Vapo modding, homebrew style

[papa_lazerous]

I want to Mod my Vapochill LS and I have seen a few other posts on here about changing the compressor so it sounds less than a freezer on steroids plus cools better, plus re-gassing and a few other bits and pieces.

I would like to do these things to my unit, maybe not becasue I need to but becasue I want to lol

I dont really know what tools I need, really I need a shopping list plus are there any links to places that would teach me what i need to know, or some guides.

Would I have to pay some-one to get the gas out and put new gas in? or is this somethign I can do. I dont know what the gear costs or if it is even restricted to professionals only.

Guessing this has been asked more than a couple of times but I would really appreciate some help on this. If it all goes well I may end up building my own unit in the future from scratch but I figure playing with this first will teach me some good lessons


Thanks

[aussie_guy00000]

Have a read thru the stickies, there's tons of info there on learning the basics. Check the guides for tools and how to's. It is illegal to release refrigerant into the atomosphere (well it is in most countries), so really you should get someone with a recovery unit to evac it. To charge it again you need to purchase some charging gauges and then get some refrigerant, a lot of people use propane cause it's cheap and you don't need a license to obtain it (doesn't hurt that it's a pretty bloody good refrigerant too). So it's up to you, it might be worth buying your own gauges and having a crack at charging it yourself, especially if you intead to build your own unit later on, or ask around to find out how much a fridgy will hit you up to do it. I know there's a guide on modding a vapo/prommie here somewhere, i typed vapo mod into the forums search engine and it spat out heaps of threads on vapo mods, so give it a try. Cheers

[Gray Mole]

Just keep in mind you'll be spending a couple thousand new, and likely a thousand used, for all the tools, gas, and supplies you'll need for the mod. If you're happy to do that, then yeah, read up on the stickies first. When you've done that then you'll already know what tools and such you'll need, and can ask about what brazing torch is better, or what content of silver is nice in a rod, or whatever, but the basics you'll already know.

If you only ever plan to do one mod, or maybe a unit in the future, you're throwing your time and money away, because it costs less to have somone do the job, with less chances of problems, and you can just focus on your overclocking, benching, or gaming without learning a whole new skill.

Just something to consider before you devote a lot of time to it. It's not an overnight thing to learn, it's not something you can be taught so much as you have to learn it, and it's very likely that your first project won't work, or it will get broken due to something that you've done. Not a diss at you, just what usually happens unless you have someone there to help, and even some of the guys in here who picked it up really well (Jinu is a great example :D I've never seen anyone get so good so fast) still had some issues with things before they got it. Are you willing to accept the possibility that you'll bend or break your LS in trying to improve it?

If so, welcome to the world of phase :) but if not, it may be an idea to spend you money having someone make your unit better instead.

Cheers

Gray

[the_new_guy]

yaa the tools are the real killer which make phase change expensive
here is a list of stuff
TOOLS
manifold
vacuum pump and oil
flaring/ swaging tools
torch and brazing rods
thermometer
pipe bender
recovery machine and tank
pipe cutter
N2 and regulator
PARTS
compressor
Filter
Flex line
Condenser
cap tube/ expansion valve
evap
copper tubing

[Icy]

also a Golden Froster unit would not hurt heh

[K404]

Also...if you change the compressor, regas etc, you might need to mess around with the cap tube etc etc etc...so by the end of it you`ll prob not have much left of an LS... you may as well start from new? Or just buy a custom unit :p:

[aussie_guy00000]

Geez guys, you just reminded me of how much money this addictive little hobby has cost me so far :( . Oh well, tis all worth it. Thar be some wise words of wisdom from Mr Gray.

[papa_lazerous]

ok thanks for your replies. I think the best thing I can do is read as many stickies as my attention span will allow, and decide exactly what I want to do to my Vapo. pay someone to evac my unit there must be a fridge guy nearby who will do it for cash. doing the pipe work doesnt scare me in the slightest, I am an engineer by trade and spend most of my time manufacturing parts for Aviation military aircraft and McLaren forumla one a bit of brazing is no hassle. I'm more lacking in the method than the cash and determination to be able to do it. I will make a shopping list of bits I need to make a start try and find a compressor, not sure where to buy one, any ideas??? get all the gear infront of me and just attacke the job and jump in with 2 left feet. If it goes wrong which it could I will fix it and learn by it and if I kill it I have some useful spares for my next rig. always look on the bright side hey

[aussie_guy00000]

Where are you located papa?. I guess i'll post the obvious answer as to which compressor to use, the Danfoss NL11F, tis the compressor used in the prommie mach 2's, Very quite and powerful. What type of engineer are you?, a Mech or aeronautical?. I'm a 4th year Mech, just doing my work practice at a mine at the moment, am think of building a cascade for my thesis, dunno if they'll let me but :D

[papa_lazerous]

Where are you located papa?. I guess i'll post the obvious answer as to which compressor to use, the Danfoss NL11F, tis the compressor used in the prommie mach 2's, Very quite and powerful. What type of engineer are you?, a Mech or aeronautical?. I'm a 4th year Mech, just doing my work practice at a mine at the moment, am think of building a cascade for my thesis, dunno if they'll let me but :D

I am in the UK, I know the compressor choice I seen that pop up in a few threads but where to buy one is another matter its the sort of thing they have at the hardware store. Will have to do some home work.

I am a mechanical production engineer. I mainly program and set CNC mills now days. Allot of what I have always done is aviation realted making allot of Boeing parts Airbus and stuff for BAE and other millitary projects like the Eurofighter. I changed work a while ago McLaren Forumla 1 team have got us rushed off our feet making parts for there winter development program for next years car. Just wish it wasnt all titanium that stuff is horrible to work with.

Cascade would be a good project and as a thesis that would really rock but as you say would they let you