Anybody actually tried the xspower (ssautochrome) ebay intercooler?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: DC
Originally Posted by 7racer
We know that the intercooler uses older technology with a potential for a large pressure drop causing the turbos to work harder to achieve the same psi.
<pure speculation>
anybody know of a graph of the heat output from the turbos per psi? if the "older" technology of this core does cause less pressure drop so the turbos are in effect putting out 1-2 psi less, i would assume that the air coming out of the turbos is less hot, therefore needing less cooling.
</pure speculation>
None
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis
I wouldn't expect a benefit from it. On higher end new cores we're only talking about .5 to 1 psi of pressure drop at 10 to 15psi. My point with the older style cores was that they will likely not suffer from high pressure drops of smaller designs like the stock units. I would expect pressure drops to be in the same region as mine, within .1-.2psi but at the same time be aware that the Chinese manufacturers have problems brazing the bar and plate layers together causing a lot of pin hole leaks which could result in some larger "effective" pressure drop numbers. Pressurizing each unit while underwater to check for any bubbles is probably a really good idea, although probably really annoying to do.
None
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis
I got a new intercooler from the "experts in superpower" today. My first impression was, It's true, you do get what you pay for. The best part of the kit was by far the boxes it came in. They were actually pretty nice, although one of the inputs on the IC had a massive dent in it that likely can't be repaired. (Not that is matters since I'll end up cutting this thing in half) Not sure if it was the lack of foam or just normal damage for something coming all the way from rural China.
The welding was very amateurish with huge beads and variances in the bead from one part to another. In one spot the bead is 1/2" thick and only a couple inches up there's a series of huge blobs that jump to 3/4" in width. Whoever said these things have quality welds has apparently never seen what a proper weld is supposed to look like.
It's also a bit frightening to see sections of intercooler fins melted out from the welds that got too wide or were with a shaky hand and wandered off into the core.
Another item of note, although not necessarily bad or good is that this is actually a combination of two different cores. The top and bottom ambient side rows are from a different intercooler altogether.
Some other external observations are that the IC is not the dimensions advertised. It's advertised as a 3.25" thick core but at no point does it ever get over 3 1/8". Funnily it actually varies a little between 3" to 3.125" from one end to the other. I'm not sure how they managed to not make a straight line.
When I first picked the core up it struck me as being very heavy. It took me a minute to figure out why, at least I assume it's why. The end tanks are actually cast. Can't say I've ever seen someone make a casting trying to look like sheet aluminum before. It could also be the material being used causing some of the extra weight.
It seems that all the other owners of them acknowledge that the pipes that come with the kit aren't very usable. To begin with they aren't even completely round and have rust inside, anyway I think I'll just ignore the pipes. The clamps were really substandard as well.
Of course all of this is biased, but also entirely true : ). I'll start doing some basic tests as I have time over the next few weeks. On the surface I'd still hold with my first opinion that they're likely still worth $200. I'm a little nervous about what's going to come flying out when I first run pressurized air through it though after seeing rusty wire feed wire dangling inside the steel/aluminized pipes.
Kevin T. Wyum
The welding was very amateurish with huge beads and variances in the bead from one part to another. In one spot the bead is 1/2" thick and only a couple inches up there's a series of huge blobs that jump to 3/4" in width. Whoever said these things have quality welds has apparently never seen what a proper weld is supposed to look like.
It's also a bit frightening to see sections of intercooler fins melted out from the welds that got too wide or were with a shaky hand and wandered off into the core.
Another item of note, although not necessarily bad or good is that this is actually a combination of two different cores. The top and bottom ambient side rows are from a different intercooler altogether.
Some other external observations are that the IC is not the dimensions advertised. It's advertised as a 3.25" thick core but at no point does it ever get over 3 1/8". Funnily it actually varies a little between 3" to 3.125" from one end to the other. I'm not sure how they managed to not make a straight line.
When I first picked the core up it struck me as being very heavy. It took me a minute to figure out why, at least I assume it's why. The end tanks are actually cast. Can't say I've ever seen someone make a casting trying to look like sheet aluminum before. It could also be the material being used causing some of the extra weight.
It seems that all the other owners of them acknowledge that the pipes that come with the kit aren't very usable. To begin with they aren't even completely round and have rust inside, anyway I think I'll just ignore the pipes. The clamps were really substandard as well.
Of course all of this is biased, but also entirely true : ). I'll start doing some basic tests as I have time over the next few weeks. On the surface I'd still hold with my first opinion that they're likely still worth $200. I'm a little nervous about what's going to come flying out when I first run pressurized air through it though after seeing rusty wire feed wire dangling inside the steel/aluminized pipes.
Kevin T. Wyum
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 587
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From: DC
Originally Posted by Kevin T. Wyum
I got a new intercooler from the "experts in superpower" today. My first impression was, It's true, you do get what you pay for. The best part of the kit was by far the boxes it came in. They were actually pretty nice, although one of the inputs on the IC had a massive dent in it that likely can't be repaired. (Not that is matters since I'll end up cutting this thing in half) Not sure if it was the lack of foam or just normal damage for something coming all the way from rural China.
The welding was very amateurish with huge beads and variances in the bead from one part to another. In one spot the bead is 1/2" thick and only a couple inches up there's a series of huge blobs that jump to 3/4" in width. Whoever said these things have quality welds has apparently never seen what a proper weld is supposed to look like.
It's also a bit frightening to see sections of intercooler fins melted out from the welds that got too wide or were with a shaky hand and wandered off into the core.
Another item of note, although not necessarily bad or good is that this is actually a combination of two different cores. The top and bottom ambient side rows are from a different intercooler altogether.
Some other external observations are that the IC is not the dimensions advertised. It's advertised as a 3.25" thick core but at no point does it ever get over 3 1/8". Funnily it actually varies a little between 3" to 3.125" from one end to the other. I'm not sure how they managed to not make a straight line.
When I first picked the core up it struck me as being very heavy. It took me a minute to figure out why, at least I assume it's why. The end tanks are actually cast. Can't say I've ever seen someone make a casting trying to look like sheet aluminum before. It could also be the material being used causing some of the extra weight.
It seems that all the other owners of them acknowledge that the pipes that come with the kit aren't very usable. To begin with they aren't even completely round and have rust inside, anyway I think I'll just ignore the pipes. The clamps were really substandard as well.
Of course all of this is biased, but also entirely true : ). I'll start doing some basic tests as I have time over the next few weeks. On the surface I'd still hold with my first opinion that they're likely still worth $200. I'm a little nervous about what's going to come flying out when I first run pressurized air through it though after seeing rusty wire feed wire dangling inside the steel/aluminized pipes.
Kevin T. Wyum
The welding was very amateurish with huge beads and variances in the bead from one part to another. In one spot the bead is 1/2" thick and only a couple inches up there's a series of huge blobs that jump to 3/4" in width. Whoever said these things have quality welds has apparently never seen what a proper weld is supposed to look like.
It's also a bit frightening to see sections of intercooler fins melted out from the welds that got too wide or were with a shaky hand and wandered off into the core.
Another item of note, although not necessarily bad or good is that this is actually a combination of two different cores. The top and bottom ambient side rows are from a different intercooler altogether.
Some other external observations are that the IC is not the dimensions advertised. It's advertised as a 3.25" thick core but at no point does it ever get over 3 1/8". Funnily it actually varies a little between 3" to 3.125" from one end to the other. I'm not sure how they managed to not make a straight line.
When I first picked the core up it struck me as being very heavy. It took me a minute to figure out why, at least I assume it's why. The end tanks are actually cast. Can't say I've ever seen someone make a casting trying to look like sheet aluminum before. It could also be the material being used causing some of the extra weight.
It seems that all the other owners of them acknowledge that the pipes that come with the kit aren't very usable. To begin with they aren't even completely round and have rust inside, anyway I think I'll just ignore the pipes. The clamps were really substandard as well.
Of course all of this is biased, but also entirely true : ). I'll start doing some basic tests as I have time over the next few weeks. On the surface I'd still hold with my first opinion that they're likely still worth $200. I'm a little nervous about what's going to come flying out when I first run pressurized air through it though after seeing rusty wire feed wire dangling inside the steel/aluminized pipes.
Kevin T. Wyum
Maybe they read this board and sent you a castaway
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,736
Likes: 10
From: Dallas, Texas
Originally Posted by Kevin T. Wyum
...It will be pretty funny to see the ducts people come up with. Doing a good job is not fun, the tubing work is a cake walk compared to the duct.
ah how prophetic
Kevin, what test are you planning to run?
Passion
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton
Originally Posted by Kevin T. Wyum
Some other external observations are that the IC is not the dimensions advertised. It's advertised as a 3.25" thick core but at no point does it ever get over 3 1/8". Funnily it actually varies a little between 3" to 3.125" from one end to the other. I'm not sure how they managed to not make a straight line.
Can you please post pictures of where your IC is 3" and a picture of 3 1/8"?
Last edited by ehos; Mar 23, 2006 at 11:37 PM.
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,736
Likes: 10
From: Dallas, Texas
Originally Posted by ehos
Sorry, but the XSPower IC I have is 3.25" all around. Here's a pic.
Can you please post pictures of where your IC is 3" and a picture of 3 1/8"?
Can you please post pictures of where your IC is 3" and a picture of 3 1/8"?
Maybe it's too late at night but doesn't it show that your intercooler is 3 1/8th thick not 3 1/4???
1/4 or 0.25 would be the next slash???
The welds on my XS Power IC were much more consistant than what Kevin must have received. Also I did not have any melted fins on mine. Taking a look at this site.
http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/parts_info/ic/index.html
The welds look better than those. I also cannot find a section line that shows two different cores. Could be a case of luck of the draw. I also pressure tested mine with no leakage. Don't remember the regulator pressure at the time though.
http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/parts_info/ic/index.html
The welds look better than those. I also cannot find a section line that shows two different cores. Could be a case of luck of the draw. I also pressure tested mine with no leakage. Don't remember the regulator pressure at the time though.
Originally Posted by 7racer
Maybe it's too late at night but doesn't it show that your intercooler is 3 1/8th thick not 3 1/4???
1/4 or 0.25 would be the next slash???
1/4 or 0.25 would be the next slash???
Originally Posted by jayk
Maybe they read this board and sent you a castaway
Only a true DORK would use racial insults to discredit a product. Someone really needs to walk up and slap the **** out of him...
Passion
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton
Well the things I disagree with are...
1) The welding isn't 'amateurish' and it doesn't vary at all. Looks smooth and consistent all around.
2) No melted fins on mine.
3) It doesn't 'vary' between 3" and 3 1/8th. Though I do agree that it isn't 3.25" as advertised. Also, I disagree that it isn't a straight line (when in fact they all are).
4) No one has installed it using the pipes it comes with? Hmmm. I disagree with that as well.
5) Clamps aren't 'substandard'. They look like normal everday clamps to me. Not any better or worse than what's on the car already.
The only thing I agree with is 'Of course all of this is biased...'.
I bought mine for $99. (IC, clamps, couplers). Are you telling me it's worse than the stock intercooler?
I'll ignore the whole 'rural china' thing...
1) The welding isn't 'amateurish' and it doesn't vary at all. Looks smooth and consistent all around.
2) No melted fins on mine.
3) It doesn't 'vary' between 3" and 3 1/8th. Though I do agree that it isn't 3.25" as advertised. Also, I disagree that it isn't a straight line (when in fact they all are).
4) No one has installed it using the pipes it comes with? Hmmm. I disagree with that as well.
5) Clamps aren't 'substandard'. They look like normal everday clamps to me. Not any better or worse than what's on the car already.
The only thing I agree with is 'Of course all of this is biased...'.
I bought mine for $99. (IC, clamps, couplers). Are you telling me it's worse than the stock intercooler?
I'll ignore the whole 'rural china' thing...
None
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis
Are you one of those people that has no job and blames everything on your race or affirmative action or something? You keep injecting race when nobody else has? Although Alabama is well known for its history of racial equality and tolerance, especially compared to a bigoted racist state like Minnesota. I'm beginning to think you might have broken with that states fine traditions of modern equality. That's at least the third time you've tried to accuse me of being a racist. Your life revolves far too much around racism and I really think you need help with whatever racial hostility you have bottled up inside. Put your pointy white hat back in the root cellar and join the world in discussing real issues without always bringing up race.
"Or maybe the Chinaman who usually does the welding had to work the rice fields the day Kevin's was made."
How's it feel to be the true DORK? You really are quite the racist under all this aren't you? The funniest part of all of this is that in your ignorance and racism what you assumed was an insult is quite literally often true, although I don't think they go by "Chinaman" and they farm things in addition to rice, contrary to what you've heard in Alabama apparently. How is it you think a billion and a half people eat every day?
If anyone finds themselves thinking along those lines I strongly encourage you to make at least a reasonable attempt to educate yourselves on recent Chinese culture and industry. Products like these are most often made in rural China. What are normally farming collectives are given the chance to earn extra income by setting up small low tech industry. The major cities tend to revolve around high tech or large scale manufacture. In cases of successfull ventures into these low tech manufacturing projects it can often supplant the farming the community was based upon to begin with.
On a side note the funniest part about your racism is that they're quite proud of what you're making fun of and assuming to be an insult. Maybe it's your 3600+ posts, get out in the world and see it for once.
Not sure how you got off my ignore list but it's good to see you haven't changed in the last 1000 posts. BTW how'd that duct that was going to be so simplistic to make work out for you? I believe you said it wouldn't take anymore than $50 and would be very easy to make? Oh that's right, https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...5&page=7&pp=30 You should really watch the racism as well. It doesn't help anyone and only hurts you and your family, which I assume you still live with.
Back to the ignore list btw. I, unlike you, don't have time for 3600 posts and I actually did something with an FD once upon a time, although it's too long ago to remember.
Kevin T. Wyum
"Or maybe the Chinaman who usually does the welding had to work the rice fields the day Kevin's was made."
How's it feel to be the true DORK? You really are quite the racist under all this aren't you? The funniest part of all of this is that in your ignorance and racism what you assumed was an insult is quite literally often true, although I don't think they go by "Chinaman" and they farm things in addition to rice, contrary to what you've heard in Alabama apparently. How is it you think a billion and a half people eat every day?
If anyone finds themselves thinking along those lines I strongly encourage you to make at least a reasonable attempt to educate yourselves on recent Chinese culture and industry. Products like these are most often made in rural China. What are normally farming collectives are given the chance to earn extra income by setting up small low tech industry. The major cities tend to revolve around high tech or large scale manufacture. In cases of successfull ventures into these low tech manufacturing projects it can often supplant the farming the community was based upon to begin with.
On a side note the funniest part about your racism is that they're quite proud of what you're making fun of and assuming to be an insult. Maybe it's your 3600+ posts, get out in the world and see it for once.
Not sure how you got off my ignore list but it's good to see you haven't changed in the last 1000 posts. BTW how'd that duct that was going to be so simplistic to make work out for you? I believe you said it wouldn't take anymore than $50 and would be very easy to make? Oh that's right, https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...5&page=7&pp=30 You should really watch the racism as well. It doesn't help anyone and only hurts you and your family, which I assume you still live with.
Back to the ignore list btw. I, unlike you, don't have time for 3600 posts and I actually did something with an FD once upon a time, although it's too long ago to remember.
Kevin T. Wyum
Lives on the Forum
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 14,716
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From: San Lorenzo, California
Any more direct attacks or comments by ANYONE will result in this thread being closed.
Non-moderator hat: Kevin, please post the pics up, I'm sure several are anxious to see them....
Non-moderator hat: Kevin, please post the pics up, I'm sure several are anxious to see them....
None
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis
Alright I got out the trusty old 1.3mp cybershot. I also have a question for anyone well versed with materials. What would cause rust on aluminum? It's not ferrous to a magnet but there's actual rust on the weld beads of this intercooler and in some gouges on the cast end tank. I've never seen that before. BTW be patient with my posting pics, I'm not a savvy user.
First pics as requested of the IC at 3" and 3 1/8" in width.
First pics as requested of the IC at 3" and 3 1/8" in width.
