Where to place the intercooler?
01-09-2006, 02:08 AM
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 29
Hi all,
not sure if this has been asked/discussed before, but couldn't find any conclusive info about this yet.
I'm thinking of buying an aftermarket intercooler for my FC
Was thinking of one of the medium sized Corksport ones.
Now my question is where to put it.
I don't think it'll fit on the same spot where the stock intercooler is.
I considered front mounted but then again this would mean long pipes to and from the cooler. Theoretically that would negatively affect spool time. Since I wish for the turbo to operate at low pressure and preferrably keep lag as low as possible I'd considered other locations in the engine bay.
Biggest question though is where to put it then?
(there is some space behind the radiator but 1. only a small intercooler will fit there and 2. it'll get all the hot air from the radiator.)
not sure if this has been asked/discussed before, but couldn't find any conclusive info about this yet.
I'm thinking of buying an aftermarket intercooler for my FC
Was thinking of one of the medium sized Corksport ones.
Now my question is where to put it.
I don't think it'll fit on the same spot where the stock intercooler is.
I considered front mounted but then again this would mean long pipes to and from the cooler. Theoretically that would negatively affect spool time. Since I wish for the turbo to operate at low pressure and preferrably keep lag as low as possible I'd considered other locations in the engine bay.
Biggest question though is where to put it then?
(there is some space behind the radiator but 1. only a small intercooler will fit there and 2. it'll get all the hot air from the radiator.)
01-09-2006, 09:16 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 244
You will not feel the lag time difference with a FMIC as long as you dont go to extreme with bends and diameter of the pipe. Just go front mount. It will be a lot easier. It will be difficult to get a larger intercooler to fit in the stock location because of the stock intake manifold. Greddy made one a long time ago I think, its pretty expensive if I can recall.
You could do it behind the radiator. If you look at the FD, thats where it is stock. But they have ducting to it and its not really right behind the radiator.
No matter where you put it (excpet for stock), you will have about the same amount of pipe.
You could do it behind the radiator. If you look at the FD, thats where it is stock. But they have ducting to it and its not really right behind the radiator.
No matter where you put it (excpet for stock), you will have about the same amount of pipe.
01-09-2006, 09:59 AM
#3
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 29
ok, that's about what I wanted to know.
Was thinking of ordering a bunch of aluminum pipes suitable for airducts and an intercooler since I have not really found a kit that fits on the sizes corksport offers on their site for the medium sized intercoolers.
As I understand it less is more when looking at diameter for the pipe?
(will just use the intake and IC hole sizes and continue those so I think it'll be something like 45 or 55 mm pipes then.)
Welding the bends and straights together should not prove to be a problem.
Only point of attention is that it'll have to be airtight. Think I can manage that but will order some extra piping anyways.
Any ideas on where to mount a BOV?
(never screwed around with turbo's before)
Was thinking of ordering a bunch of aluminum pipes suitable for airducts and an intercooler since I have not really found a kit that fits on the sizes corksport offers on their site for the medium sized intercoolers.
As I understand it less is more when looking at diameter for the pipe?
(will just use the intake and IC hole sizes and continue those so I think it'll be something like 45 or 55 mm pipes then.)
Welding the bends and straights together should not prove to be a problem.
Only point of attention is that it'll have to be airtight. Think I can manage that but will order some extra piping anyways.
Any ideas on where to mount a BOV?
(never screwed around with turbo's before)
01-09-2006, 11:45 AM
#4
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 959
The negative affects of an FMIC will be noticeable at stock boost levels w/ stock turbo. It's not bad though, you get over it once you notice how dramatically your AIT drop! I've got some datalogs of a T2 running a GReddy FMIC at 12psi and the AITs are awesome! The stock IC location is bad in general. The intercooler is not sufficient at higher-than-stock levels IMHO based on numbers I've seen personally and based on other datalogs.
RE Amemiya makes a replacement stock intercooler, should bump efficiency up about 15% or so..its basically a larger than stock unit that still sits on top of the engine.
1300cc.com has a good writeup on his intercooler setup, he went the radiator location route...pretty good setup if your trying to keep it sleeper/clean.
My friend's miata has the "best" fmic setup ever, has hardly any piping! His turbo still doesn't hit 10psi until 4K though...it was at 5K before final tuning.
Basically, don't let the lag keep you away from going FMIC, you can solve spool time w/ more fuel/better trim turbo to suit your needs.
PS. other option is V-mount, but you'll need custom hood for that one.
RE Amemiya makes a replacement stock intercooler, should bump efficiency up about 15% or so..its basically a larger than stock unit that still sits on top of the engine.
1300cc.com has a good writeup on his intercooler setup, he went the radiator location route...pretty good setup if your trying to keep it sleeper/clean.
My friend's miata has the "best" fmic setup ever, has hardly any piping! His turbo still doesn't hit 10psi until 4K though...it was at 5K before final tuning.
Basically, don't let the lag keep you away from going FMIC, you can solve spool time w/ more fuel/better trim turbo to suit your needs.
PS. other option is V-mount, but you'll need custom hood for that one.
01-09-2006, 07:16 PM
#5
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Originally Posted by jefraney' post='792979' date='Jan 9 2006, 07:16 AM
You could do it behind the radiator. If you look at the FD, thats where it is stock. But they have ducting to it and its not really right behind the radiator.
Its nowhere near the radiator.
01-10-2006, 02:27 AM
#6
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Join Date: Oct 2005
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I wasn't really thinking of exchanging the turbo for the while being.
Probably porting the wastegate and adding an aftermarket BOV to keep pressure in check.
Think that with the information on 1300cc and the information provided here I'll indeed go for a front mounted cooler although maybe the V mount setup could be interesting as well since I'll add an aftermarket hood anyways.
Any drawbacks on the V mount setup that anybody knows of?
Probably porting the wastegate and adding an aftermarket BOV to keep pressure in check.
Think that with the information on 1300cc and the information provided here I'll indeed go for a front mounted cooler although maybe the V mount setup could be interesting as well since I'll add an aftermarket hood anyways.
Any drawbacks on the V mount setup that anybody knows of?
01-10-2006, 10:58 AM
#7
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 959
VMounts, depending on how they are setup, still typically don't provide the same temp control as an FMIC. This all depends though on how you set your VMount up though...w/ the right ducting and airflow..a VMount can easily outperform an FMIC.
The only real drawback I guess would be space. I prefer FMIC because it leaves the engine bay open. It's one less thing to remove when I need to pull an engine out. If I had a VMount, I'd pull it everytime I need to replace a motor or put a new one, etc. I guess it's just preference if you build the right system. FMIC is easier to get better performance from though(there are kits already available, etc)
The only real drawback I guess would be space. I prefer FMIC because it leaves the engine bay open. It's one less thing to remove when I need to pull an engine out. If I had a VMount, I'd pull it everytime I need to replace a motor or put a new one, etc. I guess it's just preference if you build the right system. FMIC is easier to get better performance from though(there are kits already available, etc)
01-10-2006, 12:46 PM
#8
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Posts: 244
Originally Posted by sweet7' post='793095' date='Jan 9 2006, 08:16 PM
Its nowhere near the radiator.
I didnt say that it was near the radiator. I said that its not really behind the radiator (since its not near the radiator).
I agree with One320b. I perfer an empty engine bay so it takes less time to do work on the engine. You could always go with an air-water intercooler.
01-10-2006, 02:38 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by jefraney' post='792979' date='Jan 9 2006, 07:16 AM
You could do it behind the radiator. If you look at the FD, thats where it is stock. But they have ducting to it and its not really right behind the radiator.
I'm confused, are you saying it is behind the radiator or not