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Front Mount Intercoolers overheating?

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Old 04-23-03, 05:41 PM
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Unhappy Front Mount Intercoolers overheating?

Alright I'm looking to put a new intercooler in my car and Ive talked to a couple shops about it and they told me that front mount intercoolers are cool to look at but will not provide enough air-flow through the radiator or AC unit to keep things cool. Which could cause overheating problems in traffic and such. Mine is a daily drivin car to work about a 25minute drive and never really see's much light other than taking it out on the weekends. Has anyone had any problems with front mount intercoolers on a daily drivin car? I would really like to hear all your opinions and tips cause I want a front mount intercooler for more performance and for more looks. Thanks.
Old 04-23-03, 06:10 PM
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Look into getting the Koyo stand-up radiator:

I believe this will eliminate this problem because it will allow for more surface area for direct air flow. At least, this is what I think is the case

It's $369.00
Old 04-23-03, 06:57 PM
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Isn't that when you mess with something to keep the fan on all the time? How do you do that, exactly?
Old 04-23-03, 07:14 PM
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First the FMIC might run a little warmer, depending on design; but will not overheat your engine if installed correctly and with adequate forthough to what you are doing. There are little things you can do to improve air flow through the radiator. I have a Blitz front mount and have no problems here in a Houston summer.

Fan mod has two functions:
(1) turn fans on when ever you want.
(2) if turned on 2 minutes before engine shut down, fans will run for 10 minutes to cool down engine compartment after shut down.

With a FMIC, it also keeps it cooler.

The switch grounds out the short wire lead that comes out of the little black plastic box attached to the rear of the ecu. The short wire is not connected to anything and has a female spade conector in it.

A very simple mod to do!

Last edited by cewrx7r1; 04-23-03 at 07:18 PM.
Old 04-23-03, 07:23 PM
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Here is a picture, and go to:

http://chuck.homestead.com/Engine.html

Last edited by cewrx7r1; 04-23-03 at 07:25 PM.
Old 04-23-03, 07:58 PM
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cewrx7r1 you said that you have a blitz front mount intercooler? Does it matter what type of intercooler you have with the piping? What I'm getting at is can I get the blitz intercooler and have the Greddy piping? Well let me put it this way, what would you guys prefer the Blitz FMIC for stock twins or the Greddy FMIC for stock twins. I can get the Greddy one with the elbow and the additional piping for the same price as the Blitz intercooler, just the intercooler. And by the way thanks for the help guys. Disturbd or anyone else that knows: Do you know where I can get that Koyo stand up radiator, might get that just to be sure.

Last edited by Chrisjw85; 04-23-03 at 08:20 PM.
Old 04-23-03, 08:59 PM
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Ya gotta do an aluminum radiator or you'll be dead in the water....No pun intended

I have a Spearco 27 x 8 x 4 FMIC w/ T60-1 turbo and until I bought an all aluminum radiator (Griffin) I was fighting over heating issues too...Now I can basically run it as hard as I want and it stays right about where it should be....An aluminum radiator is one of the most important mods you can buy

Brad
Old 04-23-03, 09:06 PM
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Would the Fluidyne one be good? I've heard some good things about that one.
Old 04-23-03, 10:32 PM
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If you go the the included web page, you will see pictures of the stock turbos with Erfini "Y" pipe and Greddy elbo conected to the throttle body. All stock.

My setup also includes a M2 aluminum radiator from about 4 years ago. It is a tad smaller than some of the newer ones.
Old 04-24-03, 02:08 AM
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I installed my GReddy FMIC 3 months ago, and even though I'm still using my stock radiator I have no problems with the heat. In traffic the fans will be a bit more busy, but when I get myself a new radiator it should work like a charm!
Old 04-24-03, 05:13 AM
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The Fluidyne is a very good one to buy.
Old 04-24-03, 06:28 AM
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Ok thank you so much guys, you dont know how much of help you guys have been.
Old 04-24-03, 07:24 AM
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I have a greddy 3-row, stock radiator, inadequate ducting & if sitting idle with the fans on the temp will easily rack up to 106° C.

I'm sure the pressurized engine compartment air is just cycling over the top of the radiator. I put a sheet of cardboard over it to try & block some of the hot air, & did notice a little difference, but I don't drive the thing often enough to really get a feel for it. I ordered the carbon fiber cover panel, but have no idea when he'll get around to shipping it to me...
Old 04-24-03, 07:50 AM
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106C is where mine use to be until I bought the aluminum radiator...It made me nervous..Now it runs about 90-93C and then the E-fan comes on at 93C, etc...and thats @ 145mph for 5 miles It doesn't take long to go that far at that speed
Old 04-24-03, 07:54 AM
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I have the Greddy 2 Row FIMC and it does run a little warmer...about 3-5°C higher than normal...Normal being 85-88°C...But that's when the fans are off...If I turn the fans on it goes right back to normal levels no matter how hard I am running it...And that is with a stock radiator!

I like mine lots for what it's worth
Old 04-24-03, 09:00 AM
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I had the XS front mount and I did have some air flow issues when it was like 100 degrees out. So I removed the A.C condenser and the problem was solved. later I got the Fluidyne radiator and now I'll never ever have to worry about.
Old 04-24-03, 09:06 AM
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apneablue, did you have to stand up your radiator? I have an aluminum pwr installed, and was wondering if i'd hvae to either get a different rad with a greddy 2-row or stand it up.

thanks,
kyle
Old 04-24-03, 09:22 AM
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Originally posted by kkekeisen
apneablue, did you have to stand up your radiator? I have an aluminum pwr installed, and was wondering if i'd hvae to either get a different rad with a greddy 2-row or stand it up.

thanks,
kyle
Before I installed mine I talked to Jason and he said you really don't have to stand it up...I did it anyway...I am running the stock rad and have a Koyo waiting to go in till I rebuild since i have blockweld running through the cooling system. I think with it standing up it will be a lot easier to swap it out..
Old 04-24-03, 01:37 PM
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apnea - Has your front mount seen tx/ok summers yet?

That's my biggest concern.
Old 04-24-03, 02:38 PM
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Not just yet...the hottest day it has seen so far is 85°F...I will be sure to fill you guys in as soon as the temp hits 110°F in the shade...those days are a biatch...
Old 04-24-03, 02:55 PM
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oh...you'll see... where are you located? Mine was in the heat last year... now I'm in the mood for a vented hood to let the heat out... I normally see 95deg c temps unless I run the fans... I need to make some side plates for the frontmount so I dont get any blowby around the radiator... I put two fans on the condenser to help the a/c work better... damn it gets hot here
Old 04-24-03, 02:58 PM
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Originally posted by wonder1and
oh...you'll see... where are you located? Mine was in the heat last year... now I'm in the mood for a vented hood to let the heat out... I normally see 95deg c temps unless I run the fans... I need to make some side plates for the frontmount so I dont get any blowby around the radiator... I put two fans on the condenser to help the a/c work better... damn it gets hot here
I'm in Oklahoma and it gets pretty damn hot here...so we'll see what happens this summer..
Old 04-24-03, 05:42 PM
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Originally posted by SERIES7
I wouldn't count on that. I'm pretty sure it would be about the same as if it were angled. In fact, since you'll have to get under the car to unbolt the sway bar mounts to remove the radiator anyway, it'll be about the same. Sorry for the repeating myself.
hmmmm I didn't have to unbolt any sway bar mounts.
Old 04-25-03, 05:06 PM
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I wouldn't do it if you live where it gets really hot. I added a FMIC, koyo radiator, and electric fans, and still had heating problems.
Old 04-25-03, 05:07 PM
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What funny smell?

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either rx-7 extreme, rx-7 fashion, or some other retailer has a kit that is supposed to be better, with the FMIC angled differently from the radiator


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