- Joined
- Sep 18, 2002
Ok so I am "off" posting for the most part but I need one rant to unload some holiday stress and hopefully provide the board with some stuff to chew on over the holidays.
Last night a couple tbricks guys were over and I got started on a rant I decided to finish here.
If you type "intercooler" into ebay,you are quickly arrive at a picture of one of these:
I find it interesting that these have gained preference over truck intercoolers.
What I find more interesting is that no one has commented on the end tanks.
You just can't make them like that. Well, you can, but you might as well cut the bottom half of the intercooler right off while you're at it, 'cause it ain't doing much.
Basially my holiday thought is this:
End tank design is a commonly overlooked part of an intercooler - the focus is always almost entirely on core size.
Another major consideration IMO should be how well are you actually using that core area?
This is why I like the NPR, International, and Powerstroke intercoolers etc a lot more.
The end tanks are cast with some thought to fluid dynamics in mind. The chinese IC's are built with the simplest, cheapest end tank design possible (see above).
Here is a good article on the subject with some flow testing:
http://www.dvdtfab.com/intercoolertestlab.pdf
Some other pics:
HKS actually make weld-on end tanks:
This is a good layout too IMO:
There is another style I like that I don't have time to find pictures of right now- the International intercoolers so it and I saw a Lemans racer ic that has the same design- the inlet/outlet go "Oval" and funnel air in/out of the core. I will maybe take some pics of mny International IC tonight if I have time- they are very wqell thought out.
The chinese IC's have good test results, but IMO they could be helped a LOT but having their end tanks cut off and re-done.
If I ever get one, It's what I'll do.
Plus our cars just work better with rearward facing inlet/outlet, rather than having to add unnecessary addition 90 degree silocone couplers on the ends with just add complexity, make the instasll less clean. ad some presssure drop, and not help air distribution through the core.
Anyways I hope this provides some brain food for some folks.
All the folks who are convinced I am either a benchracer/useless forum member need not reply. I really don't care.
So that's my thoughts. Happy Holidays everyone!
Last night a couple tbricks guys were over and I got started on a rant I decided to finish here.
If you type "intercooler" into ebay,you are quickly arrive at a picture of one of these:
I find it interesting that these have gained preference over truck intercoolers.
What I find more interesting is that no one has commented on the end tanks.
You just can't make them like that. Well, you can, but you might as well cut the bottom half of the intercooler right off while you're at it, 'cause it ain't doing much.
Basially my holiday thought is this:
End tank design is a commonly overlooked part of an intercooler - the focus is always almost entirely on core size.
Another major consideration IMO should be how well are you actually using that core area?
This is why I like the NPR, International, and Powerstroke intercoolers etc a lot more.
The end tanks are cast with some thought to fluid dynamics in mind. The chinese IC's are built with the simplest, cheapest end tank design possible (see above).
Here is a good article on the subject with some flow testing:
http://www.dvdtfab.com/intercoolertestlab.pdf
Some other pics:
HKS actually make weld-on end tanks:
This is a good layout too IMO:
There is another style I like that I don't have time to find pictures of right now- the International intercoolers so it and I saw a Lemans racer ic that has the same design- the inlet/outlet go "Oval" and funnel air in/out of the core. I will maybe take some pics of mny International IC tonight if I have time- they are very wqell thought out.
The chinese IC's have good test results, but IMO they could be helped a LOT but having their end tanks cut off and re-done.
If I ever get one, It's what I'll do.
Plus our cars just work better with rearward facing inlet/outlet, rather than having to add unnecessary addition 90 degree silocone couplers on the ends with just add complexity, make the instasll less clean. ad some presssure drop, and not help air distribution through the core.
Anyways I hope this provides some brain food for some folks.
All the folks who are convinced I am either a benchracer/useless forum member need not reply. I really don't care.
So that's my thoughts. Happy Holidays everyone!