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What are the length, width and height dimensions of the two cores? Besides the fact that the back core will be slightly less effective due to air flow and air temp (as already pointed out), this seems like a nice design for cramming a large core (in total size) in a small space. Maybe a fan can overcome the inefficiencies of the back core and make this one of the best 'compact' SMICs out there.
No one seems to get that the real limitation of the stock mount intercooler is the stock duct. A finite amount of air can enter the duct, and at some point having a larger core simply will not help.
Core efficiency is much more important than core size in a stock mount set up, IMHO.
All the air in the KS cooler sees both cores. The rear core is the first in-line and cools the charge with waste air from the first core. The front core is the last in-line and cools the charge with ducted air from the front bumper. This design is more efficient, in regard to cooling, than the other single core designs.
I would estimate it is twice the volume and SA of the stock unit.
I wouldn't hold my breath for measurements of an obscure JDM stock mount intercooler.
This unit seems to be the best SMIC hands down for those that don't want to have to relocate the battery and/or get rid of the stock airbox (or similar styled cold air system like Knight Sports or Autoexe intakes). Surely the design is quite efficient with the air from the turbos going through the back core first (which is cooled by the waste air from the front core) and then the air travels through the front core which is getting directly cooled from the front bumper via the custom duct, which I understand is basically a fully sealed stock duct with a bit of an extension to reach the new intercooler.
It's a shame that these are about $1,400-$1,600 from Japan before customs charges. If I ever find this intercooler for a good price second hand it will be next on my list to replace the stock intercooler on my car right now.
I will paint it black though and use black silicone hoses to keep the car looking stock.
That is the ARD intercooler from Australia right? Didn't they only do a small production run of like 20 of them and they were quite expensive at AUD 2,200 if I recall. However, I agree with you that it is a very nice unit.
Yes , they are ards , but I heard that he has released a new batch of 40 sets that are more improved ,
Larger carbon duct
Larger tube and fin cores 88mm
I've been told they will be released in the next few weeks
I can't wait , and yes I think they are around $2200 , I see it's a
Good buy for the USA our dollar is low at the moment .
I wonder how the intercooler shroud interplays with the stock intake duct. The opening for the intake duct is already pretty small behind the license plate area although it is a natural high pressure area so air gets their no matter what.
99 spec intake and intercooler ducting is 1.8x larger than before (mostly due to the front bumper change).
The intake duct has its own path of air flow on the series 8 model, the intercooler duct is seperate to intake duct it's clear on your picture .
The ARD carbon duct for cooler is larger to provide max air flow to u type cooler for best efficiency.
The early series series 6. ,7 use the same intercooler duct for the intake and intercooler which was removed on the series 8 model , the intercooler duct is the same size on 6,7,8 .
The ARD cooler is best used with autoexe intake kit . and on the earlier models series 6,7 u need to upgraded to series8 bumper and plastic reinforcement to allow for air to flow air to the autoexe carbon intake.
End of the day the ARD cooler in the best for street car making from stock twins with 210rwkws on 13psi and up to 320rwkw running the sp Bathurst twins 18psi on pump fuel , looks legal and undercover no hassles from the cops , price is in accordance to RND and premium workmanship .
And the upgrade are bolts on no need to fabricate anything , do it yourself .
Thanks for that. I have to agree that the Knight Sports or ARD SMICs are the best on the market in terms of stock location. Wouldn't the Knight Sports intake be slightly better than the Autoexe intake because of the design right at the tip of the bumper? The autoexe is open for some reason whereas the Knight Sports seeks to extract cold air from behind the license plate just like the stock intake does.
Knight Sports Intake and Knight Sports SMIC
Stock Intake on Series 8 (never mind the letters)
Still, I can't see that the Autoexe or the Knight Sports offer much gain over the stock intake system as it's quite well designed and these aftermarket systems are ridiculously expensive for what they are. The only benefits the Autoexe and Knight Sports seem to have are the use of a cone filter as opposed to a panel filter but the stock Mazda filter flows quite well and if concerned a K&N drop-in could maybe net an additional 1-2 hp.
Standard intake on series 8 is ok if u want to run standard boost , but when u run 15psi on the stock twin u find the tune requires a little more fuel on the map , and also the car is more responsive .
But the big advatage when using autoexe is when u run the Bathurst sp twin upgrade by ARD on 18 psi, the autoexe provides the extra air flow needed at this boost level.
The standard airbox restriction is the opening not the panel filter .
U need a set of the Bathurst sp twins factory fit ,
larger AR compressor covers
Larger 5 blade compressor
Larger turbine
Oem high pressure actuators 0.85bar
All parts designed and made by hitachi engineers special request by ARD .
I see. So you are saying the restriction is the opening that connects to the air guide itself:
I'm still not sure how the Autoexe would be better than the Knight Sports one though due to the way they connect to the front license plate area. Either way, I'm sure the difference is negligible between the two and to be honest the cost is just ridiculous when you think about it.
I'm running 280ps twins at 0.85 bar (about 12.3 psi) at the moment on the stock airbox and stock intercooler with a 250cc/min nozzle for water injection post intercooler, but I could imagine the desire and/or requirement to upgrade the airbox and the intercooler if you are trying to run more than 1.0 bar on twins (14 psi or more). Although factory twins probably wouldn't last very long at that level of boost.
Water injection works but it a hassle , always requiring to refill water reservoir .
No reliablity problems Running the 280ps twins at 15psi .
As long as u have a good flowing exhaust system , run good quality re synthetic oil and change the oil every 3000 km .
And get rid of water injection and put a u type intercooler
And fit Apexi pfc and get a good tune .
460 l walbro fuel pump
Hks la Twin plate or single
Autoexe intake
Should make 240 rwkw(320rwhp) maybe more
Enjoy good street setup
Last edited by THE DOCTOR; Feb 26, 2016 at 04:19 PM.
I thought in Japan they typically limit 280ps twins to 0.9 bar (13 psi) if you want them to last a normal length of time?
That is a large reason that I tuned for 0.85 bar (12.5 psi) rather than go any higher (plus I know the stock intercooler is probably not too efficient at much higher boost pressure).
Water injection hasn't been too bad for me yet. I use the front washer reservoir and the water is boost activated after 7 psi and I only need to refill the reservoir with distilled water after half of a track day (i.e. 3-4 20 minute sessions). On the street I don't even worry about whether it is filled up since I run so little water anyway and the stock system is just fine for a couple of WOT pulls. My tune isn't dependent on the water as it is only used as a safety net.
The M2 is almost impossible to find in time and get shipped to the UK but in any case isn't it too large to allow the stock airbox and battery to be used?
Yes , they are ards , but I heard that he has released a new batch of 40 sets that are more improved ,
Larger carbon duct
Larger tube and fin cores 88mm
I've been told they will be released in the next few weeks
I can't wait , and yes I think they are around $2200 , I see it's a
Good buy for the USA our dollar is low at the moment .
