I upgraded my IC unit about a month ago. Based on alot of commentary from diffrerent threads, I learned the importance of air management. The stock Ic unit has a diverter on it and i was inspired by TonyB diverter build so I thought I would try to come up with something and here it is -



The IC unit has a good downward angle to it so I added 6 small diverters. Hopefully the pic will allow you to see them, they stick up about a 1/4 of an inch.



Not the best pic above but a close up. Used JB weld to attach.



here is an angle close up. the aluminun came from an old fence and has a nice edge to it - to hopefully cut and push down the air.

My logic of going with smaller but more diverters was to hopefully get better air distribution particularly at slow to mid speeds. I figured that at high speeds the IC unit was at its most efficient point regardless of the diverter.
Looking through the hood scoop the each diverter is visible and the top edge it horizontal to the scoop opening. I placed the diveters every three row of fins apart to ensure that each was visible and would hopefully grab some air.
Added an extra on to the fron row - figuring that little air is ever pushed through there.

Gonna clean it up a bit with an exacto knife to remove any extra JB welds.

 

Very nice Bart! If the JB Weld has already dried, I think you might break a few Exacto blades (wear eye protection!) trying to remove the stuff. It cures rock hard, which is good...

I'm not familiar with that IC. It looks like it might be the one from GTT... Is there some type of provision in the back of the IC to block or seal the air? I see the railing and rubber trim along the sides... Maybe there's something on the bonnet for the rear portion that makes for a seal... Again, very nice.

 

Correct GTT IC unit. The back is sealed with a foam strip on the hood. I've got some picks in my gallery and you can see the hood piece. its a modified stock piece.

It bought the quick drying JB weld stuff - sets in 4 minutes. And I learned if you do it when the IC unit is warm it sets in 1 minute . I cleaned the top off right away but as you can see in the picks - there is a little visible in the front (not much shouldn't be a probelms.).

I really liked what you did - especially the finish but i don't have the tools to pull it off. I found this aluminum from an old baby pool fence - it had a nice edge, and angle to it. I was also influenced by the razor blade companies - if one blade is good, two is better, and so on.

In theory it should drive air through the 6 points where the diverters are located enhancing what the IC is suppose to do. Are they big enough ? beats me. Do I have too many, too few? beats me.

I have also ordered a GRS hood piece and am seriously considering one of MISFITOY/JS (aka scoop buddy) scoops. It was simple and fun.

M7 we need a group buy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or how about a blow sale on the old ones ?

 

Bart, I of course saw your sig confirming that it's a GTT after I posted... Still in bed on this Sat morning waking-up .

Glad to hear that you have something for the back portion. Just make sure that it forms a tight seal when it's closed. A very small telescopic mirror and flashlight will work quite well, and/or a coat hanger to do some probbing...

I'm sure what you did helped. Just feel the outlet bull horn after a spirited drive. The delta between the intake one should be more noticeable, if you did this touch test before. I did simply one blade, as that is what Alta did... not sure why. More would seem to better, but to a degree of course...

A Dremel tool and a steady hand might help in cleaning-up any excessive JB Weld, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it...

If all goes well with some testing that I'll be doing, my M7 scoop, which has shown very decent gains, will be in the marketplace. If you want, I can notify you first...

 

Awesome work, Bahama. Could you elaborate on the pieces you used for the diverters? I'm not making the connection with the fence piece.

You should send this to Roland - I think he will be very interested in seeing what you've wrought (assuming this isn't on MINI2, haven't looked there yet ).

 

Have you noticed any difference on the road with your GTT I/C? I don't believe that TonyB was seeing much before adding the scoop... I like the mild vertical incline/offset on the GTT. Does the bottom of the I/C sit horizontal or is it also inclined?

 

I'll take some pics of the fence pieces (sounds strange and hard to imagine).

Roland/GTT were very nice and serviced me well but Roland feels the IC unit is perfect the way it is. On MINI2, I found him a bit defensive and he didn't care for suggestions or feedback so this will be of no interest to him.

this was my goal - the vertical units get air passing through them equally at all times. I assume that the horizontal units get air going through them from the back rows and as pressure builds more an more rows come into play.
These mini diverters are an attempt to bring more rows spread out into play sooner (i.e. low/mid speeds). I'm assuming that at race track speeds you don't need jack for pressure is at it max.

TESTING - to HONOR the ANDY's of the board, I have done before testing and will be concluding the after testing shotrtly.

I will share my methodology with you now.

First, I went out and drove the car really hard, and then held my hand on the IC unit for 5 minutes and suffered 3 degree burns . I will now repeat the process with the new mini diverters and am hoping to only suffer 2nd degree burns OR PERHAPS just 1st degree burns .

I am waiting for my hand to heal because I want to make sure that I use the same hand so that no one claims that the results are distorted. .

 

Thats a Great IDEA! let us know if it works out!

 

The whole thing has a good incline - i'm betting more than anyone else because you have to remove material in the front around the original IC bolts area and even a little on the right hand side of the top of the engine so it doesn't rub.

Difference? No not really, boost appears to be unchanged.

 

Here are some pics. This piece was designed to hold/attach the child pool mesh to an aluminum round poll. The mesh was squeezed between th eround poll and this piece - note the curvature. The pieces you will see were first cut to length and then split down the middle. Hope this helps. Sorry for the bad Q.

I've got a couple pieces left over clearly for 1 perhaps 2 - if anyone wants them (drop me a PM) - cost of shipping.

 

Nice install man! How do you feel about the install in general? I was looking into the GTT i/c but i stumbled on another thread that said install was a bit tricky. It was set up to actually bolt-on if you will.

Doesn't this cooler come with a diffuser from GTT already? Any personal comparisons you can make between this unit and the Alta, GRS or Forge intercoolers?

 

Personal comparisons - First I haven't installed any others HOWEVER I get a sense that the Alta and GRS are more refined as a kit (i.e. they pop right in) THAT does not mean necessarily that they are better at performing the task. So if you want minimal work, I would suggest one of those two.

If you like installing MODS w/ your own custom touch - GTT will give you that. Check out product reviews and do a search for GTT. I also suggest you search MINI2 for threads. Yes it comes with a two piece difuser (left & right) this post is about the 6 mini diverters, I installed between the the two piece difusers.

Lastly, Forge - form the pics i've seen sits up to high for its own good.

I enjoyed the work involved for the install - I like fiddling & tweaking things but many do not enjoy this aspect of MOD installation.

MY Conclusion -

First - Alta or GRS
Second - GTT
Third - Forge.

 

Perhaps it's wishful thinking but the hand test heat comparison between the two horns is night and day. The left horn I can't touch for any lentgh of time and I can hold my hand on the left horn all day.

I ALSO CHECKED AND RECHECKED THAT THE IC IS SEALING UP 100% AGAINST THE HOOD.

 

Bart, sounds like you have one pretty effective set-up there! About the only other things that I'd look into next are:

- Improving any clearances below so the ambient air can travel through better, preventing upwards buffeting...

- Checking for and cleaning any oil residue within the IC (occ or just routine maintenance)

- And as you mentioned earlier, increase the quantity of ambient air (larger hood scoop).

 

Any suggestions besides removing the engine .

I had installed my experimental PVC OCC and it was working nicely however heat became an issue so I have to rethink my OCC solution. Perhaps via Ebay.

I have a crazy hood scoop project :impatient on paper. I'm currently trying to find a used hood from a near by junkyard. BUT if it doesn't get off the ground I would seriously consider the new M7 scoop.

 

With regard to the clearance below the IC, I originally found some plumbing (hoses) thay were touching the bottom of the IC... obviously not good for that cool air we're trying to get through, and out...

If running with an OCC and VGS, there is bound be more creative ways to route such lines under the IC to create more on an air gap or space below...

Sounds like you are all over it! As I said earlier, I might have an M7 scoop to sell in a few more weeks, and I do have a stock one now (not sure I want to part with it just yet though)...

 

I think all the aftermarket diverters can use some work.... Also, I'm not sure if any of them do a good job at the front end of the IC, and a lot of air can get out there.

Matt

 

Based on my "hand test " results I agree there is room for improvement, especially about the front part of the IC coming into play. The front can't come into play until you build up enough air pressure - so thats what full out?

While these suckers are "mini" - I was able to add 6 but I count 4 that are spreading the air into the IC. I don't count the back one, just added it to get a better hood seal. The first one is on the first row and while I question if the plastic behind the scoop isn't diverting air over it, I figure what the hell doubtful air ever is pushed thru the first row anyway. And if I change scoops it will come into play.

Amazing what you find in the trash - yesterday part of a baby pool fence and today Mini IC diverters.

 

TonyB, what do you mean by routine maintenance? how do you clean the inside of the IC?
I took mine out the other day and it can use some cleaing????

thanks alot!

 

Just saw this post/question now... For the record, I already responded to warchieft2k's PM . A brake cleaner spray can with will serve this purpose quite well... no residue, and dries very fast!