DIY water-cooling

wilko49 · 12 Jul 2010 at 23:39

Hey guys, I remember reading a while back that car heater cores were good for WC rads. Anyways, just ripped the heater core, the pump that was attached to it and a power-steering reservoir out of a Ford Focus. So my questions are:

1) Is the stuff listed OK to use in a WC setup?
2) Recommendations for a cpu block.
3) The pipes before the barbs are fairly long, how would I go about replacing the barbs?

The heater core is the width of a sheet of A4, and only slightly shorter. Looks to be made of Aluminium, so that means I should get an Alu CPU block also, right?

HW91 · 13 Jul 2010 at 16:24

I'd be wary of the pump, might be a bit too powerful

EK supreme HF or the Aquacomputer kryos

also the metal doesn't matter

Geckovich · 14 Jul 2010 at 09:32

The type of metal does matter, but only to the extent of requiring anti corrosive additives if you mix them.

It's simpler to stick to one type.

wilko49 · 14 Jul 2010 at 12:07

Ok, thanks very much. How can I find out if the pump is too strong? Also, are there any good 1156 cpu blocks at a lower price point? This is very much a budget project...

Geckovich · 14 Jul 2010 at 12:24

Ek supreme LT. I got mine from OcUK for £22 at the start of the year. Only a few degrees worse off then the normal supreme by all accounts.

Not sure about that pump I'm afraid.

wilko49 · 14 Jul 2010 at 12:38

Awesome, thanks, that is much more in my price range. Will get some pics up when I'm done cleaning the bits out.

Danny_75 · 14 Jul 2010 at 23:53

The Pump from the PS?? You cant use that it will be full of oil!!!! If you want a to use a cheap pump just get one from the fish shop. Or if it has to be car. A VX omega 2.2 or V6 has a secondary water pump on the block thats 12V you can use that.
The heater matrix will be spot on for the coolerif you can step the pipe work up.

Block+ as above an EK.
Pipe work+ camping shop they use alsorts of stuff to plum in water in caravans.

Cars are what i do,its my Job. You could use a fuel pump! Just remember a fuel pump will get to a pressure of 1.5 bar if it has any restrictions in the pipe work.