Hcr32 Intercooler

[david69]

How close can you get a side mount intercooler to perform to a front mount on a mildly modded rb20det.

[R31Nismoid]

You can't. They are simply too small.

The only option is a R34 GT-t cooler, well documented in the forums as a "upgrade" path. Still, only good for stock turbo.

[Jordy32]

As stated, you really can't.. you simply need the extra size to do it's job correctly

If you want a side mount your options are really limited to the R34 stock side mount but even then it's not that much of an upgrade, or the ARC sidemount which is said to be okay as an upgrade, and is able to handle a little extra boost but you'll find things getting hot if you push it too much, and with the cost of those you might as well purchase a front mount

Have you considered a turnflow style front mount cooler?

[GTSBoy]

I found side mount + water spray to be a reasonable upgrade. Hard to quantify how much extra cooling it is worth, but if someone was forced to stay sidemount, it would be worth adding a spray + eLabtronics (Autospeed) controller.

[david69]

I am going to Max the rb out with all the usual mods i already have a front mount running 15psi.wanted to eliminate 2 metres of piping.cant do a same side front mount due to having no room for piping.what about the water to air type.are they any good.cheers.

[KiwiRS4T]

I am going to Max the rb out with all the usual mods i already have a front mount running 15psi.wanted to eliminate 2 metres of piping.cant do a same side front mount due to having no room for piping.what about the water to air type.are they any good.cheers.

All the other side mounts have the inlet and outlet wrong for an R32 so you would have to take them off and re-weld them. The 2m of piping won't be doing your performance any harm but for tidiness a return flow would do the job. And yes water to air coolers work fine but a lot of money for no real gain.

[david69]

No worries thanks for the info. I suppose i will just tidy up what i have. ..

[Missileman]

The ARC Sidemount is 100mm, here it is next to the stock 32 and with a 32 and 34 sidemount...

[Ben C34]

I am going to Max the rb out with all the usual mods i already have a front mount running 15psi.wanted to eliminate 2 metres of piping.cant do a same side front mount due to having no room for piping.what about the water to air type.are they any good.cheers.

What's your definition of max out?

[Dose Pipe Sutututu]

install a high CFM fan on the side mount, and introduce good ducting.

I would still monitor IAT regardless

[Matvei27]

I have both the ARC and Trust/Greddy SMIC units (the larger ones...they also made smaller ones but they're a similar size to the R34 GT-T unit and therefore are a waste of time these days). The ARC unit is slightly larger than the Trust one.

However, the ARC unit re-uses the stock plastic duct thing whereas the Trust one comes with its own metal air guide. Whether or not this has any difference on performance is hard to say. I would guess that the best setup would be the ARC unit with some custom ducting instead.

R32 GTS-t

Length: 205mm Height: 190mm Width: 60mm Volume: 2337cm^3
R34 GT-T
Length: 205mm Height: 220mm Width: 80mm Volume: 3608cm^3

Trust/Greddy:

Length 240mm Height: 193mm Width: 103mm Volume: 4771cm^3

ARC

Length: 240mm Height: 200mm Width: 108mm Volume: 5184cm^3

Anyway...as to how they perform...well it really depends on what gas you are using. A lot of the people on here get bad results with them because they are using 98RON pump gas. These things were made for the Japanese market and on the assumption that you would be putting in 100RON or better gas. I know people in Japan who have used the ARC SMIC with a HKS 2530, made 200~220rwkw, and had zero problems with detonation/pinging or heat. In fact, HKS' own demo cars for the 2530 (HCR32) and 2535 (ECR33) back in the day used SMICs.

YMMV. But if you want to try it, here is an ARC one on YAJ:

http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w122908114

If you don't have access to 100+ RON gas but still want to make 200~220rwkw...then it would be better/easier to use a FMIC so you have more efficient cooling (and therefore detonation prevention) to make up for the lack of fuel quality.

If you do have 100+ RON fuel and you only want to make 200~220rwkw...then there is no reason why you couldn't use one of these. My friends in Japan were able to do this without a water spray kit, but I imagine in hot climates especially it wouldn't hurt to put one on. Cusco/Pivot used to sell one, but it's discontinued. You can make your own and buy the controller someone posted above. The Cusco/Pivot one is nice though because it comes with a perfect spray nozzle that really gives you a fine atomized spray over the IC. If anything I would see if you can find the nozzle and ignore the controller since it isn't as smart as the one posted above.

Edited July 30, 2015 by Matvei27

[R31Nismoid]

Some collation of great information there.

The technical info that comes up on SAU is always nothing short or awesome.