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Anybody actually tried the xspower (ssautochrome) ebay intercooler?

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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 10:49 PM
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Anybody actually tried the xspower (ssautochrome) ebay intercooler?

I've seen a bunch of threads about this on here, but haven't seen any feedback from anybody who actually tried it. I also can't find the threads that I remember... So, has anybody actually installed one of these yet?
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 11:33 PM
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What size are you looking at? I've seen a couple threads with good feedback on some of the larger ones. I bought one very similar to thiers, I hav'nt installed it but I gotta say from the quality of the design, welds etc...It's sure looks worth the price if your on a budget and trying to support some mild mods.
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 11:40 PM
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Apparently the super HUGE one, lol.

460mm X 310mm X 85mm
SUPER HUGE 85mm THICK
( 3.25" THICK )
( 18" LONG )
( 12" HIGH )
2.75" INLET AND OUTLET

It sells for $225 with pipes, and yes the connections look pretty cheesy without a proper lip to hold on the connector, otherwise it seems fine to me. Another complaint I've heard is they don't indicate how it mounts to the car and I don't see any mouting tabs or anything.

I have a dp, cb, and intake, just bought a pfc, and plan to put in a hi-flow cat. So I'm really just looking to support 12psi or 13psi without worrying about the stock intercooler. Thats probably all I'll ever do engine-wise, the car is fast enough already to get me in trouble on the track, and my audi s4 is begging for some attention.
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 11:41 PM
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Oh, and its the SMIC version.

The ad is confusing because it indicates it is for a turbo II, but I'm pretty sure its a mistype.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda...spagenameZWDVW
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 11:47 PM
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I have been thinking about their most recent addition to their SMIC line. 2.75" in/out instead of the old 2.5". comes with pipes to fit the stock elbow. also comes with t-bolt clamps and couplers. one of the pipes has a BOV flange on it. it looks like an M2 medium SMIC. I think its 12" X 18" X 3.5" or something close to that. the only thing is that it doesnt come with a duct.

For $225 + $25 shipping I dont think thats a bad price.

Last edited by TwinTurbo_SE7EN; Aug 18, 2005 at 11:50 PM.
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 11:51 PM
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I think thats the same one i posted above... If you ask me it has to at least be better than the stock intercoolr for $250 if you spend a little time crafting a duct. Somebody must have bitten the bullet.
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 11:52 PM
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whoops...beat me to it. That is the same one I am talking about. I plan on doing a fiberglass duct for it when I get it. It will not be worth your while if you dont make a duct for it.
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 11:53 PM
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I looked at that one for a while before I decided on mine. I found many different opinions on that particular IC as some said it's a good buy and some say It's craftsmanship (welds) are pretty cheezy. I decided to go the D.I.Y way and found with my(24x12x4) is just a little to big without getting real creative and maybe having an Aftermarket bumper to assist on mounting it.

Also, my intercooler is from the XOXO guys.
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 11:53 PM
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damn...beat me to it again. lol
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 11:54 PM
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Damn, you guys are fast! lol
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 11:55 PM
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Agreed, I'll probably just put something together with sheet metal, maybe chop up my stock duct and make a hybrid... Do you see any mounting tabs though? I can't figure out how it actually mounts to anything other than the AST.
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 11:55 PM
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I'm trying to distract myself from work...
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Old Aug 18, 2005 | 11:58 PM
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Originally Posted by tdazmansFD
I looked at that one for a while before I decided on mine. I found many different opinions on that particular IC as some said it's a good buy and some say It's craftsmanship (welds) are pretty cheezy. I decided to go the D.I.Y way and found with my(24x12x4) is just a little to big without getting real creative and maybe having an Aftermarket bumper to assist on mounting it.

Also, my intercooler is from the XOXO guys.
Were any of the opinions from people who have seen the IC in person? Seems like there is alot of anti-ebay bias.
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Old Aug 19, 2005 | 12:08 AM
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Yes, there's people with or have tried this set-up. I have not. Maybe someone with experience with these IC's will chime in?

Anyone???
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Old Aug 19, 2005 | 12:10 AM
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here's pics of my IC I bought.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=454601
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Old Aug 19, 2005 | 08:09 AM
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Originally Posted by jayk
Agreed, I'll probably just put something together with sheet metal, maybe chop up my stock duct and make a hybrid... Do you see any mounting tabs though? I can't figure out how it actually mounts to anything other than the AST.

I have a 12 X 8 X 3 SMIC currently and it rests on the radiator fan plastic. I just got a couple metal brackets and attached them to the metal brace that goes across.

It doesnt really need a bracket since it rests between the pipes and the fiberglass duct I made for it. I used the stock inlet part of the duct (goes between bumper and radiator), and made a bigger opening to fit my IC.
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Old Aug 19, 2005 | 09:17 AM
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I am about to finish my mount up of the 12x31x4 from ssautochrome ebay intercooler. The intercooler its self is very very well constructed. Ill post some pics once im done with it. Im just waiting on two more 90's.
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Old Aug 19, 2005 | 08:21 PM
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you'll have to weld on brackets if you want them, should be pretty easy, especially if you choose the SMIC and just make one lower bracket like the Greddy SMIC.

I think I may try one of the larger ones out for a FMIC project, hell for the price it's worth a shot. At the very least these IC's will force the larger companies to reduce their inflated prices.
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Old Aug 20, 2005 | 12:18 AM
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I just bought that same intercooler and I have already mounted it in my '93 FD. Damn thing looks good and you are right, there are no tabs for mounting. This concerned me at first,but once you restit on the radiator fan shroud and mount the silicon and hard pipe kit, it will not move. Really, it is in there good. I would send you pics but like I said in a thread yesterday, my ex-fiance took my digital camera. I wish I coul tell you how well it performs but my car has an electrical short right now and is locked up in my garage. Feel free to PM me if you want. I ended up paying 300 for mine because there were a few of us bidding on ebay the last five minutes of the auction. Very high quality it is was on my porch about three days after I bought it.
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Old Aug 20, 2005 | 12:30 AM
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whats the electrical problem mine is having one as well.
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Old Aug 20, 2005 | 12:53 AM
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Originally Posted by DrewS2k
whats the electrical problem mine is having one as well.

Well, it is kind of embarasing to tell you the truth. I did a couple of mods a once and that is the one thing I never do. I always advise people to do one mod at a time so when something is not rigtht it is really easy to narrow down the problem. Well, basically, I took off the A/C, power steering, and air pump, put on Greddy syle pulleys, put in the ssautochrome 12x8x3 intercooler with hard pipes, Greddy RS BOV, Optima red top battery, and other small stuff. When I went to start the car, the lights popped up by themselves but the bulbs did not come on. When I turned the light switch on, the bulbs come on but the light housings retract back into the bumper. It is like the lights are working backwards. I tried to find a loose ground or a grounded out wire or something but I cannot find the problem to save my life. What is your problem?

Quid
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Old Aug 23, 2005 | 12:18 AM
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Any luck getting it running? I think I'm going to order one of these tomorrow, I just can't justify the price of new ones, or even used ic's, assuming this one is at least marginally better than stock...
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Old Aug 23, 2005 | 04:07 AM
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I'm running one currently without a duct. I'm am working on fiberglassing the duct currently. Will let you know then what my air intake temps are. I have not seen anything over 55 though with out ducting and that's beating on the car.
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Old Aug 28, 2005 | 11:28 PM
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So I tried installing the ic tonight, and it appears to be too tall, my hood won't close. Anybody else have the same problem or have any idea how to fix it?
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Old Aug 30, 2005 | 11:54 AM
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Got it to fit by removing the old airbox bracket that also supports the upper radiator hose. To get it to fit under my r1 strut brace I also ended up using the old connector from the y-pipe instead of the supplied silicon.

Two more questions:

1) Any ideas how to block the BOV flange?

2) The intercooler sits right behind the radiator and blocks practically all of the exit path for hot air from the fans, isn't that going to cause major cooling problems? Seems like this would be a problem for all of the medium sized intercoolers.
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