I am 90% sure I am going to add an air to air intercooler. The question is which one? The GRS is more money. I would like some opinions please

 

I would go with the GRS unit personally, having owned an Alta intercooler and seen the GRS unit first hand on MANY cars here in the UK. PM me if you want my experience on the former.

Cheers,

Henry

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...&highlight=grs

 

Anyone have any efficiency data on these two? How does their efficiency compare to stock?

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...957#post349957

From the link I posted above...

 

In another thread, Andy posted this:

"
One of those two companies has posted actual efficiency data, the other has not:

http://www.northamericanmotoring.co...9957#post349957
"

 

I assume the GRS unit sits in the same position as the stock IC, so there would be some air lost since the IC isn't centered to the hood scoop, right? So, does anyone know if the Alta IC Diverter will fit on the GRS IC? Or is there another soultion?

Who distributes GRS here in the US? I didn't see it on Randy's site.

 

GRS offers a diverter that replaces the stock unit under the bonnet

 

For the people who seem unwilling to follow the links I've posted, here's some more spoon feeding.

GRS website - http://www.grsmotorsport.co.uk/minicoopers.html

 

just fyi, my GRS while performs great, diverter sits too low so some of the air is going to hit the side of the intercooler... im still trying to fix the issue...

right now... it's 2 mm too low, so 2mm is showing through the hood scoop

anyone a aerodynamic master and can answer one question... will air jump over the small gap in between at velocity? i can draw a picture if it helps

pm me or email me please!

 

I'm curious about the diverter not fitting

 

I just installed a GRS, slightly used. I don't think its a fitment issue so much as the GRS is thicker than the OEM IC.

The diffuser is actually two pieces. The large piece replaces the large plastic air diverter mounted to the underside of the hood and seals around the left, back and right sides of the IC by high density foam. The smaller piece attaches to, and under the scoop mount nuts. It flares out to the width of the IC. When the hood is closed its supposed to rest on the leading edge of the IC thereby guiding the airflow into the open pocket above the IC. If this smaller piece isn't installed correctly, it will miss the leading edge of the IC and fall about 1/2" below, allowing the top leading edge of the IC to stick up into the air path.

 

Thanks

 

that's the EXACT problem i have, but there's only 2 ways to install the smaller piece, one is to have the diverter piece ABOVE the two notches where the screws from the hood scoop would go, the other is BELOW the two notches.. i have had it at both and so far both have still give me the very tiny 'stick out' look from the hood scoop once the hood is closed... it was severe to the point where i need to stick a piece of aluminum below the diverter sandwich between the bottom side of the hood and the bottom side of the diverter to just angle it a bit higher so it is not as severe.. still i have a tiny 2 mm bit that's sticking out... my logic says that the majority of air should just fly over the tiny gap and nonetheless reach the intercooler without hitting the side of the intercooler, but i'd love to hear how you installed yours and ensure that i actually did it properly!

 

Sounds like we have the same problem. Regardless if I mounted above or below the scoop bolts, my little diffuser is just too short to rest on the leading edge of the IC.

I tore it all down this weekend and removed the scoop, inserted the little diffuser where it should mount, then closed my hood and fiddled until I got the alignment I wanted.

Once I did, it was obvious that my little diffuser was too short. If I used the designed mount holes the diffuser wouldn't rest on the IC... if I moved the diffuser to rest on the IC, it was too short to bolt on. With the scoop removed, you can really see how it should align.

My solution: On the short width end of the little diffuser (the end that mounts to the scoop), there is a 1/4" wide groove cut into the middle of the diffuser about an inch deep. This groove is there to clear a plastic pin inserted from the underside of the hood and a scoop guide pin.

If you look to the underside of the hood, this pin is actually for a wiring harness clasp-- its there to hold/guide a wire run to the right side headlamp I believe. Ok, with me so far?

Now, I found a screw clip in my junk drawer... one of those little metal clip things that are used to secure an interior body panel screw? Looks like a square shaped "U" with holes punched thru it?

I slid one of these on, in the area of that center groove of the diffuser.

Next, I popped out that wiring pin, from under the hood, and sheered the pin off flush, then drilled a small hole through its center.

Last, I inserted a short sheet metal screw through the wire clamp, the hood, and into that clilp on the diffuser.

Presto, it holds the diffuser in the position I want. Not tightly though... the diffuser can be rocked back and forth since my new mount is effectively in the center of the diffuser. However, it maintains its distance with reference to the IC very well.

If I can find some time real soon, I'll take it appart and snap a photo of this arrangement. One look and it would be immediately understood.

 

lol although im quite confused.. i believe that's what i had in mind to solve the issue too.. i was gonna drill two holes to accomodate the screws from the hood scoop and slot it in between the diverter and the hood scoop, then drill another hole so i can put the notch in between as well... unfortunately i have to get a set of drill bits for metal... i do not have any handy to me...

thanks.. what do you think, you think is there going to be some air that is going to hit the side of the intercooler? or u think that most, if not all the air would fly over the gap and into the intercooler reguardless if there is a gap or not...

 

Here are a couple pictures from the GRS install I've made notes on. I hope it conveys my solution better?

 

I guess I'm pretty dumb. I didn't know to follow your link to get efficiency numbers for both of them. I resent the fact that you state you're having to spoon feed them. I did look thru that thread...but did not find any % numbers for either stock, GRS, nor ALTA.

Here's something really simple to do...since you already have the efficiency numbers...just cut and paste them into this thread! What is so damn hard about that? Instead you'd rather make people go everywhere. Damn, talk about being unhelpful! We still get people on NAM who ask 'why does my outside air temp flash at 37F and make a bing noise?' We always take the time to post a reply to their thread telling them that it's an icy conditions warning indicator. We never tell them to go read another thread. So, why, do you, and others, get away with it?

 

Who distributes GRS here in the US? I didn't see it on Randy's site.[/QUOTE]
anyone?

J

 

No one... yet. Direct from the manufacturer:

http://www.grsmotorsport.co.uk/


anyone?

J[/QUOTE]

 

I contacted GRS and they will sell direct but after shipping the price is about the same from Randy. According to GRS WMS is the dealer

 

DOH! I missed that Randy at WMS is now selling... my bad....

 

Sorry I missed this question Kyriian.

I ran my IC for a week before I fixed this. Mine IC actually stuck up into the air path by about 1/2 and inch. During this time I monitored my IAT (intake air temp) while driving back and forth to work. I have also monitored it since I fixed this. The weather has been steady: rainy and about 60 degrees F. I only observed a 3 degree difference in IAT between pre-fix and fixed. I drive aggressive, but not full out... so this wasn't done with high speed runs... just aggressive on-ramp accellerations.

For those that want to know... on a 65 degree F day, I was seeing a maximum of 112 degrees F with the GRS IC. Sorry, I have no firm comparison observation of the OEM... Before I started writting this data down, I believe I saw about 132 degrees F on a similar day with the OEM IC? Anyone else confirm?

 

I understand that lowered intake temps equate to more power. But I'm still unclear on what kind of power increase these larger IC's offer for street use. They are pricey and seems to have fitment issues so I'm wondering what the cost/value relationship is. Can someone spell it out for me??? I will say they certianly bring a lot of bling factor under the hood!

ripley.

 

On the GRS site there is a Dyno chart of the increase of both torque and Hp. You have to make up your mind if that amount of increase is worth it to you.

Remember Bob's first law, "whatever you can do, you can do perversely."

I'm Bob.