Corsair Nautilus 500 Mod (Easy)

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05-27-2008, 05:21 PM
XS_RoB

Corsair Nautilus 500 Mod (Easy)

Just finished modding a Nautilus 500 and wanted to share since I saw some commenting on them and modding them. This is a simple mod and took at total of 5 hrs. I could have finished quicker but - I was just relaxing and enjoying the day.

Parts list for the Mod:
Xchanger 120 http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=23556

3/8" fittings http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=21263

Scythe Ultra Kaze 3000 http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=22540

Chrome 120mm grill http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...roducts_id=249

Mini Shroud 120mm http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...oducts_id=3511

Permatex Black Silicone http://www.autoaccessconnect.com/peblsiadse.html

Black Rubber Feet (2") from Lowes (Couldn't find link but here is similar)
http://www.starglass.com/products.html
http://www.starglass.com/images/Rubb...r%20Bridge.jpg

I started by removing the rubber feet under the stock Nautilus. There you will a total of 4 screws that holds the upper housing to the lower housing.
Then unplugged the fan power cable.
I then fought like crazy to remove those Nutty Hose Clamps - Dont know what to call them other than a Pain in the Arse. :)
The Aluminum Rad is held in place by some kind of epoxy. *(Thank Goodness the preform plastic was smooth or this would be a paint to remove.) Simply pry with a screw driver and the walls of the Nautilus are so smooth to allow the epoxy to break free.

This is what you will have when done.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2541/naut1jm4.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1084/naut2jc7.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5273/naut3ox8.jpg

Next I took my Beautifully Packaged Xchanger 120 out and traced a generic outline of the rad on the bottom of the housing.

I dremeled about an 1/8" away from my trace line and filed up to it, to ensure a tight fit. (A lot of time goes into this - for looks, even though no one will see the bottom but you.)

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3756/naut4ur3.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1718/naut5kf1.jpg

Not done filing but you at least get the picture - not going to kill you or bore you with multiple filing shots. :)

Next I dry fit the 90* elbows and Rad into the Nautilus. I pretty much pushed it all the way to rest on the plywood. I did this so that I could dry fit the top with a Ultra Kaze 120x38 (3000 = 133cfm) fan and check for clearance.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6636/naut6us0.jpg

Well after that, I could clearly see that there was NO WAY that the fan and Rad were even remotely close to fitting. So I ordered a simple 120mm shroud and traced it out on the top of the Nautilus. *** Note that the shroud has a 1/8" lip and dremel again about an 1/8" from the line and file to the needed size.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/71/naut7dw4.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8820/naut8ns1.jpg

Next I went ahead and installed the Fan in a PULL CONFIG and replaced the close knit mesh guard that was stock with a normal wire grill. (The air will be pulled from the bottom and exhausting at the top of the unit.)

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3115/naut9sk4.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/49/naut10rk6.jpg

I dry fitted the top again, and note that the Rad is still just sitting on the plywood. Once it was fit into position, I slid the Rad up until it was bottoming out against the top of the housing. I then tacked it on with some hot melt glue - in four corners. I flipped it over and made sure it was level. (Rad was same height all the way around)

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3097/naut11wh6.jpg

Once I had it where it was going, I then painted 2 "L" angle brackets and then attached them to the Rad and Housing. This secures the Rad in place.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6448/naut12ue0.jpg

I then installed another wire grill on the bottom since the Rad is extended about 1/4" past the housing.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/5525/naut13yo6.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7394/naut14rr0.jpg

I then used Black Silicone Permatex to seal the Xchanger so that there were no air voids. Where it crosses through the housing. This will prevent any air not coming through the rad. (You dont want the cool air to go around it, but through it.)
****DOH just realized I dont have a clean pic of it siliconed and am too lazy to take another pic....

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/2817/naut15qf4.jpg

I then installed some simple 2" black rubber feet I picked up from Lowes. They took the shape of the square feet nicely.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2101/naut16nk8.jpg

OK - Now it is done and if anyone knows where I can get an Feser Xchanger Sticker from, please let me know. I want to attach it right before the logo for Nautilus 500. :)

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7990/naut17dk8.jpg

Leak testing Now for about 9 hours. No issues what so ever! I noticed when I took it apart that the Green LED was point straight down - so I remounted it pointing directly into the res and now it is BRIGHT as HECK!

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/4489/naut18ik7.jpg

I really dont know what I will use this on yet.... my sons really want me to cool their xbox 360 with it, but my honey's computer could use it for a cpu only loop as well. Oh well - I just enjoy modding and dont know what I will do with it.

Please post some feed back if you enjoyed the read or hated it - this is my first tutorial of sorts!

L8R,
RoB
05-27-2008, 06:01 PM
Asgard_thor

wow impressive
How much better does it cool then with the stock rad
05-27-2008, 06:28 PM
aspire.comptech

Probly a lot...
05-27-2008, 06:48 PM
NaeKuh

great mod. :up:

However im hurting at the price you paid on that radiator. :X
05-27-2008, 06:57 PM
Shlomo

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaeKuh

great mod. :up:

However im hurting at the price you paid on that radiator. :X

Aye, has there been any testing to prove that the PA just got beat anyways?
05-27-2008, 07:41 PM
Pedalmonkey

no proof yet.
05-27-2008, 07:54 PM
eva2000

wow I like! wish I could do that to my Nautilus 500 hehe (lack the skills heh)

congrats man!
05-27-2008, 10:03 PM
Atal

very good work!! it turn out very nice! props!
05-28-2008, 12:49 AM
[XC] NetburstXE

Nice mod! I'm hurting that you spent $115 on a 1x120mm radiator, however.
05-28-2008, 01:14 AM
XS_RoB

Quote:

wow impressive
How much better does it cool then with the stock rad

I honestly have no idea - I haven't connected it to anything yet. :)
I will be adding a LCD for Water Temp soon though.

Quote:

great mod.

However im hurting at the price you paid on that radiator. :X

Thanks and yes I too am choking on the price! I have to say though that I'm a sucker for the Feser Marketing! :shrug:

Thanks for the kind words everyone - and @ eva2000 it was super simple... no skills, trust me. Honestly! :up:

There was just no way that I was gonna mix metals in my loop, and oh for the price - I got the Nautilus 500 for $50 from a friend of mine who never installed it and went a Heater Core route. So... all in all I decided I could splurge a little on the Radiator side. :D
One thing that I am impressed with, is the Pump (DDC - Laing) this little guy "JETS" the water through it. I almost drowned trying to fill it and bleed it..... the return to the Res is like a Pressure Washer, it litterally bled in a few minutes!

Thanks again for the comments.

RoB
05-28-2008, 04:03 AM
septim

well since its a single 120 rad size, might as well get whats best and available at the moment. Cooling power and Quiet fans i hope...
and it looks like money is not a problem for him...
05-28-2008, 08:38 AM
NaeKuh

Quote:

Originally Posted by septim

well since its a single 120 rad size, might as well get whats best and available at the moment. Cooling power and Quiet fans i hope...
and it looks like money is not a problem for him...

lol he lives in the US.

today's gas prices here, money is a problem to everyone. :ROTF:
06-23-2008, 05:14 AM
TheKarmakazi

nice work man!! good to see you take a pre packaged system and make it xtreme! :)

Lets see some results/overclocks!
06-23-2008, 05:38 AM
disruptfam

Wow very nice mod mate :)

excellent work
06-23-2008, 07:24 AM
septim

well i also see a 3000rpm fan in there, this should perform good due to the fannage...
06-25-2008, 05:18 PM
dinos22

nice mod dude

i was a bit lazy with my one but it works :D

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/958/img3206yr5.jpg
06-26-2008, 01:53 AM
XS_RoB

Thanks for all the comments guys! I really appreciate it. I still have it sitting...... I really dont know what to cool with it yet. It's just sitting, but I will think of something. I think I may open it back up and JB Weld a Temp Sensor in the Res and mount it flush on the top, or face of it.
Anyway - thanks again!

Oh... and the only reason I was able to pull it off was because of all of the great posts (Mods) in this forum for inspiration. I truly learn alot reading here.

L8R

OH and I swear the fan is not loud in this unit..... to me anyway. And it moves a ton of air.
06-26-2008, 02:42 AM
LogAn'sRun

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaeKuh

lol he lives in the US.

today's gas prices here, money is a problem to everyone. :ROTF:

Our gas just went up to 14SEK/Liter = $2.34/qt in the US.

Do I smell open revolt and uprising if that was to happen in the US??
06-26-2008, 04:05 AM
C'DaleRider

Quote:

Originally Posted by LogAn'sRun

Our gas just went up to 14SEK/Liter = $2.34/qt in the US.

Do I smell open revolt and uprising if that was to happen in the US??

You would....because it'd mean that our tax on gas would be 10X what the tax is now...sort of like what you're paying for taxes on your gas. And that's the only reason you're paying so much for gas since everyone's paying the same for oil and refining costs are pretty much the same no matter where the oil is refined. So your high gas prices compared to other countries' prices is solely due to your gov't. taxing the crap out of it to encourage conservation and production of small, fuel efficient cars.