Hi I have and will continue searching the subject but just want to ask advice on Itercooler upgrades . I have the front panel off and dont have any rush to get the car back on the road . I was thinking about the benefits of upgrading the intercoolers or maybe even going front mount . My car has the following mods : Cat back exhaust K&N Pod filter Boost Jets ( 13PSI ) Socketed ECU with a choice of a Swat chip or a Jim Wolf clone ? Engine is strong with good compression and runs very well as is. I do have a lightened flywheel and lightened harmonic balancer that are not fitted as yet . I guess I am wondering if there is going to be any signifigant gains from upgrading from standard . More so are there kits that are actually easy to install as opposed to others that are a biatch . I am also thinking that if I go with intercooler upgrade does it pay , I suspect it would) To upgrade front bar to allow better air flow over coolers / cooler . What would be a ball park figure for a total intercooler setup ready to install ? . Thanks for any info .
There are a few trains of thoughts on this matter and a search will bring up a few threads about it. Ultimately, bigger SMIC's are a good option and will allow you to run more boost safely and a FMIC is bigger so more cooling, but willl add an extra obstruction before your radiator (IC - oil cooler - A/C condensor - radiator). A FMIC will also look better as it is far more visible than bigger SMIC There is currently a group buy on bigger SMIC's and at $400 are an absolute bargain Cheers Rob
i am also interested in hearing members views on this topic, my cooling system is very efficient so i dont think a FMIC would pose any real problem
Hmm seems i just signed up for a set of the group buy side mounts . I really like the thought of being a direct replacement and utilising the factory air duct . There are some bigger units but I assume it would all be relevant to the amount of air you can direct through it .
good choice, large SMIC are more than big enough to cool the amount of air that flows through them. FMIC is just a lot of extra piping and space which you don't need unless you like the look of them.
The air can only cool down so much regardless of the size of the cooler. No one has ever proved that FMICs are far more effective, from the gains we see they are almost the exact same as SMIC i.e. 10-15rwkw without upping boost or changing anything to the car. A lot of 10s / sub 10s Z's in the states are running SMICs.
the real test that need to be done is not a power test , but an intercooler efficiency test, ie charge air temperature / BP loss
Some fairly comprehensive reading to be had on TTnet . The bottom line was that for the mods I have and envisage for the future the side mounts are more than ample . Also concern expressed over pressure drop increase with the larger size FMIC . No expert but that was the impression I got from my reading .
the larger the cooler the higher the pressure drop I would have thought, but either way, a back to back power test is going to show the truth if the environment is controlled as best as possible. Just like any other test, research/testing can show what it wants but when it comes down to how the test object actually works in a real situation is what matters.
not so. the pressure drop only exists because the cooler is a restrictor in the flow path, how much of a restrictor it is depends on a few things, tube diameter, tube amount, bell mouthed fin tubes etc. but it needs to be worked out, if the pressure drop is worth it for the temperature reduction . acceptable pressure loss is considered between 1 and 2psi, this is acceptable only when intercooler efficiency is above 85% , this would mean reducing the outlet air temp. to 85 % the difference between intercooler inlet temp and ambient. also any intercooler tests i would do would be on the road at WOT and full load, so the test is very real
you get more pressure drop the wider/longer the intercooler and also when not high or deep enough.. Z FMIC's work out to be like half the height of SMICs, you may get better cooling but there's a lot of pressure drop, I don't think I'd want one less than 4.5" thick. Just keep in mind that when you do your road tests that you'll be measuring post intercooler psi and if the turbos are still within their efficiency range, it could seem like they're better despite even a 5 psi loss.
pressure drop is not relative to the external dimensions of the intercooler, only the core design itself .
the core dimensions make a huge difference in pressure drop.. check the CFM ratings here: http://www.bellintercoolers.com/pages/aachart350.html
Now this discussion has never been had before... If you have trouble finding them it because most were VTD'd due to the enourmous shit fight it causes...
yes obviously a larger cooler flows more cfm, what makes u think that they cause a larger pessure drop?
IMO those are the most important parts of the debate between FMIC and SMIC, yes the bigger front mount is capable of drawing more cool air in, it then loses out by use of longer pipework but more importantly the extra bends, in one kit i seen ( maybe here ?) there was a 180deg bend on either end which in flow terms equates to adding an extra 7ft min! Stick with decent SMIC's until someone actually tests both types on the same car and at the same ambeient temperature to give a more accurate reading of both. :zlove: smithy
depends what you mean by larger.. height and depth gives you more CFM, width / length reduces it but improves cooling.. the lower the CFM the more pressure drop.
