cooling fan for stock ic?

[tips000]

just a thought.... since the stock intercoolers are pretty much just like a radiator with fins (correct me if im wrong) wouldnt adding a high flow cooling fan help alot?

 

[3kgt2nv]

Putting ducting infront of it would be a better option than a fan. Your car moving will make more air flow than a small electric fan will.

 

[tips000]

ok and just using flexible universal intake hose or like shop vac hose? i was also thinking about doing some duct work to my air filter... what size hose do you think i will be able to fit in that area? it is pretty tight under the hoods of these things

 

[3kgt2nv]

that would be the kind of ghetto way of doing it as that type of hose doesnt flow well. check out this thread to see how proper ducting on a radiator is set up. the intercooler would be the same just on the front side to funnel air into the fins.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/custom-fabrication/386716-my-ducted-radiator-setup-road-racing.html

 

[tips000]

well i was going to do the ghetto deal until i can get a fmic set up... do you think the ghetto way will help or is it just not going to help enough to matter... im all for fast... but at this point im more for reliable

 

[Absit]

The stock intercooler is ducted from the factory. If yours is missing find someone that doesn't need theirs anymore.

Putting a small fan in is not a terrible idea if you plan to do a lot of low speed high boost work with your car, though I'm not sure if it's ever been done before. The fan could also be turned on between passes to clear away heat soak.

 

[tips000]

im only boosting 8-10 psi with a 16g... so fan or extra ghetto duct? also the kid before me cut a hole in the wheel well im assuming in efforts to allow more het to escape... so i would want to put the fan on the back side blowing away correct?

 

[Absit]

Running your boost on that turbo with the wheel well vented better you don't need anything else, you have the OEM duct in correct?

 

[tips000]

i am not sure i will check tomarrow.... also i cant tell if thats sarcasm... it seems kind of shotty to me to just hack a hole in the wheel well

 

[Absit]

It's actually a real mod, as long as you cover it up with some mesh of some sort to keep chunks of road debris hitting it, or if you just extend the vents that are there from the factory. On your setup you'd get a lot more benefit out of cleaning the IC out instead of adding a fan.

 

[tips000]

ok so i will be getting some mesh shortly and trying to clean out and straighten the fins( if they are dirty/ damaged) i will also check for factory ducting and determine if i want to extend it....
\
thanks alot
~nate~

 

[Calan]

IOn your setup you'd get a lot more benefit out of cleaning the IC out instead of adding a fan.

This ^.

At only 8-10 psi of boost, you're not going to see any gains at all by trying to cool the stock IC. If it does somehow improve things to any extent, then you have some hidden tuning issues to work out. At highway speeds, the fan would probably block more airflow than it could provide by spinning.

If you want a cheap "fix" that actually improves performance while waiting for a big FMIC, look into picking up a Supra sidemount IC from a junkyard. They are proven to be quite a bit more efficient than the stock Mitsu IC's, and can bolt up in the same location with a little ingenuity.

 

[tips000]

ok... as long as you all think its at its peak until i can get the fmic im not too concerned... but i still want to get the mesh to cover the nasty looking hole and prevent chunks of concrete from hitting my IC

 

[Calan]

Just our of curiosity, what are you planning to do to the car (or tune) that will require a FMIC?

 

[tips000]

im not sure yet... for now i am planning to make it as reliable as possible along with a few cheap mods... the fmic isnt for sure but i was just saying that i know that would be the best set up for optimum cooling... just so you didnt think i was trying to get fmic performance from the stock ic

 

[Dsmkauai]

Here's my setup on my gst. It's a supra smic with air duct I made for it. Still had some trimming to do in this pick, but it's all done now and fit is perfect. I cut this out of one piece so I only had to rivet one seam. Then covered any gaps and things with a very sticky water resistant ducting tape. There is another guy who made one and has a write up on it. You could always make one for your stock smic or try to find a supra one if you can. When I ran last year at the track without the duct at sixteen psi (sorry my numbers keys won't work dooh) it didn't heat soak at all. Anyway sorry so long hope it helps you.

 

[Absit]

ok so i will be getting some mesh shortly and trying to clean out and straighten the fins( if they are dirty/ damaged) i will also check for factory ducting and determine if i want to extend it....

When I say clean it I mean clean out the inside as well as the outside. And the factory ducting should go all the way to the bumper opening (it did on my '95 TSi AWD). You couldn't extend it any farther without poking out the front end, and doing so wouldn't help anything.

sidemount IC from a junkyard

What junkyards do you visit? I'll have to give them a call if they've got MKIV Supras lying around..

 

[95gsttsi]

Sorry to butt in but I'm missing my wheel well plastic I was planning on bolting a metal plate behind my smic. Is this a good idea

 

[Dsmkauai]

I don't even have that plastic on mine. I did make a grill for the ic outta mesh and it's attached to it. Been on it for two years now and no problems and ic still looks good.

 

[Calan]

What junkyards do you visit? I'll have to give them a call if they've got MKIV Supras lying around..

Now where did I say anything about them being easy to find?

I've seen a few pop up every now and then, but granted it isn't often.

 

[Absit]

Sorry to butt in but I'm missing my wheel well plastic I was planning on bolting a metal plate behind my smic. Is this a good idea

No, that's a terrible idea. Put some steel mesh over it, or if you have to put a sheet of metal over it, vent the hell out of it.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

By "mesh" and "ducting" they mean like this:

Mine ins't for an intercooler but same concept.

Also to clean out the intercooler pour some gasoline in it, shake it all around real good and pour it out. Rinse with water, shake it and dump it. Repeat until the gas and water come out clear. Please don't smoke while doing this.

 

[95gsttsi]

im not talking about ataching it to the smic. im talking about mounting it like where the plastic is supposed to be

 

[tips000]

im not talking about ataching it to the smic. im talking about mounting it like where the plastic is supposed to be

i see no problem for this... it would be just like having a metal wheel well instead of plastic... id say go for it and then cut a square out and put some mesh in so its still vented well but also protected

 

[Dsmkauai]

This is how I set mine up mesh is attached to ic and I also don't have the plastic wheel well. Been holding up great for a few years and my ic fins still look great.