Snufelupogus

iTrader: (2)

Hey, Im making a shroud for my rad and intercooler that will direct the air through both and then out a vent in the hood.
What Im wondering aboot is whether it matters or not if the intercooler is before or after the radiator?

Before: cooler air flowing through intercooler...

After: a LOT easier to mount and plumb...

Anyone done this or have an opinion on which would be better?

PS- car will mostly be street driven with occational track days

Thanks

hondah8er

Why dont you call a shop near to you and find out? I can think of 4 of the top of my head

And wouldnt the intercooler being behind the rad almost negate its effect-sandwiched between the hot rad and the hot motor?

ttpowerd

Not necessarily. It all depends on if you are stuck in traffic or not. My stock mount (behind the radiator) is cool as ice as long as I am moving at a decent speed. If I have to sit for a long time it heat soaks and is useless. If you put it in front of the radiator (front mount) then you will see higher water temps but lower intake temps. Its all a matter of taste.

And what's with the attitude? He didn't ask about what shop is closer, he wanted to know about intercooler positioning.

maxcooper

If the same air will be going through both cores, your only choice is to go through the IC first. If you go through the radiator first, you won't get any intercooling.

-Max

fatboy7

Even at or near highway speeds, the temperature increase for the air through the radiator is around 30-40*F. How well does your intercooler work when the air it sees is 30* hotter than ambient? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the IC somewhat?

When you're not on boost, or low boost it would actually be an interheater. Even then, on a 85*F day a 70% efficient IC placed in front of the radiator would cool from 220*F to 125*F, whereas after the radiator the same IC would only drop the temp to 150*F. Thats a 4% decrease in charge density, not to mention the higher risk of detonation.