Intercooler: Which type (tube-fin/bar-plate)? From Where?

[MrOizo]

I'm looking at getting a new intercooler. I currently have a tube/fin one which I ran while the Supra was twin turbo and i guess it did a good job.

I have a GTR bar and plate that i have set up my piping to fit and i guess getting another GTR one would be nice.

What should I be looking for in a intercooler?

How can i tell its a decent one and not a chopped down truck one? Should i just get a overpriced one from Japan?

OR, should i just stop pussy-footing around and fit either one of these intercoolers i have here?

Cheers!

[Mr Ree]

What dont the ones you already own, do?

The way I see it, unless you are making far too much horsepower for the core to cool, and your IAT's are getting too high, then there is no reason to upgrade. Reality is even the cheap ebay cores are more than enough for 90% of cars out there. Its only sustained WOT for extended duration that will cause it to heatsoak.

You could even make up a super cheap < $10 intercooler sprayer setup to supplement your current core

[MrOizo]

It's hard to know whether the ones i have are enough. I dont know what to look for in one.

What would be better? Tube-Fin or Bar-Plate?

I had a feeling what i have will be good enough - i just dont want to have to replace later on. I'd rather do it now while everything else is getting done

[Mr Ree]

What are your power goals/intended usage?

Im sure that unless you are shooting for the moon, either of the two you currently have will be fine.

Tube and fin or bar and plate? To be honest, both have their own advantages, with T&F typically weighing considerably less than its B&P cousin with the same core size, but either will be fine.

If you want a true baller spec core, you cant look any further than ARC, they are absolutely gorgeous and proven to be able to cope with the energy of 5 suns...although I believe they are no longer trading

[evil_si]

Id keep the one you have, and when all up and running do some testing with a temp probe in the intake, this will be the only real way to know if what you have is up to the task,

The intercoolers these days are much better than 10years ago when cut down truck ones were common place, even truck intercoolers are extremely efficient these days,
There was a write up in fast fours bagging truck coolers years ago, but they were referring to trucks from the late 80's and early 90's

[2jayzgte]

I no a guy with a R32 who is selling his ARC FMIC setup if thats what your after he swears by it.Who know's why he's selling it.

[strx7]

on a competition car that needs airflow through the front tube and fin is the way to go, it sacrifices a little charge cooling for the sake of cooling system airflow.

[MrOizo]

Ok, thanks guys. I was just worried that i might be over estimating the intercooler i have and it would limit me. I will go with the GTR one that i currently have piping set up for.

2jayzgte, if you could get some pics/price that would be great! Will compare to what i have at home.

Cheers.

[Mr Ree]

He wants $1500 for the ARC core, and I would hazzard a guess that your gtr one will be modelled of the ARC.

Does your GTR style core have angled inlet/outlet pipes?

[92mr2paddy]

ive heard that the tube and fin ones are a lot lighter but heatsoak quicker compared to the bar and plate ones that have 'thick' material that takes alot more thrashing to heatsoak.

i like the idea of the gtr type cooler with the angled outlet for my 2cents, haha

i would go for atleast 100mm thickness for flow or even 115 as some of the gtr types go to, i got told a few years ago that putting a cheap 100mm thick 3inch inlet outlet on my supra running the standard twins would lagg alot due to the extra area of the cooler, turned out to be complete rubbish as it came on boost quicker and had more go throughout.

[e30-323ti]

The intercoolers these days are much better than 10years ago when cut down truck ones were common place, even truck intercoolers are extremely efficient these days,
There was a write up in fast fours bagging truck coolers years ago, but they were referring to trucks from the late 80's and early 90's

Not to mention a lot more available these days.

10yrs ago I had to get mine custom made, core (tube & fin) had to come from K'n'J in OZ.
Same with the Custom PWR radiator.

And cost a fortune. *facepalm - should have waited 10yrs*

[matt dunn]

on a competition car that needs airflow through the front tube and fin is the way to go, it sacrifices a little charge cooling for the sake of cooling system airflow.

Correct, have seen a few race cars over the years have large thick front mounts which makes the engine water temp overheat due to lack of airflow.

[MrOizo]

This is the GTR one i have. Bar and plate design with the angled in/out.
Looking front on, the right is more angled (downwards) than the left:



Mr Ree / 2jayzgte: I will have to pass on a used intercooler at $1500!

[Akane]

I believe the bar and plate has a flow advantage, as in less pressure drop.

[Mr Ree]

That one will be fine, mate ^

I would consider removing it and flushing its core, both internally, and externally, just to ensure its going to do the best job it can. I just spent last weekend flushing/picking out what must have been 99% of Taupo's wasps, bees, and other flying insects from my core...its amazing how deep they get into the core when impacted at 220kph lol

If you feel the need, do some datalogging of pre/post intercooler temps, but unless you are going to be doing some serious laps somewhere, I can pretty much assure you it will be up to the task.

P.S No worries on the ARC core either, its too baller for me also

[matt dunn]

Ones like the picture above are great for airflow through the intake system,
but shit for airflow through to the radiator.

Road car use only really as much more than a few minutes under full load and water temps will skyrocket.

[limbo]

I made a data logger system to measure pressure and temp before and after my intercooler but never got round to installing it when I was home last.

When I am back next and get the bugs worked out of it will be interesting to see how bad (or good) the factory system is.

Would be worth testing a few cars to see the difference between systems, so if anyone wants to have a go let me know.

I only made it so that when I test my factory stuff and it turns out to be ass I can feel good about buying new bits.