I'm alittle confused about some aspects of intercooler dynamics.

I plan to run the 99 spec turbos maybe at a max of 15psi.

In regards to differences in medium vs large intercoolers.
1) Does a larger intercooler heat soak more or less; especially with the larger amount of shear metal in the engine bay? I think more correct?
2) Also does a larger intercooler recover quicker or slower from heat soak? I don't know about this one...
3) Finally, in an old thread Maxcooper mentioned that when he had to do some "government" testing and placed his stock intercooler in place he notice quicker response that he theorized was due to less air that needed to be compressed....

so for a daily driver with weekend autocross....is this like Goldilocks and the three bears? Is the medium "just right"?

 

I doubt there is really any performance difference between the two, at leas not any you'll ever notice. The main difference is whether you are getting rid of the air pump and relocating the battery or not. The large requires those two where as the medium does not.

BTW, I've heard that M2 no longer carries the Medium. I believe Kevin is selling them again under his ASP name.

 

Thanks Mahjik....Your right I should start to call these ASP....

but in regards to the theoretical question...

do larger SMIC heat soak more recover slower?

then with the difference in performance=same for large and medium.

 

The difference in the size between the two isn't large enough to make that much of a difference (IMO). Like I said, it really just depends if you are wanting to relocate your battery or not (and remove the air pump).

 

7Racer, in theory the large SMIC should heat soak slower. However, Mahjik is right about the lack of a serious difference in size. The difference between the two is not enough to where it will make more than a 3 to 4 minute difference in heat soaking. Also, I have seen FD's dyno with both of these SMIC's and the numbers were barely different. I hope that helps some. Laterz.

Zach

 

YUP helps tons

 

A Large will heat soak slower... and UN heat soak slower... more mass to heat and cool.

The larger surface area of the large should theoretically offer a little more heat-shedding potential when the car is moving... but given the size of the duct opening, its likely not as much of a difference as it would be if the were both exposed to open air.

 

Yeah, I agree thus far. The large SMIC would benefit from a larger duct opening, or being mounted in the nose a la FMIC (which is what I have in the GReddy Type 24 V-spec LOL ) BTW you will love the J-spec twins. Faster spool up time, and they make 14 to 15 psi quite readily without much drama