I can't install my hood yet, but before I do, will the flat N/A hood fit with the TII underneath, using the stock intercooler. I don't want the TII scoop. I'd rather use a NACA duct if possible. I just like the way the NACA looks, and I don't have a TII hood, nor do I want to buy one.

So will it shut, and does anyone know if a NACA duct will actually get air to the SMIC?

 

first question is first.


Do you have a Side mount IC or a top mount?

why not just go vmount?

 

I think it does.

No, a NACA duct is a submerged duct. You would need to mount the intercooler differently, and I don't think there is enough room to do that on the top of the engine.

If you just like the look of a NACA duct, I recommend that you use a front-mount intercooler and install a NACA duct for the engine air intake.

 

n/a hood stock TMIC?

i dont think is good idea

 

nm

 

The N/A hood should fit.. at least it did on my NA->TII swap.

Also its not a great idea to use the N/A hood on the stock TMIC (as it almost negates the reason for the IC. Although if it is temporary you will be fine. Heat really shouldn't be a problem below 5 or 6psi, so as long as you aren't hard assing it you will be fine.

 

I know a NACA duct is submerged, but the hood is multiple layers. So if I cut a spot for one, it should submerge right to the top of the TMIC.

I guess smic stands for side mount ic, not stock mount ic.

 

Here's an article from Sport Compact Car on how they installed a NACA duct into a carbon fiber hood for their Turbo RSX project and one from a human-powered vehicle builder on how he made a NACA duct. The second link includes templates. The original NACA (NASA) papers are here (warning: PDF with LOTS of math). I have this issue of SCC at home and it explains in better detail how they made the NACA duct than the online article. I can tell you what issue it is on Friday.

 

This is some good news for me.

 

Stateing the obvious, so it doesn't get lost.

Just keep in mind what ever you do that it's all about moving air through the IC, the more the better.

 

problem solved

 

^Oh aren't you just sooo clever. I guess I should go pick up the phone and dial my friends at GReddy, better yet, Corksport for a front mount intercooler kit, and drop, oh say, about a thousand bucks for one of those.

Or, for near free, I could cut a hole and fiberglass in a custom naca duct... but that's just silly.

 

If I recall correctly the IC sits in between some of the hood's framing, meaning you will have relatively little clearance between the hood surface and the top of the IC, making a NACA duct hard to integrate. You could try relocating the IC a bit further back and placing it on a slight angle to allow for extra working space and better air flow, although the intake ducting would have to be rethought and I'm not sure you would see any benefit to it.. Good luck and let us know how it goes

 

Run without a hood.

 

Hmm.... maybe it's going to be a bit harder than I thought. I suppose I'll just bite the bullet when the time comes to pop the hood on, try and fit it on there, and see if it works. If not, I can always raise a center section of the hood up a couple inches and cut a duct for it from the raised section, to get the maximum airflow.

I'm just trying to retain the stock look of the convertible as much as possible. I think a FMIC would give away the fact that there's a TII sitting under there. A naca duct doesn't protrude from the hood, which is why it's so desireable for me. Plus, FMIC's are damn expensive, and I've already blown lots of money on this!

 

A submerged duct flows the air in a mostly horizontal path. The stock intercooler is designed for a mostly vertical air path. If you installed a NACA duct, the air would hit the edge of the intercooler rather than flow through the center. You would need to relocate the intercooler for this to work. Also, keep in mind that the duct hole needs to be about 1/4 the size of the surface area of the intercooler core, which will requre a pretty large duct.

 

Ok, what's all this crap I've been reading about if you run a front mount intercooler, you're going to overheat? WTF? If that's the case, then why the hell is over half the FC population using one?

To try to retain the stock... at least from the outside, should I just do like Aaron Cake did with his first project Tina, and use the stock intercooler in the front?





Here's my current list o' crap in the car:
87 TII engine/trans
stock convertible computer w/ SAFC II
NGK wideband o2
Walbro 255 lph fuel pump
3" racing beat downpipe, 3" exhaust back to (2) 2.125" y-pipe
a very custom ambient air intake

I already know I'm going to need the FCD because I have no catalytic converters, and there's probably not going to be enough backpressure to keep boost at stock levels. If I slap the stock intercooler in the front, I *think* I should be good, so long as I keep the boost low enough.