Hey,
I'm probably gonna get flamed for this, but correct me if I'm wrong:
From what I understand, a intercooler is an air-to-air cooling system that is kinda similar to a radiator. If this is the case, and the intercooler is just a thing with a bunch of cooling fins on it, theoretically, can I not connect my intake tubing to a front mount, and attach a filter on the other side? This would cool the air going in the induction system and would look hella cool too.
thanks guys.
(zips up flame retardant suit)

 

well a turbo heats up the air, also when air is compressed it is heated. so what a ic is able to do is bring down the air temp to what is around you. so since your air is not being heated the best thing you can do is get a cold air intake for your na car. also the ic would create alot of restriction. hope that helps

 

dont waste 600-900 on an intercooler when you can have this for 225.00

http://www.meggamaxx.com/arintake.html

 

You would lose power for the following reasons...
1) An intercooler is restrictive and would inhibit the flow of the air being sucked inthrough the intake. Its works out for a Turbocharged car because the turbo helps push the air through thus lessening the restrictions unlike a NA car which has to suck the air in by the combustion process.

2) The length and width of the intake pipe effect the power curve throughout the rpm range. So by having a much longer intake pipe you are shifting the torque peak earlier, and are somewhat restricted by the width of the pipe due to space limitations in your car... A wide intake pipe allows more volume and a thinner pipe maintains the velocity of the incomming air... you need to carefully balance these two.

Some things to think about.
-- AEM CAI creates little extra power around 4500- 5500 rpms versus a short ram because the length of the piping being longer, NOT the cold air effect. Cooler air should give you power increases throughout the dynograph.
--- Many people who supercharge their car like to use Short Ram intake because it gives them better top end power and is not as restrictive as a CAI with its long piping. They use a heat shield around the filter as an added benefit to deter heat for even more gains.
---- FMIS, like the ones sold by Aerospeed suck(sorry to offend any owners) because the piping is too long and thin to keep an optimal flow for the incoming air.(and dont try to tell me that because it has a "Ram AIR" effect it can overcome these restrictions)


[Modified by dasher, 5:57 PM 6/14/2002]

 

hahahahahah
omg.
i posted about those.
they are crap.

 

thanks mang.
i didn't think it would work.
just thinking theory.

 

you can try making a a tube around your intake tube and fill it with dry ice or ice water. That would cool the intake pipedown without the airflow and weight problems of an intercooler........Mike

 

That is a Good Idea, I wonder how well it would work.... anybody dyno this?

Other tricks you can do is wrap insulating header wrap around the intake piping and then wrap a reflective wrap like kooltape around the header wrap.
This way you are further insulating the pipe and also reflecting the heat which is radiated in the engine bay.