High Reliability project - teaser pics

I'm just getting this together and will post a full worklog but here are a few teaser pics for the time being.

The rare G1/4 to -6 AN aluminum fittings are from Kinsler Fuel Injection (more in my full log).

The CPU block - using a Swiftech GTX because it has a metal top and it uses G1/4 fittings (their previous blocks use weird-ass threads that are impossible to adapt):

http://www.pcdominion.com/images/HR-Block1.jpg

Video block - EK with acetal top on 8800 GTX:

http://www.pcdominion.com/images/HR-Video1.jpg

Dual redundant Laing 350 pumps with Alphacool dual pump adapter:

http://www.pcdominion.com/images/HR-Pumps1.jpg

Quick shot of the external reservoir from Billet Specialties, and Black Ice 360 GTX radiator (my other toy in background):

http://www.pcdominion.com/images/HR-Side1.jpg

Interior with hoses assembled and test fit:

http://www.pcdominion.com/images/HR-Inside1.jpg

Yes, that's genuine Russell Pro-Flex braided line and AN fittings, not fake hose wrapping.

Mainboard is an Intel D975XBX2, CPU is a QX6700.

Here's the system at the moment, with the motherboard & video card removed, and a Pentek filter from Petra's installed for leak testing (haha, right) and loop cleaning.

http://www.pcdominion.com/images/HR-Testing.jpg

WS

oo Sexy :clap:

Nice.

Do tell where that dual Alphacool top can be aquired?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soccerswim8

what is AN if i may ask?

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AN fittings use a 37 degree bevel surface on both parts for a perfect seal that doesn't require O-rings or Teflon tape. This is high-performance racing/aircraft stuff.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hard H20

Nice.

Do tell where that dual Alphacool top can be aquired?

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Performance-PCs has 'em, but they don't sell the bracket (nobody does in the US as far as I can tell) so I ordered the bracket from Alphacool Germany. Shipping was steep but it arrived instantly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WonderSausage

Performance-PCs has 'em, but they don't sell the bracket (nobody does in the US as far as I can tell) so I ordered the bracket from Alphacool Germany. Shipping was steep but it arrived instantly.

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Appreciate the info!

so the fittings aren't anodized aluminum?

nice idea on the braided line stuff!

More info on those fittings/tubing please!!!! Awesome! I assume this is the site... http://russellperformance.com/new/

Are the fittings G1/4 threaded? On the Russell site they look like NPT... do they work ok with G1/4 taps?

Will the annodization of the parts stop galvanic corrosion in loops with copper? What about stainless steel fittings will that be a problem?

Where's a good place to get such tubing/fittings for a reasonable price? I like it!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by virtualrain

More info on those fittings/tubing please!!!! Awesome! I assume this is the site... http://russellperformance.com/new/

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Yep, but these are industry-standard fittings, Russell is just the best manufacturer. Some of the other fittings I used in the setup are from Earl's (a division of Holley, as in carburetors), Aeroquip, and a little outfit called Kinsler Fuel Injection. All AN fittings are interchangeable.

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Are the fittings G1/4 threaded? On the Russell site they look like NPT... do they work ok with G1/4 taps?

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The fittings for the water blocks are G1/4 to -6 AN adapters, which are almost impossible to find. I got them from www.kinsler.com part # 8280 (here I am giving away my secrets :) now everybody's going to be doing braided lines).

Quote:

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Will the annodization of the parts stop galvanic corrosion in loops with copper? What about stainless steel fittings will that be a problem?

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These are heavily anodized to withstand much harsher environments than PC watercooling (e.g. gasoline, diesel, nitro methane) so I have confidence in the galvanic corrosion situation. Just to make absolutely sure I'm going to be adding some Pentosin.

Quote:

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Where's a good place to get such tubing/fittings for a reasonable price? I like it!

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Well, there is no way to get them at a reasonable price (LOL) but the place to buy is www.summitracing.com. They're almost the monopoly on internet race parts.

You don't really want to know how much this cost :) You'll need a hacksaw with 2 blades (both mounted simultaneously in opposite directions), a sturdy bench vise, various open-end wrenches, hose assembly lube (I used water-based lube from an "adult toy store" to avoid getting grease in the loop), and various fitting adapters.

The first billet reservoir I got had 3/8" NPT taps, but NPT doesn't look that great with the tapered fitting sticking half out of the hole, plus I hate teflon tape and all that crap, so I got this Billet Specialties power steering reservoir which uses AN straight O-ring boss taps and also has a nifty slotted tube on the intake to prevent frothing (which if you've ever worked with Laing pumps, you know is a very handy feature).

WS

WonderSausage, nice wcr, but were there any problems with tubing bending?

This is one BEEFY reservoir from Billet Specialties. It weighs a few pounds, extremely solid. It's tapped for -8 AN O-ring boss fittings, and comes with one -6 AN flare and one -10 AN flare (which I replaced with another -8 AN ORB to -6 flare from Aeroquip).

http://www.pcdominion.com/images/HR-Reservoir2.jpg

The hefty lid has a double O-ring seal with a pressure equalization valve:

http://www.pcdominion.com/images/HR-Reservoir1.jpg

The intake is equipped with a tube that has 4 slots (two on each side) to eliminate frothing and re-intake of bubbles. Please ignore the fingerprints, this is a work in progress:

http://www.pcdominion.com/images/HR-Reservoir3.jpg

The reservoir was so beefy that I was afraid it would distort the case side panel since it has a single mounting bracket (with really cool hidden screws, BTW).

To ensure the reservoir would have enough support, I got some heavy aluminum stock, trimmed it to length on my metal-cutting band saw, and attached to the inside of the side panel with adhesive prior to drilling for the reservoir mounting bolts. This makes an extremely solid mounting point for the reservoir:

http://www.pcdominion.com/images/HR-Reinforcement.jpg

Note the mounting hardware visible to the left in the above picture. Those are the bolts for the dual Swiftech Radbox units which secure the 3x120 radiator. There is no reason I need to use stainless-steel screws, washers and nylon security nuts for this, but of course it's a moral imperative :)

Another side shot with the reservoir mounted:

http://www.pcdominion.com/images/HR-Side2.jpg

WS

Quote:

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Originally Posted by L'enFer

WonderSausage, nice wcr, but were there any problems with tubing bending?

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Nah, this hose has a bend radius of 2-1/2" so as long as you plan your hose routes ahead of time, it's no problem at all.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by L'enFer

WonderSausage, nice wcr, but were there any problems with tubing bending?

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Sorry to say but yes compared to other tubing known here ..... I know first hand testing some custom brake lines myself. the lines won't blow with the PSI though !!!!!!

Looks 10+ trick :woot:

Good effort WonderSausage, like the oil cooler styled res - wonder how worked your car is ..... :stick:

(it gets in the blood - modding cars / computers are a common link)

looks really cool.. that braided tubing looks sick.. and the res wow. all you need to do is polish the whole case so that the res matches to the rest of the case. then it would look perfect.

you have an excellente watercooling setup, it looks awesome ;)


regards

NICE System! :toast: What case is that? Sorry if its been asked before.

Very nice!

I think you can get these hoses elsewhere too, not just racing supplies. There
are a few metres of it in our heating, around the boiler. I'll ask my Dad where
they can be found, but I'd guess it's shops that sell heating fittings and other
stuff.
The hoses here have 9mm ID - there's a half-visible sticker on it.

Hmmm sweet!
Used a solid billet Y junction to split off a parallel loop two years ago. Was tempted to go the whole hog myself back then but as you say, it's silly money.

"heavy metal" rig :D.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soccerswim8

that dual DDC looks so sick

what is AN if i may ask?

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AN means ARMY/NAVY. For the last 7/8 years of my life, I have had many sponsors sponsor my 2000 camaro Z28 drag car, and Russel/mr gasket corp were huge for me. That is how my screen name came to life, as I saw 3 beautifully polished "OLIVER" rods sticking out from my oil pan, I then quickly came to the assumption, "Hey I need a new LS1 motor AGAIN":D I love having sponsorship monies.......

very clean metallic look to it, braided tubing is fine, looks cool.
so long as you have enough elbow room and not force a tight bend.

The rig is nice but what about that Z4? Any work done on that?

Please take some care not to let the metal braiding generate a short on anything sensitive... Otherwise looks solid, though perhaps slightly more than needed :)

Can you crush the copper gasket enough on the water block to make a tight seal?