The end all debate on XSPower/SSAutoChrome/OBX turbo products.
11-08-05, 09:08 PM
#1
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The end all debate on XSPower/SSAutoChrome/OBX turbo products.
Intercoolers = Fantastic, i absolutely love mine and would recommend it to all. I can't stress how impressed with this product i was.
Manifolds = Sketchy, i own one of the older OBX ones and it started falling apart around 1,000 miles, i rewelded everything and no problems since. I hear they have fixed this problem, but i can't verify. Conclusion: Only buy if you have access to cheap welding, an exhaust shop will probably do it for around $50-$75...
Turbos = No personal experience, i have however talked to people with real life experience, some grenade, others have lasted years, these are hit or miss and i highly recommend staying away from them. It's a precise device unlike an intercooler or manifold.
Manifolds = Sketchy, i own one of the older OBX ones and it started falling apart around 1,000 miles, i rewelded everything and no problems since. I hear they have fixed this problem, but i can't verify. Conclusion: Only buy if you have access to cheap welding, an exhaust shop will probably do it for around $50-$75...
Turbos = No personal experience, i have however talked to people with real life experience, some grenade, others have lasted years, these are hit or miss and i highly recommend staying away from them. It's a precise device unlike an intercooler or manifold.
11-08-05, 10:07 PM
#5
I have a car in the shop now that you could say was sponsored by Ebay 
Intercooler looks ok, but the piping is to small. XS turbo fell apart after a few miles and the manifold looks good with no cracks.
I have a few cars right now that are using the ssautochrome manifolds and they have held up well.
Intercooler looks ok, but the piping is to small. XS turbo fell apart after a few miles and the manifold looks good with no cracks.
I have a few cars right now that are using the ssautochrome manifolds and they have held up well.
11-08-05, 10:15 PM
#6
RX-7 Bad Ass
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I have a feeling the turbos are for the pie-in-the-sky crowd.
"I'm gonna be putting a turbo on my mom's Accord - see, I got the turbo already!"
They're great for hooking up your bedroom decor.
Dale
"I'm gonna be putting a turbo on my mom's Accord - see, I got the turbo already!"
They're great for hooking up your bedroom decor.
Dale
11-08-05, 10:38 PM
#7
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Originally Posted by Jason
Intercooler looks ok, but the piping is to small.
Polished 24x12x3 (pretty ******' huge) for $150.
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11-08-05, 11:03 PM
#8
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Originally Posted by O 16581 72452 5
Intercoolers = Fantastic, i absolutely love mine and would recommend it to all. I can't stress how impressed with this product i was.
Have you tested other types of IC cores besides this one?
I'm going to use one myself, but I'm planning to run different cores to see if it really makes a difference...
Manifolds = Sketchy, i own one of the older OBX ones and it started falling apart around 1,000 miles, i rewelded everything and no problems since. I hear they have fixed this problem, but i can't verify. Conclusion: Only buy if you have access to cheap welding, an exhaust shop will probably do it for around $50-$75...
Turbos = No personal experience, i have however talked to people with real life experience, some grenade, others have lasted years, these are hit or miss and i highly recommend staying away from them. It's a precise device unlike an intercooler or manifold.
I save my money.
I stick with all Garrett GT-series ball-bearing centers.
Nuff said.
-Ted
11-08-05, 11:07 PM
#9
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Originally Posted by RETed
Is this a one-sided commentary?
Have you tested other types of IC cores besides this one?
I'm going to use one myself, but I'm planning to run different cores to see if it really makes a difference...
Even if they do stay together, the wastegate runner design is all inefficient.
I work hard.
I save my money.
I stick with all Garrett GT-series ball-bearing centers.
Nuff said.
-Ted
Have you tested other types of IC cores besides this one?
I'm going to use one myself, but I'm planning to run different cores to see if it really makes a difference...
Even if they do stay together, the wastegate runner design is all inefficient.
I work hard.
I save my money.
I stick with all Garrett GT-series ball-bearing centers.
Nuff said.
-Ted
Wastegate runner design i have no comment on, i'm internally gated.
11-09-05, 12:02 AM
#10
Savanna Rx-7
Originally Posted by RETed
I work hard.
I save my money.
I stick with all Garrett GT-series ball-bearing centers.
Nuff said.
-Ted
Ted,
I work hard
The governement takes 1/3 of my money
the wife takes the rest
I wish I could afford a GT series
Kenn
11-09-05, 01:35 AM
#11
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Originally Posted by O 16581 72452 5
The cold side of the intercooler's cold side when i touched it felt about 50 degrees on a 70 degree day
If something would be an "end all", it wouldn't be a debate. And it would contain actual factual data instead of listing the temperature the cold-side pipe FEELS like....
11-09-05, 01:38 AM
#12
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Originally Posted by O 16581 72452 5
The design of the intercooler is almost identical to Precision's (inside and out). The cold side of the intercooler's cold side when i touched it felt about 50 degrees on a 70 degree day, the hot side was hot to the touch, enough i didn't want to leave it there for long. It seems really efficient and made huge gains over an MX-6 Side Mount i had origionally.
Wastegate runner design i have no comment on, i'm internally gated.
Wastegate runner design i have no comment on, i'm internally gated.
I'll be running a Haltech, so I can offer a little more objective numbers.
-Ted
11-09-05, 01:39 AM
#13
Lives on the Forum
Originally Posted by kenn_chan
I work hard
The governement takes 1/3 of my money
the wife takes the rest
I wish I could afford a GT series
The governement takes 1/3 of my money
the wife takes the rest
I wish I could afford a GT series
I'm single and not going to get married anytime soon, so I need to do this before I get settled down! :P
-Ted
11-09-05, 01:52 AM
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Originally Posted by rynberg
Wow, their ICs are good, they FEEL 20 degrees colder than ambient...
If something would be an "end all", it wouldn't be a debate. And it would contain actual factual data instead of listing the temperature the cold-side pipe FEELS like....
If something would be an "end all", it wouldn't be a debate. And it would contain actual factual data instead of listing the temperature the cold-side pipe FEELS like....
My charge pipes with my MX-6 intercooler would still be hot to the touch, really hot. I read actual data on the cooling properties of the SSAC intercooler and it was good (wish i could find it again), the end tank design is the best design for flow as well. I researched it quite a bit before i decided to buy it.
11-09-05, 10:19 AM
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Originally Posted by O 16581 72452 5
Charge pipes are cool as well...
My charge pipes with my MX-6 intercooler would still be hot to the touch, really hot. I read actual data on the cooling properties of the SSAC intercooler and it was good (wish i could find it again), the end tank design is the best design for flow as well. I researched it quite a bit before i decided to buy it.
My charge pipes with my MX-6 intercooler would still be hot to the touch, really hot. I read actual data on the cooling properties of the SSAC intercooler and it was good (wish i could find it again), the end tank design is the best design for flow as well. I researched it quite a bit before i decided to buy it.
11-09-05, 10:29 PM
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For those of you interested in real world numbers on th essautochrome intercooler, we have some initial data on my set up.
Ambient temps were around 85°.
Cruising, without boost, had my intake temps in the plenum of the manifold around 115°-118°.
At 15 psi of boost pressure, by 80 mph, the intake temps in the plenum of the manifold dropped to 91°.
I have no idea how those numbers relate to a front-engine car, but keep in mind that I have a mid-engien car with the intercooler in the trunk.
I am very pleased with those numbers.
Build up here:
http://www.jekylhyderacing.com/hyde_tmic_buildup.htm
Ambient temps were around 85°.
Cruising, without boost, had my intake temps in the plenum of the manifold around 115°-118°.
At 15 psi of boost pressure, by 80 mph, the intake temps in the plenum of the manifold dropped to 91°.
I have no idea how those numbers relate to a front-engine car, but keep in mind that I have a mid-engien car with the intercooler in the trunk.
I am very pleased with those numbers.
Build up here:
http://www.jekylhyderacing.com/hyde_tmic_buildup.htm
As far as my charge pipes feeling hot with the MX-6 intercooler and cooler with the SSAC one, i was using steel pipes both times.
Last edited by O 16581 72452 5; 11-09-05 at 10:45 PM.
11-10-05, 12:19 AM
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What MrDirt said.
Having the charge air leaving the intercooler being COLDER than the surrounding air? No. Having the outlet pipe feel colder because the air going through it is moving quickly, thus taking heat away from your about 98 degree skin faster than air sitting still? Yes.
There will be "wind chill factor" for any air that is below your body's surface temperature. Because moving air will make you lose heat faster than static air.
Evan AFTER the air temperature is ABOVE your body temperature, if it is dry enough, the evaporation of moisture from your hide can make you feel cooler in a warm breeze than you feel in warm, motionless air.
Having the charge air leaving the intercooler being COLDER than the surrounding air? No. Having the outlet pipe feel colder because the air going through it is moving quickly, thus taking heat away from your about 98 degree skin faster than air sitting still? Yes.
There will be "wind chill factor" for any air that is below your body's surface temperature. Because moving air will make you lose heat faster than static air.
Evan AFTER the air temperature is ABOVE your body temperature, if it is dry enough, the evaporation of moisture from your hide can make you feel cooler in a warm breeze than you feel in warm, motionless air.
Last edited by Smilodon; 11-10-05 at 12:26 AM.
11-10-05, 01:32 AM
#20
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Originally Posted by Smilodon
What MrDirt said.
Having the charge air leaving the intercooler being COLDER than the surrounding air? No. Having the outlet pipe feel colder because the air going through it is moving quickly, thus taking heat away from your about 98 degree skin faster than air sitting still? Yes.
There will be "wind chill factor" for any air that is below your body's surface temperature. Because moving air will make you lose heat faster than static air.
Evan AFTER the air temperature is ABOVE your body temperature, if it is dry enough, the evaporation of moisture from your hide can make you feel cooler in a warm breeze than you feel in warm, motionless air.
Having the charge air leaving the intercooler being COLDER than the surrounding air? No. Having the outlet pipe feel colder because the air going through it is moving quickly, thus taking heat away from your about 98 degree skin faster than air sitting still? Yes.
There will be "wind chill factor" for any air that is below your body's surface temperature. Because moving air will make you lose heat faster than static air.
Evan AFTER the air temperature is ABOVE your body temperature, if it is dry enough, the evaporation of moisture from your hide can make you feel cooler in a warm breeze than you feel in warm, motionless air.
11-10-05, 12:37 PM
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Originally Posted by O 16581 72452 5
I didn't say the air leaving it was colder than ambient air, i said the cold side felt colder to the touch.
Originally Posted by O 16581 72452 5
The cold side of the intercooler's cold side when i touched it felt about 50 degrees on a 70 degree day
11-10-05, 12:58 PM
#22
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Originally Posted by MrDirt
Actually, that is almost exactly what you said...
50 degrees when the ambient air temperature was 70 degrees. That would mean that the air leaving the intercooler would be colder than the ambient air.
50 degrees when the ambient air temperature was 70 degrees. That would mean that the air leaving the intercooler would be colder than the ambient air.
11-10-05, 01:06 PM
#23
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why if a bunch of their products were proven cheap crap, would you buy another product from them?
guess people will do anything to save a buck.
maybe im just jealous of the guy making so much money off ripping everyone off with cheap **** and maybe one or two decent products.
here i come dormroomracing.com!
guess people will do anything to save a buck.
maybe im just jealous of the guy making so much money off ripping everyone off with cheap **** and maybe one or two decent products.
here i come dormroomracing.com!
11-10-05, 02:06 PM
#24
No way air to air IC will EVER hit ambient temp... maybe when you first crank the car.. LOL!
To test, take the car and start boosting for 5-15 minutes.. See what your intake temp is.. Don't just cruise down the interstate for 5-15 minutes and pull over and feel the pipes, You have to push the car. A good intercooler will have the least difference between high and low temp difference... its not about how cool... how stable the intake temps going to be at certain air flow. As you climb the RPM your exhaust will flow more, your engine will take in more air per minute, and turbos will heat up.. in turn, your air temp will get hotter.. So, no freakin way air to air will cool it below ambient.. unless you spray with NO2 or hook up some refrigrant.
To test, take the car and start boosting for 5-15 minutes.. See what your intake temp is.. Don't just cruise down the interstate for 5-15 minutes and pull over and feel the pipes, You have to push the car. A good intercooler will have the least difference between high and low temp difference... its not about how cool... how stable the intake temps going to be at certain air flow. As you climb the RPM your exhaust will flow more, your engine will take in more air per minute, and turbos will heat up.. in turn, your air temp will get hotter.. So, no freakin way air to air will cool it below ambient.. unless you spray with NO2 or hook up some refrigrant.
11-10-05, 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by O 16581 72452 5
No, that would mean when i stuck my hand on the cold side, it felt about 50 degrees due to wind chill and other factors. I know the air leaving the intercooler was definately not 50 degrees.