I recently bidded on a med size turbo; 57 trim t3/t04e .50ar compressor, and .48 ar turbine, and lately have been thinking about how I want to do my charge pipes. I will be using an intercooler, however the type of setup Im considering is the question at hand. Since I have a ram air hood which leads air directly to my air filter (currently), I was thinking of placing a small intercooler (picture below) in the spot of my air filter; near the battery.
The turbo is not that big and will only be running at 4-5psi, in this case I dont want to spend the extra money to fabricate pipes to put an intercooler behind the bumper. The car thats inspiring me to do this is the setup on the subaru sti that also features a ram air hood directing air straight to the intercooler which is placed on top of the motor (pictured below). This setup would be cost effective, and I probably shouldnt be boosting my car with limited funds...but boost will be boost!
Now my question here
1. is this setup something proper?, in other words will the intercooler actually function properly placed where I want it.
Would anyone with a ram air hood know if there is enough air coming through the medal box on the hood to cool the air in the intercooler? (See pics).
Would a smaller turbo, like a t3 .42, .48 work better with this kind of setup?.I remeber it was done before on a silver cav, but the guy had a hole cut in his factory hood (near the battery side) right where he placed his intercooler, and put a "paste on" air vent over it.
Subaru sti setup
2200 jbody with this setup (but no ram air hood)
(as you can see he heat wrapped his exhaust manifold, so it wouldnt affect the intercooler)
this is his hood
These pics should give you an idea of what Im talking about with respect to my car specifically...
Air comes in through here...
Air comes out through here and currently goes to my air filter...
medal box....
where the air filter is placed id like the intercooler pictured below...
...sorry, air comes in through here
why put the intercooler where it sees warm underhood air? Why not do it right and front mount it where it will only see the coolest air available. The front mount also allows for a larger intercooler. So really your dilema is 1) would you like the install to be easier or 2) would you rather be safer and make more power. Really its all up to you but I see no question as to which choice is the best. Not to mention the fact that underhood intercoolers make working on stuff a PITA. But dont get me wrong here. I am not saying that an underhood would not work. But it really doesnt funtion quite like and intercooler should.
there's so much room for an fmic there's really no reason to do a top mounted intercooler like that. Now, if you were placing a water/air intercooler unit there, it makes the piping shorter, more consistent cooling, the ability to add ice for additional temp reduction, and shortens/simplifies the charge piping. But I wouldn't mount an air-air unit there. It will work to some degree (it'll be better than nothing) but it won't be nearly as efficient as a front mount or a water/air setup.
Arrival Blue 04 LS Sport
Eco
Turbo
Megasquirt
'Nuff said
You can always paint your intercooler black if you're going for the "i'm not turboed" look.
But if you paint the intercooler you insulate it and it cannot cool as well..... If you want to hide it your best bet is black mesh in front... but no paint.
<img src="http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/831000-831999/831395_11_full.jpg">
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t. Now, if you were placing a water/air intercooler unit there,
thats the kind of anwser I was looking for. Alot of people, think Im trying to hide the fact that the car is turboed, im not. Im low on funds, and probably cant afford the charge pipes right now, but may do it in the future. However if i can find a water/air intercooler small enough, id take it. Anyone know of a place that has one, and how does it work relative to an air to air. What does it require?
Ben Brown wrote:But if you paint the intercooler you insulate it and it cannot cool as well..... If you want to hide it your best bet is black mesh in front... but no paint.
Mine cools just fine and it's got a nice coat of flat black paint on it. Never had a hint of cooling problems.
I used to race cars, now I race myself.
5K PB: 24:50
10K PB: 54:26
ya your right, Im ignornant when it comes to water to air, but im sure there is a cheap way around it, they go for 150 on ebay withou the pump or heat exchanger. Anyone, know how the setup bolts up? or a link that clearly explains it for a newb.
Seriously, Chris...I havent seen any other fire with this hood anymore so I love it even more. I love it, cause it looks factory...well I did alot of research I guess Im goona "supposedly" be the first jbody with water/air. All I need is a
heat exhanger (oil cooler or ac condenser),
water pump (off a ford 150, electrical pump)
IC (can come off a cyclone, subaru legacy, or ebay for $150
Reservoir (using existing, winshield washer as a reservoir)
and switch to turn the pump on and off
you guys ready for this!! lol
you mentioned that you were considering this because of cost...
you realize that a proper front mount and charge piping will cost less.. be less of a head ache and probably show more gains?
i'm all for doing it to be different...
but why if it will cost more and work less.. there is a reason this is not a popular setup...
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You know what, you make a good point Andy, but it still is going to be cheaper and water to air is colder than air to air. It is more bulky, but your right it is going to be costly.
Im still contemplating now what to do
yes properly setup they might.. but your scoop is not flowing air in the same fashion the other two hoods you pointed out either...
that "ram air" hood doesnt flow the amount of air you might think
here is a simple test, tape a peice of tissue paper over the opening above your air filter and go drive down the street.. i bet its still there when you get back
now tape a peice into your front bumper and do the same thing, i bet its torn to shreds..
i'm not nocking your idea but id hate to see you spend all that time and money on it and have it not work as well as something a little more conventional
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Well you do have a ram air hood, so im gonna take your word for it.
Diessel had originally done the intercooler under the hood. If I recall correctly, it worked out pretty well for him with a vent in the hood.
Cardomain|
Myspace
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but you DO realize the duct won't be hitting more than 1/4 of that heat exchanger.... the opening isn't big enough.
Chris, thats true. But air is air, and hopefully will flow around it if I were to stick an air to air IC. Now that you mention it, my filter did get really dirty the first day i put it on (and it was brand spanking new). So I think air circulates through that hood fairly well which may make it possible to get an intercooler/heat exchanger to work there.
But remember, if Im going water to air, im just going to place the IC where my air filter is: this is the IC that I found:
and the heat exchanger near the radiotor, im thinking of eliminating my AC since I dont use it. And using the existing condensor as a heat exchanger for the IC?
Really, come to think of the price, I think people overestimate the price of water to air. Depending on the IC that you go for, it is relatively cheaper than an air to air setup with a FMIC.
Pump, $100
Heat exchanger, free (ill use my existing ac condensor if thats possible)
IC, $120 off ebay
Switch, there is a spa bath switch that opens when it senses 1psi. Im probably gonna incorporate that which is $25
Pipes, approx. $100
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Total 340.00 for water to air cooler setup
are you just TRYING to make every possible setup harder on yourself? Buy a fricking $50 heat exchanger and just put it in front of the condenser--- done. No big deal.
Arrival Blue 04 LS Sport
Eco
Turbo
Megasquirt
'Nuff said
You do know you could get a JRC intercooler and piping made for around the same price right? I think you'd be much happier with the gains.
