New intercooler alternatives..

[Thomasio]

Originally Posted by alexandertg4

Haha I am sorry to be a tease. I have come up with a few good ideas and people are benefitting with one currently. That would be the 1/4 turn screw idea. However, being as 1 person, I gotta tackle one thing at a time. On top of that, being as giving to the Lotus community as I am, my car is currently with Rotora so that they can develop a brake system for our cars. So I am not a tease on purpose, I am a tease due to time/testing constraints.

Big props to you for creating a part-time job for yourself in order to bring a needed product to the Lotus community - without gouging us on prices!

I'm a customer of yours, keep up the great work!

[alexandertg4]

Originally Posted by Thomasio

Big props to you for creating a part-time job for yourself in order to bring a needed product to the Lotus community - without gouging us on prices!

I'm a customer of yours, keep up the great work!

Don't hold your breath quite yet, I may just anodize my screws blue...

[Thomasio]

Originally Posted by alexandertg4

Don't hold your breath quite yet, I may just anodize my screws blue...

DOH!!

[ss_exige]

has anyone looked into a good heatshield b/w the motor and the intercooler? That was the main source of heat soak on the intercooler of my sti.

[Zeroskills]

Originally Posted by ss_exige

has anyone looked into a good heatshield b/w the motor and the intercooler? That was the main source of heat soak on the intercooler of my sti.

Plans Motorsports in the UK sells one. I have one on order. Just a little bent bit of aluminum with gold NASA foil that mounts at the base of the intercooler.

[shoco]

Hey Doghouse, glad to see someone stir some interest in this subject. I noticed your prediction of a set of ducts for front entrance to the intercooler.
That is very hard to do due to the space constraints. I have mocked it up and tested that configuration and can say it is a compromise because cross sectional area suffers in the bends required. It uses up alot of space also in the engine compartment.

The factory intercooler also suffers heat soak by design whenever the car is stationary. The natural effect of heat rising starts at the intercooler rear and flows out the roof. (this also happens at some speeds)

By taking air from the side scoops(both but with a separation at the core so pressure does not cancel at speed) and feeding it to the intercooler, you change the path creating a cooling effect when stationary.

Bold statements? I am thinking of sending a set of ducts to someone in a warm area to objectively test them. Someone such as yourself?

[Dragon]

Has anyone tried running the PWR Barrel air to water inter-cooler? Could probably mount the heat exchanger in the stock inter-cooler location with a small fan behind it to pull in cold air...

http://www.pwr-performance.com/intercooler.htm

[alexandertg4]

Originally Posted by Dragon

Has anyone tried running the PWR Barrel air to water inter-cooler? Could probably mount the heat exchanger in the stock inter-cooler location with a small fan behind it to pull in cold air...

http://www.pwr-performance.com/intercooler.htm

You may be on to something. That is an idea I am throwing around but not put the heat exchanger in the stock location otherwise you just paid 1200 bucks for the same situation.

[Doghouse]

I like the PWR alternative. You could mount the radiator part in the passenger side intake and get decent air flow with a little sheet metal ducting. Forget the fan. Create a bracket (with heat shield) to mount in the stock position. Run the plumbing locally and you are .

PWR Performance is a well known supplier in the drag racing world, so you are not dealing with a fly-by-night business that does shoddy work.

Now the only question is sizing and making sure the airflow on what will fit in the stock position is greater than stock.

Anybody have any idea of the maximum potential CFM of charge that passes through the stock intercooler?

[Doghouse]

Originally Posted by alexandertg4

Don't hold your breath quite yet, I may just anodize my screws blue...

There is something fundamentally wrong with having blue screws.

[Doghouse]

Originally Posted by ZTEC

Doghouse, if you've got a
question for frank go to monkeytuner.com and get the correct answer
from him rather than hearsay.......these guys never get the facts
right....thanks

I tried a couple times to get a user account on the noted web site / forum but required some super secret password.

I have nothing against Frank, I'm sure he's a good guy to hang out with, share technical tips with, get help from, bench race with, and generally do what 'motorheads' generally do. From the limited information I've heard / read on-line the stuff he's doing to put HP into his car is pretty far beyond the everyday mods. You always got to have those guys who like to push the technical limit and then go beyond in any car community. Just pointing out the obvious, he's technically on the frontier.

[alexandertg4]

I am actually working on a system using the PWR option. My kit will include a fan for the heat exchanger. The hardest part is making brackets for the heat exchanger and seeing if it actually makes a difference which is what I will be testing next week.

[Doghouse]

Originally Posted by alexandertg4

I am actually working on a system using the PWR option. My kit will include a fan for the heat exchanger. The hardest part is making brackets for the heat exchanger and seeing if it actually makes a difference which is what I will be testing next week.

If your kit is anything like the 1/4 turn screws, should be a viable alternative to those of us who have yet to win the lotto...

[Buz]

Air is lighter than water.

[Thomasio]

Originally Posted by Buz

Air is lighter than water.

Water is about 8 lbs / gallon.

[Chili Red]

Originally Posted by Thomasio

Water is about 8 lbs / gallon.

Actually 8.3452641 pounds at 72F at sea level.

[alexandertg4]

Originally Posted by Doghouse

If your kit is anything like the 1/4 turn screws, should be a viable alternative to those of us who have yet to win the lotto...

I am not sure how to take that statement. Is it a compliment or just a statement? lol

[qball]

Yes... a compliment.

He basically said that if you can make a kit that's reasonablly priced (like your fastener kits were) it would be great (for those people that aren't gazillionaires and can't afford to pay for expensive alloy intercoolers from England!)

[Dragon]

Every 11'F drop in intake air temp is = to 1% increase in power... Negates the 8lbs pretty quickly...

If you put the heat exchanger in the air duct position then I would also put in larger air duct covers that will allow a larger volume of air threw them with less resistance... Definitely keep the fan as that is what will eliminate the heat soak by constantly drawing cool air threw the heat exchanger when the car is stationary. You can also heat wrap the inter cooler to help prevent heat soak as well...

[alexandertg4]

Originally Posted by qball

Yes... a compliment.

He basically said that if you can make a kit that's reasonablly priced (like your fastener kits were) it would be great (for those people that aren't gazillionaires and can't afford to pay for expensive alloy intercoolers from England!)

Well the one thing I have learned is that it is better to make less from a customer who is willing to come back several times than to kill a customer's wallet and scare him away for good. That plus A+ customer service is the key to maybe not a 100% successful business but one people will respect. That's my motto and business model.