Hey,
Are ebay intercoolers crap or not? I'm looking for a good core and plan on changing the end tanks on one of those ebay one's if they don't suck...

 

depends on what you are talking about, alot of people here locally use the XSPOWER 24x12x3 ones and they're awesome. flow great and are super efficient, intake temps on these cars are very suprisingly low

great bang for the buck.

 

I just picked up a xspower 24"x12"x3". I really hate going "cheap" but for 162.38 shipped to my door I could not argue.

I held one of these intercoolers in my hands before purchasing. Welds were flawless and quality looked excellent.

If you do purchase however make sure to look at all the intercooler auctions. There are some with $30 shipping and some with $25 shipping, same product just different auctions.

 

I have one and its great, like FB II it is a great buy. After all said and done I shelled out 250 with piping and couplers. Here is the finished look.

 

The OBX style intercoolers which are selling for pretty cheap on eBay from other websites I've been on seem to hit a wall around 600rwhp and get massive pressure drop. This is on homebrew Turbo LS1 cars. They can make this kind of power pretty easily.

Bottom line- you get what you pay for... but if you are only shooting for 400-500rwhp I'd give them a shot. You have the piping done at that point and can easily swap in another better flowing core that can support more HP.

 

All that work and still running a stock AST?

 

Hey you might want to change those worm clamps (hose clamps) to t-bolt clamps. It looks like you bought the IC piping Kit from Ebay as well. That's what I did, but I had problems with those clamps holding under pressure. Especially if you don't have that edge on the end of your pipes to help keep the couplers in place.
Great looking work for the price though

 

Ya I didnt have the money for the clamps at the time. I just sprayed hair spray when I put it all together. It holds fine for now, didnt not blow or leak all summer. Yes Im a cheap bastard everythings from ebay. The setup is for when I go single, I dont like or have the money to do things twice.

 

What piping kit did you buy? On ebay as well? I'm actually impressed with the outcome. Just wonder about the pressure drop. I'm running the Apexi GT front mount intercooler right now on my single. Its a very nice intercooler but it doesn't fill my front bumper up. I'm almost tempted to sell mine and try one of those out. Hmm. Check my front mount out at www.speedelements.net .....look for the black FD.

 

I just ordered a SMIC. I'm guessing this is at least better than the stock IC, but only a test will tell.

 

 

Thanks, yes everything was from ebay. They adverticed less than 1.2 psi drop. Not sure if it is true, but my intake temp where much lower and I cant complain....like they all keep saying you get what you pay for. I just not ready to shell out $1300 for a setup.

 

NESpeed, I'm looking at the end tanks of that intercooler and I'm wondering if they aren't too narrow up top at both ends to limit the flow through the top half...
On another note, has anyone put 20+ boost through one of the intercoolers? I'm worried about breaking one of those things...

 

when i owned my dsm, i ran 20psi daily and had no trouble with the intercooler at all. And i made my own piping too, and then at the track, i ran 24psi on race gas and the only problem i had was popping an ic pipe once or twice, that was it.

 

NESpeed

I just "installed" a 31x12x4 intercooler on my FD. But I put the inlet/outlet on top because of the clearance problem with the 3" piping. I noticed you managed to put the inlet/outlet on the bottom. How sharp of a turn did you make your piping and what size. A pic would be nice.
Nice job!
thanks.
chuck

 

nkeehn
- I pressure tested it my self up to 50 psi and it held over night. I didnt see the need to go higher than that. About the flow you might be right I really done know. The tanks had even temps(tested by touch) I guess the real test will be when I get going on my single convertion this spring.

chuck8313BTSDS
Ill PM you

 

NESpeed I would like to see some pics as well if you don't mind. Please send them to Jspecrx7@hotmail.com Thanks..!!!!!!!

 

Just emailed you

 

Thanks man for the pics. Which intercooler piping kit did you get? Was one piping kit enough?

 

What about me?!?!?!?
kdixonjr@gmail.com


Can leave me out like that chuck

 

Well I had two buy to kits and two extra 90 deg bends. Stock up on either brake cleaner or kerosene, they dont clean the pipes. They come loaded with polish compound globs inside. Another thing you have to remove or fab up some new tow hooks and bend or make a new bracket to move the driver side oil cooler out about 1 1/2 to 2 inches.


4 - 90 deg
2 - 45 deg
2- straights

I had a local shop bend me the offset pipe on the passenger side.

 

NESpeed.... why not post the pics here if i may ask? You seem to have done an awsome job.....by the way, I love your front cover!!!!

G

 

I dont know, I didnt think this many people would be interested in it. I posted it before and guys just raged on my car and how I should have just got a name brand and didnt say much else. Anways heres the link to my site with some pictures. Thanks about the front cover......I had to hack the **** out of it to get the intercooler to fit. It acctually is still kind of stretched of it but you really cant tell. Thanks for all the compliments guys, if you have any other questions just ask.


http://community.webshots.com/user/nespeed

 

NESpeed thanks again for the pics. It looks good. Do you have any pics of how you ran the piping? Im thinking about going with the 31x12x4 core with the piping up top instead of the bottom. just worried about running the 3" piping needed.

 

Im sorry I dont....when I was putting it together I was using my brothers camera. So I didnt have it everytime I was at my shop. There are some shots that show the path but the bumper cover is on, its on the second page of pictures. Just so you know that it fits my core is the 31x12x4. If you can wait till march thats when ill start working on it again. Also when you do put your setup together Id really like to see how its run when the inlet/outlet are at the top.