Intercooler came in today.....it's pretty well packaged but but some of the fins still managed to get bent :(

 

If you're worried about a few tiny little fins being bent, that's just being a bit OCD don't you think? Those bent fins won't affect performance one bit. It looks like it cost more than you paid considering it's most likely a product of China. My radiators from my water cooled computer are ultra expensive and even after spending serious money there were a few bent fins.

 

please post one, at least one instance where a generic intercooler has failed and caused critical damage to a motor

want to know why there are no cases like that? because it hasnt happened nor will it ever happen...

if you're talking generic head gasket or a generic piston ring set, or a generic pulley kit, ya you'd have to be an idiot to buy those non name brand items but as far as intakes, intercoolers, intercooler piping, exhausts, and basically any other sort of pipes and static items(no moving parts), generic works as well, if not better than name brand parts

 

agree 100% here with luigi90210. An intercooler wont fudge up your engine. These things know when something isnt right most of the time anyways. If your worried about an intercooler, you probably wouldnt be happy with the 3" peice of pvc i am using to cut out the noisemaker on the intake side. I agree most of the time you get what you pay for, but in this case the worst that can happen is bad performance. But its worth a try IMO

 

Do yourself a favor and pressure test the FMIC before installing. Save yourself the grief later if there's a leak.

 

id suggest 3" exhaust pipe over PCV, the PVC while cost effective, it risks melting under heat produced by the turbo(100+F air on a cold day), if you do decide to use PCV, make sure its heat resistant up to 300+F

yes, doing a boost leak test will help determine if the welds on the intercooler are good(most likely they are since they are welded using welding machines), worst case you need to reweld something which should cost less than $50 at an exhaust shop

 

It's not the welding machine I'd be worried about, it's the guy holding the stick.... If there is a issue after a pressure test is done, I would bring it to someone that can TIG with aluminum stick really well. Most exhaust shops mainly MIG and or TIG stainless.

To pressure test:
Go to Home Depot plumbing department and get:
1. Rubber cap (size to match fmic horn)
2. Rubber coupling (size to match fmic horn)
3. Pvc cap for the coupling
4. Schrader valve
2. Hose clamps

Insert the pvc cap in the one end of rubber coupling and hose clamp tight. Drill a hole for the Schrader valve in the pvc cap. Apply assembly to one end of the fmic horn with another band clamp. Take the rubber cap and hose clamp to the other horn. Pressurize the fmic with the Schrader valve and check for leaks or leak down on a gauge.

 

i think you misunderstood what i meant by welding machine, there are automated welding machines that do tig welding, most mass produced exhausts and intercoolers are welded using an automated welders, i know its a china part but i have no doubt its welded using a automated welding machine as i have had chinese replica intakes and generic exhausts from china with welds better than the custom work i have seen done at exhaust shops

this is typically what an automated welding machine looks like

 

Luigi- I will send you a pm about automated welding and it's place. Not going to sidetrack this thread.

Op- good luck with the fmic. You can always use the pressure testing parts to check for boost leaks in the future if there is ever a suspected issue. Just connect to the turbo and test the system that way.

 

How did that picture get out? That's my new downpipe being fabbed up.
I think it will flow.

 

lol someone leaked it, but that wont flow enough, you need a 20in downpipe :P

sorry OP, ill stop clogging the thread

 

Im not sure who the many many people you are reffering too. There have been tons and tons of people that own supras,v8's,rx7's,evo's and every other turbo car on the planet that has made crazy power and had amazing luck with ebay intercoolers. Years ago on the supra forums they did a comparsion test of a high dollar instercooler vs a ebay cheap intercooler with very very little difference in power and IAT's.

Alot of the cheap intercooler are made over seas which is where alot of the higher end companies sub out their parts from because its made cheaper. When your talking about 250-300hp you dont need a million dollar intercooler. Especially when your comparing it too the stock intercooler.

 

Well said...had my ebay intercooler for almost three years, it's been great and has kept the knock counts away at 19 psi...

 

My eBay intercooler fit perfectly behind my bumper too. I'm still hitting 19psi in 105° weather

 

SC__77, no pros here in Phoenix with temps well over 110 and the JB at 100% the last two summers. With my 2011, I had the cut the center tab of the top, 20 seconds with a cutoff tool, no prob. Great intercooler

 

Jb+ @100% here as well. Running a 30% e85/91 blend. Car is full of smiles

 

Same. 25-30% corn juice in the summer

 

Ran into a snag with the install and have to hold off until I get back to Seattle. My granda isnt doing too well so mods need to take a back seat.


Is there a kit i can fab up to do a pressure test at home? I've never had to do this before so any pointers would be awesome

 

Did you not see what I wrote a few post back or not understand?

Good luck with grandma.

 

Any developments on the intercooler saga? Tested?

 

Forge vs Alta intercooler which one is more suitable for Cooper S N18 engine?

 

Both, I see most members using the Forge.

 

Just worry that will be a turbo lag!

 

Turbo lag, a larger intercooling doesn't have anything to do with turbo lag. Turbo lag has to do with the nature of the turbo itself, turbos build boost exponentially (over time) where a supercharge gives you rated boost instantly. Using a larger intercooler with decrease your boost by .5 psi, but lowering your intake temps will balance things out. Cooler intake temps will improve performance vs losing .5 psi, I'll take the .5 psi drop in exchange for cooler intake temps any day!

If you plan on getting at least a Stage 1 Tune from Battle or Manic the intercooler is much more important because you'll have way more boost anyway, you don't want detonation when running higher boost than stock or your engine will eat itself! Tuners actually recommend an intercooler when thinking about getting a tune, you'll be producing more heat and heat leads to more stress on your engine. That's why I also plan on getting W/M injection to really cooling intake temperatures.

 

Great, thanks for the information.