What Size Intercooler To Get?

[skylinetas]

I have an R32 GTST with RB20.

Motor is stock beides Apexi Airfilter and Apexi turbo Back exhaust.

I'm tossin up what size intercooler to get.

I'm going to keep the standard turbo so I dont see the point in getting a huge fmic if its just going to create Lag and Decrease air flow to the radiator

But the Aftermarket SMIC is not really sufficient after a few laps.

Most of the ones on ebay are 600x300x76 and are VERY well priced, but I have heard many bad things about the piping that comes with these kits.

Should I just get one this size or is there another option or Solution?

What other size intercoolers have people used?

[abu]

I have an R32 GTST with RB20.

Motor is stock beides Apexi Airfilter and Apexi turbo Back exhaust.

I'm tossin up what size intercooler to get.

I'm going to keep the standard turbo so I dont see the point in getting a huge fmic if its just going to create Lag and Decrease air flow to the radiator

But the Aftermarket SMIC is not really sufficient after a few laps.

Most of the ones on ebay are 600x300x76 and are VERY well priced, but I have heard many bad things about the piping that comes with these kits.

Should I just get one this size or is there another option or Solution?

What other size intercoolers have people used?

Hey

These days all the cheap intercooler kits are pretty much of the same quality and price.

If your after a good kit, used by many members I would personally go for the Just Jap intercooler kit to suit R32.

http://www.justjap.com/parts_nintercoolers.htm

Its $345 + shipping, which is a great price for a brand new kit. Includes all necessary fittings such as hose clamps, brackets, and silicone joiners.

Has all polished piping also, and a polished intercooler finish. Intercooler size is 600x300x76.

Its not the intercooler size that will cause you lag, it is the piping length from turbo to intercooler, then up to the intake manifold.

A lot of people are running this style of piping on there RB's, with no troubles, and making very good power.

Most people on here tend to go with these styles of kits as they serve there purpose for the price.

Other than that there are the big brand named intercooler kits, BLITZ, Greddy etc..

But if your looking for a good quality product at a low cost, for some street use and reliability, this will serve you well.

Some have had issues with the piping and believe they aren't very good quality, but more people have got them fitted up and running with very little issues.

Good luck with it

Thanks,

Abu

I doubt the lag would be highly noticeable at all.

Edited August 19, 2007 by abu

[TTT]

R34 GTT side mounted intercooler = $150 from these forums.

exhaust shop with aluminium welder to modify the inlet outlet to match stock RB20 one = $50

then direct bolt on replacement and capable of cooling and flowing for over 220rwkw.

Edit - the R34 cooler is thicker and taller than the stock unit and flows better also.

Edited August 20, 2007 by GTST

[Rekin]

yip, ive got apexi catback, apexi pod and r34 smic

As stated by GTST, $150 for an smic + another $100 or so for installation.

No cutting required to fit so its all legal

Here's some info;

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...=158811&hl=

[limpus]

Standard 600x300x76mm core or similar works fine...just don't buy it off ebay...buy it off the sponsors on this site...you will hardly notice any increase in lag but you will get a performance increase due to the cooler air and decreased restriction in flow...

[dori34]

or you can use a 7m-gte cooler then extend some pipings and mount it in the front position.

good budget upgrade.

thats what im going to do on my rb20det.. should be good for a basicly modded engine (filter, exhaust, bit more boost) should be good for around 180ish or so rwkw

ill have a DIY writeup soon. ill chuck it up on the dyno as well to see the increase.

Edited August 20, 2007 by whyte

[toffy]

if your dead against a fmic i would suggest a r34 coler with a water spray setup, VERY simple to do, pm me if you want more info on the water spray setup

[dmr]

Standard 600x300x76mm core or similar works fine... you will hardly notice any increase in lag but you will get a performance increase due to the cooler air and decreased restriction in flow...

he's right on. no lag

[BAMR33]

Standard 600x300x76mm core or similar works fine...just don't buy it off ebay...buy it off the sponsors on this site...you will hardly notice any increase in lag but you will get a performance increase due to the cooler air and decreased restriction in flow...

The 'performance increase' your talking about is just the lag as it takes longer for boost to build up but when boost comes on it feels as if it makes more power. 600x300x76 is unnecessary for under 220rwkW. There's been previous threads where people have complained after putting a fmic and getting their car on the dyno only to find it was making less power then before.

[skylinetas]

Thanks for the replys, still have a couple more questions.

Do the larger FMIC's usualy cause any overheating problems?

Especialy if the intercooler is mounted on a slight angle?

Solution to heating problem? Thermo fan?

Anyone else used a R34 cooler? did you keep same piping or get custom?

[Rekin]

Anyone else used a R34 cooler? did you keep same piping or get custom?

You use the same piping which your current r32 smic uses.

The r34 smic needs its outlet cut and welded onto other side (refer to my previous link) cost about $50

if your dead against a fmic i would suggest a r34 coler with a water spray setup, VERY simple to do, pm me if you want more info on the water spray setup

Send us some info about r34 intercooler spray

Cheers

[rev210]

If you go front mount you won't need a 600 x 300 x 75mm core for the stock turbo , it's alot larger than is needed.

The sidemount R34 is great but, if you can't get one a smaller fmic core would be a better move than the 'bolt on boy favourite' 600x300 unit.

www.are.com.au have various flow ratings on their intercoolers and some info to read. might help.

[limpus]

Then what about me where i got between 7-8 rwkw more with the fmic of that size with a stock turbo? Denser air and more flow will result in more power...period...

[TurboX]

Yeah, my wife used to have those before she got a hysterectomy!

And you say you read 7 to 8 RWKW more on the dyno on a different day and time and conditions and... and...

Hardly inconclusive proof is it?

You are more likely to loose power by just fitting a FMIC and changing NOTHING else!

EDIT : Sorry meant to say "loose Response"

Not that I dont believe you mind you, just that its a bit... inconclusive...

[dmr]

You are more likely to loose power by just fitting a FMIC and changing NOTHING else!

i disagree.

while having a smic i felt oncoming boost was cluttered.

once i installed the fmic i noticed boost came on at the same revs per normal, and that the flow and pull of the boost was alot better.

this was only with a catback zorst.

at the end of the day some people say it lags but most say it doesn't.

[BAMR33]

i disagree.

while having a smic i felt oncoming boost was cluttered.

once i installed the fmic i noticed boost came on at the same revs per normal, and that the flow and pull of the boost was alot better.

this was only with a catback zorst.

at the end of the day some people say it lags but most say it doesn't.

Dyno results are more conclusive than your opinion.

It's not that the fmic would be gaining you power it's the stock r32 intercooler is too restrictive. I'm sure on a stock r32 like this no intercooler fitted would perform better than big fmic kit.

Good thread r34 smic on r32

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...fmic+lost+power

[limpus]

^^^ you seem adament that a fmic will make a stock car loose power...this r32 which already has a free flowing exhaust would be running more boost as a result...maybe in the region of 11-12psi...the stock cooler will be a restriction to flow even with these minimal mods...and hence a fmic kit will improve performance by providing greater flow...it had been proven time and time again...even with a slightly more efficient R34 smic unit there are improvements...and while a bigger core might take a fraction of a second longer to fill...it does cool more as well and hence give more improvement as well...

[skylinetas]

Is there much difference between an R33 GTST cooler and an R34 GTT that were talking about here?

Im in the market for one now and someone has compared a Stagea Intercooler to that of an R34.

[Rekin]

Is there much difference between an R33 GTST cooler and an R34 GTT that were talking about here?

Im in the market for one now and someone has compared a Stagea Intercooler to that of an R34.

r34 smic is larger and better than r33 smic.

Its also a straight bolt on for the r33's hence why many r33's upgrade to a r34 smic

[TTT]

stagea and R33 intercoolers are the same unit.

R34 intercoolers are larger in every direction.. only by a little but still, enough to be a more efficient unit.

the fact is this.

the amount of boost you can run with your stock turbo, does not need a FMIC 600x300x75 generic intercooler.

you can't boost it high enough to create enough heat to require that sort of cooling because the ceramic exhaust wheel will f**k up long before that happens.

so the R34 smic is a perfect cheap solution.

but you say to yourself, I might upgrade the turbo later.

fair enough.

when you upgrade the turbo to something bigger than a rb25 turbo, then you can sell your already modified r34 smic for $200 to some guy who wants an upgrade to his stock turbo'd rb20 and then add another $200 to buy yourself a FMIC kit.

the other point to condsider is this.

Most of these $400 fmic kits are Bar and Plate cores.

this means ALOT of air is blocked from getting to the radiator compared to when it didn't have anything sitting in front of it.

and if you look at your stock radiator, it's about as thick as your thumb.

and if you are trusting your factory temp gauge which has a C and H marked on it for water temp, then you could come into problems.

I'm not saying it will over heat. But unless you have an aftermarket water temp gauge or one of those consult things from a member on here which displays water temp via the stock ECU consult port, you will never know how much of an effect it has on water temp.

You COULD get a tube and Fin cored intercooler like say from a GTR.

or after market, but I am yet to see an aftermarket tube and fin FMIC kit for under $500.

a GTR cooler will be about $200 (R32 gtr) then cusotm piping and brakets etc will cost you another $200+

Or you could get an aftermarket radiator.

not sure on these prices.

all this hassle for a FMIC on stock turbo.

waste of time.

Best upgrade for 200rwkw type power is an R34 SMIC.

if you add water spray like someone mentioned, then even better.

If I ever get another skyline that is the path I will take.