I have a custom built Bell Intercooler a very well known company in the intercooler industry. I had it designed based on the amount of room I have for a dual backdoor style.It measures 10.7"x18"x3.5" bar and plate and 2.5"inlet/outlet.I talked to them and couldnt seem to get a straight answer onthe subject and so my question is why is it rated at only 495hp efficiently. I looked ans spearco has a core 20.8x10.5x3.5 rated at 670hp,Precision has one 18x10.5x3.5 rated at 660hp and Garret has a core measuring 18x10.3x3.5 thats rated at 575 hp.
With the dimensions of mine being so close to these why is it rated so much lower than the rest of these manufactures? Any intercoolers guru's can shed some light on this?

a few pics:





Modified by darkdayz at 11:04 PM 1/20/2006


Modified by darkdayz at 11:08 PM 1/20/2006

 

Can anyone help?

 

This is a guess, and a complete guess... but there is an efficiency factor thats multiplied in, 1.00 being ideal. My guess is that Bell is playing a real world game with the numbers rather than a marketing number. When I talked to Bell they were using .72 as the multiplier, taken out of the number, your 495 becomes 687 which is pretty close to the Spearco and Precision numbers, so its possible they're playing a numbers game for marketing. The Garrett 575 number could make sense of some sort, they may be accounting for the efficiency in real life. Playing loosely with the numbers it comes out to around 82%

Like I said..... just a guess, but it makes sense in my head.

 

Any idea what equation that .72 is used in, in determining the efficiency...I've looked through a few books and couldnt find anything on it?Thanks

 

anyone else?

 

Maybe backdoor intercoolers just arent as efficient??? They sure look like they wouldnt be, the air doesnt "flow" through it, it is crammed in- having to immediately turn 90deg and find its way through the fins then it does it again to get out of the other side. I dont know???

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TurboCoop &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Maybe backdoor intercoolers just arent as efficient??? They sure look like they wouldnt be, the air doesnt "flow" through it, it is crammed in- having to immediately turn 90deg and find its way through the fins then it does it again to get out of the other side. I dont know???</TD></TR></TABLE>

good point the smoother u can make air flow the cooler it stays. theres a local guy out here who has done tons of tests with air and the temps that occure when u start turning air in all sorts of directions. im pretty sure he knows what hes talking about hes rocking a BB chevy SC'd putting down 1800hp and he drives the SOB all around town with the help of some water injection.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mattcivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
good point the smoother u can make air flow the cooler it stays. theres a local guy out here who has done tons of tests with air and the temps that occure when u start turning air in all sorts of directions. im pretty sure he knows what hes talking about hes rocking a BB chevy SC'd putting down 1800hp and he drives the SOB all around town with the help of some water injection. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Technically there are only 2 bends in the entire intercooler system which are right at the intercooler and way less piping than in most set ups. That may affect efficiency some, but thats not really the answer that i am persuing *** far as the actual intercooler core is comcerned.....Thanks for your insight and opinion

 

eh' i gave my 2 cents. I bet they under rate them for some reason.... nice set-up BTW

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mattcivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">eh' i gave my 2 cents. I bet they under rate them for some reason.... nice set-up BTW </TD></TR></TABLE>

thanks!