is it worth front mounting a standard GT-T inercooler?

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

Like the topic states:
if i was to take a standard GT-T Caldina inercooler, and front mount it, would this have many (if any) benifits? or would it be more of a hassle than its worth?

cheers for input
Andrew

[Lanius]

You'd have the advantage of far less heat soak, which all top-mounted intercoolers suffer. If you know someone who can do steel fabrication on the cheap, then a new front mount would only cost you a few hundy.

There are a couple of very good fabricators on this forum who can help you out.

Front mounted intercoolers are definitely preferable to top mounted ones, but you need to remember the cons as well as the pros ... in this case, lag would be your main con, as well as more points of potential failure (ie boost/vacuum leaks from the pipe joins). These shouldn't be a problem provided the work is done properly though.

If you're going to go front mount, you may as well hold on a little bit longer and get a new intercooler as well (if you're unhappy with the standard cooler). Just remember that when it comes to intercoolers, bigger isn't always better. Look for an intercooler with maximum heat transfer and flow rates, rather than something with massive end tanks and lots of chrome

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

cheers for that
ok then peoples in the know - what would be a suitable intercooler?
i have a guy i work with that can do lots of fancy SS welding for me so thats a bonus.

can you tun the caldina turbo, face it down more (to make for better piping?)
what size in/out pipes would be bestest? (i can tax SS pipe from work if need be )

no other major mods as of now (see signature for profile) if that makes a difference

[shaggz]

grab a vr4 one if yuo want it cheapish if not look at like an aftermarket one for a skyline or similar but theyll cost yuo heaps more

[Lanius]

Theres a post in the For Sale section by a group called "Hybrid" performance parts ... they're selling a decent looking cooler for $450 or $499 I think it was. Otherwise, just shop around and see what kind of deals you can find. Custom coolers don't cost as much as you'd think these days.

[Dr-X]

Hybrid are damn good coolers, and you can get them on trademe for $400 new.