alky vs pte super stock intercooler?

T

tford

Registered Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2004
I know alky would be everyone's choice but:
First, you pay for the alky kit, then pay every time you fill it up. So it always costs you money and then have to get the pump rebuilt every other year or so. So, with $$ being the deciding factor, wouldn't a super stock location intercooler be the best choice? Zero maintenance is very important to me. Plus if you ever run it low or the pump craps out while your running 25 psi, boom!, your done. How much more boost would this intercooler allow me to run compared to my dutt neck intercooler? The only thing that sucks is I'll have to remove my kirban frame brace, right? Please share all experiences and opinions. I know I probably sound like I've already made my decision but I like to be reassured by the pros. Thanks, Tim

I know this is long but please read it all.
 
tford said:
I know alky would be everyone's choice but:
First, you pay for the alky kit, then pay every time you fill it up. So it always costs you money and then have to get the pump rebuilt every other year or so. So, with $$ being the deciding factor, wouldn't a super stock location intercooler be the best choice? Zero maintenance is very important to me. Plus if you ever run it low or the pump craps out while your running 25 psi, boom!, your done. How much more boost would this intercooler allow me to run compared to my dutt neck intercooler? The only thing that sucks is I'll have to remove my kirban frame brace, right? Please share all experiences and opinions. I know I probably sound like I've already made my decision but I like to be reassured by the pros. Thanks, Tim

I know this is long but please read it all.
Click to expand...
What octane are you going to run? On 93 i wouldnt expect to be able to run more than 18-19 if you run a fat tune
 
Don't say we didn't warn you.

With money and zero maintenance as the deciding factors and not performance, then I would say neither. With performance goals in the picture, you may be able to run one or two more pounds of boost reliably but that's about it on the PTE. Don't expect any real seat of the pants difference either until you start pushing waaay more than 18psi. The dutt neck intercooler is not slowing you down or being a restriction at your current power level. BTW, yes you will probably have to remove those frame braces.

There's a lot of things that can go "BOOM" at 25psi. To run 25psi reliability, up-to-date maintenance is a must. Yes, there is an added risk to running alky but that's a risk most of us are willing to take.

In a nutshell, I don't see ANY pros in going to a PTE over a dutt neck. The PTE is a 9sec intercooler. Are you making enough power to take advantage of a larger intercooler?
 
Not sure on the power level right now with 17 psi boost on a 6152 turbo. I'd like to run 20-23 psi on 93 octane. I can't believe a $750 intercooler would only allow 2 or 3 more psi. If that's the case, no wonder you guys like alky over intercoolers. For $750, I'd be better off getting head work done. Head work is definitely zero maintenance. Right now I'm knocking on the door of 12's and would like to be in the 11's. Would alky alone get me there? From what was said already, the intercooler upgrade wouldn't gain me anything. I'd be pissed if I spent $750 on an intercooler and didn't gain from it. Of course, I'd raise timing and boost to achieve my goal if I went to alky.
 
If I had to pick one over the other on a mostly stock set up, I would do the alky. My $.02.
 
And as far as the "expense" of continuously filling up your alky tank, it's not that bad. It's not like filling up N20 all the time. :cool:
 
i got a 24 rom stretched and i had to reverse and then flip the front frame braces for them to fit. i got 3/8 inch clearance on both sides. btw alky is a fuel in which you get more power over just an intercooler.
 
With the PTE front mount, I was able to raise boost from 16 to 18 (It does flow better though, the stock IC is a restriction especially if it doesn't have the dutt neck). With the alky on top of that, I'm running 28. If I were to do it over again, I would have just gone with a good flowing stock location IC and ran methanol sooner. Go for the alky, it's roughly $5 a gallon and you only use it when your foots in it;)
 
PTE Stock Location Intercooler

I've got the PTE SLIC and have a 93 street chip........am running 21# boost with no knock. I'm planning on Razors Alky kit in the near future.

Have Kirbans front braces installed and have about 3/8" clearance so no issues here with not being able to run these braces with PTE SLIC. Maybe I'm lucky as I've heard other people sometimes cannot. Could it be manufacturers tolerances?


I have no regrets with the PTE SLIC.

dave
 
QUIP'6' said:
i got a 24 rom stretched and i had to reverse and then flip the front frame braces for them to fit. i got 3/8 inch clearance on both sides. btw alky is a fuel in which you get more power over just an intercooler.
Click to expand...

Cool idea. Thats what I need to do on my GN I bet. I have a 24 row Mease ( very nice piece!! ) thats hitting the braces just a tad.

On this side of a race setup .. you cant beat alky. The only thing that might beat alky is to run your car on E-85. If I had the choice between alky and an IC @ your power level, alky wins..period.
 
With a small turbo like a 61.. a stocker w/neck is plenty..

You'll have less pressure drop with a better core, which creates less heat.. but this issue is no comparison for the greed level afforded with an alky kit.

You can make over 100 RWHP on 93 octane with alky(extra boost/cooling). You wont make that HP with an IC.

On a 12 second car.. you swap the IC.. you wont pickup anything. The boost will go up like 2-3 PSI.. but that doesnt mean you can run the higher boost. So when you run 16-18 PSI.. you change IC.. Your still at that level. You can run higher boost by running really fat, or pulling timing.. but the car is going no where. To run with high timing, lean and mean.. you need octane.

As far as pumps having to be replaced.. goes with the territory.. like rear tires :D , more frequent oil changes, tuneups, transmissions, etc.. all that need attention when you run higher boost.. alky or not. There is no free ride in racing. Period. If you think there is, you'll be rebuilding sooner than latter.

Buicks run on octane. Give them octane.. then figure the rest. The more mods you throw at the car, the harder it is to figure out.
 
Id either run alky or run 110 octane or more and turn the boost up. You will easily be able to run 11's if the tune is good and you have traction.
 
I agree that with only the IC upgrade, you'll only get 3 more psi or so. With alky, you may get 10 more psi. That equates to a lot more power. I ran 11.4 on a GT6152 turbo on a dutt neck stock IC on stock heads. I was at around 26 psi.

One other thing to consider is that the alky helps negate heat soak on a stock location IC in the summer. Heat soak isn't a big deal with a front mount, but with a stock location there is going to be some effect.

To get the most gain out of any large IC, you'll need race gas or alky.
 
Thanks for everyones input

I guess you guys turned me towards the alky again. I guess after the alky, I'll start saving up for a "bullet proof" motor set up. What is the best combo for a straight 93 octane set up? Just curious who is the fastest out there with out high octane or alky. Too bad sunoco doesn't sell 94 anymore or I'd be able to get a little more out of this thing. The way it seems, 91 will be the highest octane available within 10 years. At least I'm not in Cali or this would already be the case. Yes, I am the poor guy who wants to go fast for cheap. I'm waiting for the big raise to see what I can afford for my money pit next. Maybe I'll be like some people I know who have 9 sec cars and live in a trailer. Some of you guys must have awesome jobs to fund building these things the way you do. Got any openings?:smile:
 
Build a 9 second TSM combo.. run it at 16 PSI.. it will fly.

HTH
 
I've got a G-bodyparts SLIC that was a nice upgrade...but nothing like Razor's kit. Meth is an addiction. I like seeing 25psi pretty regular. LOL
 
tford said:
Not sure on the power level right now with 17 psi boost on a 6152 turbo. I'd like to run 20-23 psi on 93 octane. I can't believe a $750 intercooler would only allow 2 or 3 more psi. If that's the case, no wonder you guys like alky over intercoolers. For $750, I'd be better off getting head work done. Head work is definitely zero maintenance. Right now I'm knocking on the door of 12's and would like to be in the 11's. Would alky alone get me there? From what was said already, the intercooler upgrade wouldn't gain me anything. I'd be pissed if I spent $750 on an intercooler and didn't gain from it. Of course, I'd raise timing and boost to achieve my goal if I went to alky.
Click to expand...

Alky all the way!!!!!!!!;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

YBLEGAL
Suggestions to upgrade from here...
Replies
2
Views
534
YBLEGAL
YBLEGAL
TheYak
Alky troubleshooting, no red light
Replies
3
Views
687
Chuck Leeper
Chuck Leeper
P
Winter storage for alky system???
Replies
6
Views
390
Mr.Spool
M
TIMINATOR
GNX REAR SEAT CROSS BRACE
2 3
Replies
50
Views
6K
TIMINATOR
TIMINATOR
I
Racetronix 255 pump tuning issues
Replies
8
Views
1K
SCOOBY DOO
SCOOBY DOO
Top