ice cube things inside lol.

I just spent like $370 on crap to relocate and enlarge my coolant tank so dont feel too bad. The lil stuff adds up.

 

If you had to do it again...would you stick with your Air/Water or go with an Air/Air?

 

I think your thinking too much .... Just Git-r-Done

 

Air/Water I think. It works well and for track duty i can load up on ice and get things COLD!

 

think of it this way, what do all the diesel's use for an IC, A/A. And diesels are used for heavy duty day to day work. Cars like the Ford GT, Merc's supercharged 5.5l V8, etc, use A/W . Those motors don't have to lug around more weight than the car. IMO A/W is much better for track because it can cool below ambient with ice in the water tank, but in hot days you have to deal with heat soak from the hot engine compartment and sitting at traffic lights just makes it worse. For a daily driver A/A is better becasue heat soak isn't an issue, and there are no pumps to quit. As long as the vehicle is moving the air is being cooled. The catch is you can't cool down the air quick using ice.

IF you want a no fuss the whipple IC won't be bad what so ever. It's not a wrong choice. But if you are set on making your own I'd go A/A