Whats the best intercooler or intercooler kit? I was thinking of getting a mishimoto intercooler and have custom IC pipping. Any suggestions of different ones.
Intercooler, whats best?
- Thread starter laxboy36
- Start date
I've found it very difficult to find any sort of specs on intercoolers. It would be incredible to know even approximate pressure drop at given flowrates, heat exchanging efficiency, something showing heat soak ability/disability (heat capacity), etc...
So many facts that are critical to intercoolers and radiators that I dont think I've ever seen published in a public facing document. You'll probably just have to go by "user reviews" which are going to be base on perceived build quality and the performance difference between the 20 year old stock technology.
At any rate, I'm interested in the answer to your question as well. Hopefully sombody will provide more information than im aware of.
So many facts that are critical to intercoolers and radiators that I dont think I've ever seen published in a public facing document. You'll probably just have to go by "user reviews" which are going to be base on perceived build quality and the performance difference between the 20 year old stock technology.
At any rate, I'm interested in the answer to your question as well. Hopefully sombody will provide more information than im aware of.
i know that cxracing makes a kit, and so does the big name brands like HKS and Greddy. But i know that if i get the mishimoto intercooler, i need to find a way to mount it and have custom pipping, which i dont mind. But I am just wondering what else is good at a far price.
If you want to hold power, and do it cheaply, buy the Godspeed inter-cooler ($100 in some places) to what ever size you want. Then have the end tanks cut and re-welded on by a good welder. My buddy did that to his on his MK4 and his godspeed is holding 600+ HP.
Turbo magazine back in the day did the testing. As soon as I see the back issue on ebay or in the store, I will buy and post it with my other articles. Cartech showed 89% effeciency and just over 1 psi loss at 14 psi. Stock is 68% effeciency and 4.3 psi lost at 13 psi. HKS checked in at 78%, and like Cartech, much lower loss of pressure. On CJensens page he had stock and HKS tested in CFM. The HKS unit crushed it, as expected with the effeciency and limited losses. schaeff has a copy and paste in the refrence to the whole article.
Modern Turbo's now flow much more than even the best of the Old School units could so you can get away with running a huge IC and 3" pipes with no extra lag, the beauty of Big IC's is two fold, they flow better due to having so much internal volume and they're a huge heatsink so even if they're "cheap" they're still very effective.
I ran a 4"x 12"x 24" (100x 300x 600) 3" in/out in my Mk3 that I bought as a no name thing from e-bay and was very impressed by just how well it worked, I also upgraded from 2.5" pipes to 3" expecting to see some lag and was surprised to find with the 3540R that Lag was reduced as it allowed the Compressor to "breathe".
I ran a 4"x 12"x 24" (100x 300x 600) 3" in/out in my Mk3 that I bought as a no name thing from e-bay and was very impressed by just how well it worked, I also upgraded from 2.5" pipes to 3" expecting to see some lag and was surprised to find with the 3540R that Lag was reduced as it allowed the Compressor to "breathe".
I would've figured with the larger pipes that the lag would be increased, not very much but a slight bit due to the increased volume to fill.
so what do you think is best for me, I have full 3'' exhaust and intake, should i get the mishimoto 2.5 IC and IC pipping or get 3'' IC with 2.5 IC pipping. but i am rebuilding a jdm 7m right now and wanting 600hp in it
Ditto, fully expected it to be laggier but didn't work out that way and just made it harder to find traction in low gears..IndigoMKII;1751809 said:
If you're chasing a genuine 600rwhp I'd go for 3" straight off.laxboy36;1751858 said:
Im running the godspeed front mount set up with 2.5 inch intercooler piping it runs great gaind a few hp i think.Between the larger intercooler and divorced dp my car hits 11lbs of boost in 3rd gear on a stock unshimed wastgate.
Running no name 31/12/3 with 2.5 pipes and almost no lag on the stock 1j twins. Prolly switch to a 2.75 on the tb side later on.
hvyman;1752049 said:
Out of curiosity, why would you switch to a larger diameter AFTER the cooler?
Here's my thought process: The cooler air requires less volume, therefore smaller piping. Larger piping will only slow the air down before it gets to the throttle body/intake where you would really want it flowing fastest. Although I guess on the flip-side on that coin, the larger piping means you will have more "cool" air ready when you suddenly stomp on it? :dunno:
My logic might be ass-backwards, so let me know what your thoughts are.
so with the stuff i have done to the car now should i just get the 3'' core from misihimoto and have 2.75'' IC pipping and when my rebuild goes in get 3'' pipping?
Logic tells me the bigger pipe would go on the Hot side of the IC, smaller on the cold side due to the cooler air being denser but having said that I always went equal size for ease of material ordering and one size clamps and couplers.suprarx7nut;1752066 said:Out of curiosity, why would you switch to a larger diameter AFTER the cooler?
Here's my thought process: The cooler air requires less volume, therefore smaller piping. Larger piping will only slow the air down before it gets to the throttle body/intake where you would really want it flowing fastest. Although I guess on the flip-side on that coin, the larger piping means you will have more "cool" air ready when you suddenly stomp on it? :dunno:
My logic might be ass-backwards, so let me know what your thoughts are.
There is a critical speed you want to stay below for xx pipe size and yy CFM of flow or you'll see the temps rise through friction in the piping.
Personally I'd just go 3" straight off and do it once/properly, it might be a little laggy on the Gumby engine but who cares it's a Gumby enginelaxboy36;1752068 said:
I am happy with the change to 3" pipes and also notice no additional lag at all. I also lucked out and ended up with the exact same distance from the turbo to intercooler (hot side) and intercooler to TB (cold side). Not sure if having them equal is of any benefit at all but thought it kinda interesting how it worked out perfectly like that.
Additionall I found a interesting calculation utility webpage that spits out some interesting data that is frankly above my head. Perhaps a wiser person can check it out and let us know what they think.
http://dairally.net/daihard/chas/MiscCalculators/DaiPipes.htm
(on second glance it appears to be geared toward exhaust pipe size selection perhaps?)
http://dairally.net/daihard/chas/MiscCalculators/DaiPipes.htm
(on second glance it appears to be geared toward exhaust pipe size selection perhaps?)
IndigoMKII;1751809 said:
Do you know what lag is? That is the amount of time the compressor needs to reach speed based on the engine output (heat) and the turbine design. The piping for the intake does not factor into it. Even with a crappy turbo.
Remember, when the turbo is trying to push "boost" and a number on the guage, the engine is trying to consume that "boost" making the number on the guage lower.