Hi guys, I would like to know how i can get better flow to and from the SMIC's. I am looking into replacing the stock SMIC's but i feel the flow rate too and from them isn't very efficent. I have decided for SMIC's because i am not going for super hp, i don't want to upgrade my cooling system, i don't want to replace my front bar(unless there is a big advantage) and i want to have a pod filter infront of the radiator. Please don't talk about SMIC vs FMIC!
Options After thinking long and hard... I had twin ARC Side mounts on a stock '90 front bar... These seemed to flow very well, and didn't look very restrictive, once my front bar came off. However, hard pipes (maybe increasing diameter) to the coolers could serve a purpose as oppose to using silicon hose... AND, get some FAT SMIC eg: as thick as a FMIC (yes it is possible) you will need to remove the stock "air guides" to fit these. Looking at Inlet Temps and trying to decrease the amount of heat in deg' C, will be the main issue, and hard piping should help in this respect. The issue with SMICs is not flow rates (because if there was why would you buy them? ) But it's more the tight space you are using, which limits your options with them. Fitting a pod filter in front of your radiator is the easiest and pretty much only option if using SMICs... Just remove the stock airbox and replace with a pod filter, of your choosing (I've personally always used K&N).
Before upgrading the SMICs I'd fit pod filter, upgrade exhaust, maybe boost jets. How many extra horses you looking for?
Re: Before upgrading the SMICs I will be doing those upgrades first before upgrading intercoolers. Will probably be looking to run about 14psi with stock ecu. Still not sure if i'm going to do intercoolers, but want to know how to get better flow after the intercoolers because i'm not sure were the air go's after going through the intercoolers.
not sure I understand Air from intercooler comes straight up hard pipe to soft hose to throttle body.
Re: not sure I understand I'm talking about the air from outside that cools the intercooler. After it cools the intercooler it doesn't really have many places to go.
Think you'll find it deflects to the engine bay & gets sucked out under the car. Sort of venturi/low pressure effect. A bit of a guess but am assuming Nissan worked that out in a wind tunnel.
Actually I think Nissan dropped the ball on that the airflow AFTER the intercoolers is pretty piss poor, it really doesn't have anywhere to go. On some Z's there is some venting in the "floor" (I'm guessing it's year specific?) just in front of the wheel but that's about it. If you look at Silvia's and some other Nissans with an intercooler in the same spot they actually have vents which let air out straight into the face of the tyre (if that makes sense), not the best solution but better than on a Z.... I think there are gains to be made from looking at post intercooler flow on a Z as it is pretty average from the factory. Ben
Re: Actually I think Nissan dropped the ball on that So i guess the best thing for side mounts would be to: Cut an opening to inside the wheel arch And/Or Get a new front bar with speed holes or make my own speed holes
A hole inside the weeh arch isn't a great idea ...>> the wheel turning in there creates a high pressure area and will also trow dirt ontp the intercooler.
I still think it's better than nothing and if Nissan did it from the factory on some cars it can't be all bad. Ben
How about a duct from the back of the intercooler ...>> to the centre of the brake rotor? The air exiting the intercooler would feel very cool compared to a hot brake rotor and the rotor would suck the air out. I wonder what a "weeh arch" is?
Depending on how 'game' you are, you can try this surgery...... Open the back as suggested by Blipman, and pop-out the fog/indictor lights and funnel the air to the intercooler (note that the intercoolers in the pics are aftermarket monster SMICs). Let me tell you, great flow! CheerZ Vincent
So why does the Audi R8 have the louvres in the top of the wheel arch ...>> if not to let out the high pressure?
A little hard to compare Ian......>> The R8 is a ground effect car and you may find the louvers are designed to help "suck" air from under the front of the car by the action of the air passing over the back of them.
The DTM car may have a lot of aero ...>> but it's not ground effects and has similar louvres. Several years ago I was reading one of the technical racing journals which was discussing the aero of one of the DTM cars. They said that the louvres on the wheel arches were to reduce the positive presure created by the tyre rotating.
You could be right.........>> Does the whole wheel arch have positive air or only a pocket at the top? It would be great if we could get a definitive answer. Particularly one that related to road going cars rather than dropped on the deck racers. It could also explain why Nissan placed the vents in the floor of the front tray and not the back, but then they put them in the back on 200SXs and other models.