a front mounted stock IC, or a starion, and why?

 

Im fairly certain a front mounted stock IC wont sufficiently cool. But I have heard of people having two of the stock cores welded together to run up front. Dont know about the stock starion front.

 

The Starion intercooler does yield a performance gain over the stock system, as shown by a comparison of actual acceleration times. I don't know how the efficiency vs. pressure drop vs. heat sink vs. throttle response comparison works out, but you are welcome to spend lots of time and money figuring it out yourself and letting us all know.

Placing the stock intercooler up front will not increase its efficiency, as it is still the same intercooler but with more piping that is going to cause more pressure drop. However, placing the stock intercooler up front may allow for better airflow, which would have the same effect as increasing the efficiency. Although I have no data, it does not appear to me that this is worth the trouble.

 

so.. what you could have said is "I dunno" then.

 

From Autospeed's "Worlds Biggest Intercooler Comparison":

Mazda RX-7 Series 4 13B Turbo Air-to-Air Intercooler
Flow - Direction A (air entering longer pipe) 212 cfm (equal 11th)

Direction B (air exiting longer pipe) 202.4 cfm

Mass - 2.0kg (equal 17th overall)

Core Measurements - 29 x 16.3 x 6.2cm = 2931cm3 (equal 13th overall)

The first turbocharged Mazda RX-7 sold in Australia was the 136kW Series 4 13B-T. Thanks to the availability of local wrecks and imports, the all-aluminium Series 4 RX-7 intercoolers are currently fairly easy to find. On the flow bench the S4 'cooler rated equal 11th, tying with the Toyota 1G and Daihatsu GT-ti intercoolers. Its core volume and thermal mass is beaten by the Toyota 1G, which keeps it away from the top of the field in the medium size intercoolers.

Another capable all-round intercooler but it could be improved with core ducting and water spray. We'd recommend using it on engines making comfortably more than 150kW.





Mazda RX-7 Series 5 13B Turbo Air-to-Air Intercooler
Flow - Direction A (air entering longer pipe) 238.5 cfm (7th overall)

Direction B (air exiting longer pipe) 231.3 cfm

Mass - 2.0kg (equal 17th overall)

Core Measurements - 29 x 16.3 x 6.3cm = 2931cm3 (equal 13th overall)

The Series 5 RX7 intercooler is identical to the Series 4, except it has a couple of small 'trim' differences, a slightly different end-tank and a larger diameter entry pipe (the longer pipe). Primarily thanks to its larger entry pipe, this 'cooler flows better than the Series 4 reaching an impressive 7th overall ranking on the flow bench. Aside from that, though, it's identical to the Series 4 intercooler.

A good intercooler for 200+kW power applications so long as you add a water spray etc.




Japanese Market Mitsubishi Galant VR4 Air-to-Air Intercooler
Flow - Direction A and B 184 cfm (20th overall)

Mass - 3.4kg (6th overall)

Core Measurements - 19.7 x 41.5 x 6.5cm = 5314cm3 (6th overall)

You may not be aware that the Japanese domestic market 151kW Mitsubishi VR4 received a much larger front-mount intercooler than the Australian delivered variants. But is it really a 'gun' performer? Both the JDM VR4 core volume and thermal mass are very impressive, but the flow bench reveals its major shortcoming - it's outgunned by 80 percent of the field.

This is another good intercooler from a heat exchange perspective, but lacks the flow to make it suitable for genuine high performance. Keep its flow limitation in mind if you're looking to tweak an Aussie VR4.




Mitsubishi Lancer 1.8-litre GSR Air-to-Air Intercooler
Flow - Direction A 168 cfm (24th overall)

Direction B 155 cfm

Mass - 1.5kg (22nd overall)

Core Measurements - 15.0 x 24.0 x 6.4cm = 2304cm3 (17th overall)

This is the intercooler fitted to the 141kW Mitsubishi Lancer GSR 1.8-litre AWD turbo - and it's an absolute shocker. Ranked bottom of the pile in thermal mass and airflow, its middle-of-the-road core volume is not nearly enough to redeem it.

Ignore this intercooler except if you're looking to intercool a little Japanese Kei class vehicle - or maybe a hot motorcycle.

 

so what do you guy;s think about the isuzu NPR intercooler? (smaller one)

 

I am saying:
1) "I dunno"
2) The information you are asking for is much more complicated than you realize.
3) Moving the stock intercooler does not change the assembly properties.