LocostUSA.com

Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
It is currently March 28, 2024, 5:12 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Middy Water Lines
PostPosted: March 1, 2017, 9:57 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: December 6, 2009, 11:03 am
Posts: 90
Location: Toronto, Canada
What do you guys use for coolant lines? steel? aluminum? wall thickness?
I'm building an R1 middy with rad at the front so I need to run tubes through the chassis for approx 6 ft with a few bends.
I hear aluminum is hard to bend.
I plan to use the bike rad which has 1" inlet and outlet.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Middy Water Lines
PostPosted: March 1, 2017, 11:59 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: April 12, 2012, 11:56 am
Posts: 662
Location: Pemberton, BC
I did mine in aluminum; 1" x 0.065 with a couple of SS rivets on the ends to help keep the hose in place. As for bending, I guess it depends on the radius. I think my die is 6", and it bends just fine. If you can source 5052, it is softer than 6061, and you could possibly bend it by hand. 5052 is commonly used in aviation for fuel, oil and even brake lines. You might want to check Aircraft Spruce for sizes.

_________________
Martin


My build log:
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=14520&start=0
My build video:
https://vimeo.com/143524140 password "matovid"


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Middy Water Lines
PostPosted: March 1, 2017, 12:58 pm 
Offline
Mid-Engined Maniac

Joined: April 23, 2006, 8:26 pm
Posts: 6410
Location: SoCal
1" tubing may work fine but it's an unknown since you're at the mercy of the factory for whatever they designed in for pump capacity and the flow rating for the OEM routing. What diameter to use is also related to how long it needs to be. I'd go with one size larger, like 1.25" if you can find it, to negate the added frictional losses.

_________________
Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/


Last edited by KB58 on March 1, 2017, 1:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Middy Water Lines
PostPosted: March 1, 2017, 1:00 pm 
Offline
Toyotaphobe
User avatar

Joined: April 5, 2008, 2:25 am
Posts: 4829
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
I've also seen finned tubes run on the outside to add cooling capacity.

I have no idea where they got it, but we have a 914 with engine transplant and rad up front that uses them to enhance the looks of the car. He has a double row off pipes run down both sides but only one on either side is functional.

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Middy Water Lines
PostPosted: March 2, 2017, 3:17 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: December 4, 2011, 6:19 pm
Posts: 829
Have you thought about using copper tubing from Home Depot/Lowes/Menards/etc? No need to bend it as you can elbows and solder the whole thing together. I've got some 1" copper in an automotive cooling system that has functioned without trouble for over 20 years.

_________________
Bill H
Winnipeg, MB, Canada


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Middy Water Lines
PostPosted: March 2, 2017, 9:40 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: September 22, 2005, 8:12 am
Posts: 1879
Location: 4AGE in S.E. Michigan
You have to be careful with long water line runs and bike engines. Because the engine revs so quickly, it is difficult to get the long line i.e. mass of the water, moving fast enough that quickly. As a result, the water pump will cavitate. Design the system with a water resevior right next to the pump inlet, that it can draw water from to prevent any cavitation. Dave W


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Middy Water Lines
PostPosted: March 2, 2017, 12:28 pm 
Offline

Joined: February 12, 2008, 2:08 am
Posts: 303
Location: Olympia WA
I am with Bill on the copper with soldered joints. Mild bends are easy and works well.
JEB

_________________
● Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines. ~ Enzo Ferrari
● I have a dream: My car has a new type of engine: a half-turbine half-reciprocated engine. I invented it! ~ Dr. Felix Wankel
● It has occurred to me, amateurs built the ark and professionals built the titanic.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Middy Water Lines
PostPosted: March 6, 2017, 6:43 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: December 6, 2009, 11:03 am
Posts: 90
Location: Toronto, Canada
Thanks guys.

I bought a really cheap Chinese bender on Kijiji that looked pretty good. Only $236 CAD.

Attachment:
Bender 002.JPG


http://www.kijiji.ca/v-business-industrial/city-of-toronto/manual-steel-copper-exhaust-pipe-bending-machine220242/c446706?channelId=101

I tried it on 1" x 0.065" 6061 aluminum tube and it worked amazingly well. CLR is 4.5"
Bit hard to pull because there is no mechanical advantage like on the $1500 benders.

In the end though, I think I'll go with the 1" copper plumbing pipe. It has slightly bigger id (1.055 vs .875 for AL), much smaller CLR (1" vs 4.5" AL) and I can solder it together myself.
Not cheap though. 12' of 1" copper is $48 and fittings are $5-$6 each.

I expect I can paint it black so it doesn't look like house plumbing.

Jan


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Middy Water Lines
PostPosted: March 6, 2017, 7:33 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: December 4, 2011, 6:19 pm
Posts: 829
Thumper wrote:
Not cheap though. 12' of 1" copper is $48 and fittings are $5-$6 each.

I expect I can paint it black so it doesn't look like house plumbing.


Do you have any connections that can buy it wholesale for you?

The copper that is in my car was painted with black Tremco many years ago and still looks great. Oh, and and as a bonus, the painted solder joints look like the world's best tig welder made them!

_________________
Bill H
Winnipeg, MB, Canada


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
POWERED_BY