I am designing a custom kit for a friend....and I'm toying w/ the idea of placing the Intercooler right off of the thottlebody....

My question is....does the Intercooler NEED constant airflow like a Front Mount uses...or is a WRX style set up ok to do?

 

Yes

You'll notice that cars with top-mount intercoolers have a duct on the hood for added airflow. ie WRX and 2G RX7 (FC)

EDIT: with the 2G RX7 (FC) that's how you tell the difference between the turbo and non-turbo 2G RX7. the scooped are turbo'ed, ones with the smooth hood = non-turbo'ed.


[Modified by BlueShadow, 2:29 PM 3/17/2002]

 

yeah, I know they have a duct...but I'm sure the WRX duct flows VERY minimal...I've checked it out in person...

thats why I was wondering just how important it would be...

What about running a ram air type set up from the fender wall to the IC?

I'm just tossing some ideas around

 

That's what I was getting at.

I dont think the Top- mounts are that efficient, I think one of the Reason the WRX has a top-mount is cause of the crash standards with FMIC. ie the EVO 7. I would ask around the WRX sites and see how many of those guys go from a top-mount to a FMIC.

If you think about it the airflow is minimal (like you said), but you also have the heat from the engine radiating towards the top-mount.

BTW how much HP/PSI will the proposed top-mount setup have?

EDIT: and what's the reasoning behind wanting to get a top mount and placing it closer to the TB? better response at the cost of lower HP?


[Modified by BlueShadow, 3:06 PM 3/17/2002]

 

I'm hoping to get gains similar to the DRAG/RevHard kits.....I'll use a t3/t4 "manifold has not been decided" 2.5" dp, and route the charge pipe nearly directly to the TB.....I'm trying to make it more efficient than a DRAG kit by using far less bends, and turns.

I'm sure the #s will be lower..but I'm hoping to be in the ball park

 

Efficient in terms of lower temperature or effiecient in terms of PSI losses?

I think with your proposed top mount setup you may end up having low psi loss (depending on piping) but the intake temps might end up being a little hotter.

why not just get smaller front-mount IC to begin with, if you are worried about better response or PSI losses?

 

I think temperatures will be slightly higher, I am thinking mainly in terms of response, not too much pressure drop...just trying to eliminate all the twists, and turns the air takes on it's way to the tb using your typical front mount set up

hmm....maybe this won't work out well

 

C'monnnnn just get a front mount IC, everybodys doing it!

 

LOL I already have one.....I'm running a DRAGIII....this is just an idea for a friend.

thanks for all your input BTW

 

no problem!

 

IMO, the primary function of the intercooler should be cooling, and then secondary would be trying to get this at the least expense of pressure drop and response.

If you're willing to sacrifice that much intercooler efficiency for response, you seem like a good candidate for and air/water intercooler. It's more expesnive, but IMO you'd be sacrificing way too much function of an air/air intercooler with your intended setup.

My roommate is installing an air/water intercooler in his MR2, but that's because his engine is in the back and to get any decent cooling requires a lot of piping. He doesn't see much of a point in an air/water setup on a front engine car because the front is such a perfect placement of an air/air unit. I agree.


[Modified by Lsos, 6:46 PM 3/17/2002]

 

yeah, I hear ya....air/water would be the only way to go...but I still think I'm on to something w/ the design...I'm gonna mess around with it some more before I throw in the towel....and go back to a FMIC