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how big is a big intercooler?

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:45 pm
by turboleg
So I found a FMIC with the following specs:

Core Size, 6.5" X 18.5" X 3.5"
Overall lenght 27.5"
2.5" inlet/outlet
760 CFM flow rate
510 HP efficient
1cfm @ 1.5 psi drop

What is good a "good" size? I'm starting out with the VF11 on the stock EJ22T for now. My initial guess would have been "go big or go home" but the more I think about it, the bigger the IC the more pressure drop, right? My eventual HP goal is 250 WHP will this be efficient enough once I'm done with upgrades?

Sorry if this seems like a stupid question....I'm still turbo stupid!

Thanks!

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:30 pm
by BAC5.2
That's not a very large intercooler. I assume yours is height x length x width. I think mine was 13" x 27" x 3.5".

I wouldn't use an intercooler that big with a VF11, but you'll have to use a bigger turbo to make that much power anyway.

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:45 pm
by turboleg
Yes, sorry that is the height x length x width dimension.

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:57 pm
by turboleg
BAC5.2 wrote:That's not a very large intercooler. I assume yours is height x length x width. I think mine was 13" x 27" x 3.5".

I wouldn't use an intercooler that big with a VF11, but you'll have to use a bigger turbo to make that much power anyway.
Sorry..are you saying you wouldn't use a intercooler as big as yours (13" x 27" x 3.5") with a vf-11, or the dimensions that I stated?

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:42 am
by azn2nr
mine is 30x4x12

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:14 am
by Adam West
Besides not fitting in where you want it physicall. when is an IC too big? Can it ever really be too big? Really? Why?

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:39 am
by turboleg
Not saying that I'm correct in my assumption...

My assumption was that since a larger IC would take a larger amount of air to fill the space it would require a higher flowing turbo to fill the volume. So in other words unless you have a huge turbo you wouldn't really gain much out of a big IC. The pressure drop would be too great for a smaller turbo. A large intercooler with a small turbo would be like a 1/2 hp single stage air compressor hooked to a 100 gallon tank...it would take forever to fill it to X psi. Whereas a 100 hp screw compressor hooked to a 3 gallon tank would take no time at all to crank up the pressure...it too would be inefficient.

Its definitley not a perfect relationship to turbo's and intercoolers but it makes sense to me...thats just what I'm used to working on.

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:47 pm
by NICO
THE BIGGER THE BETTER!!!!!!! DO IT BIG OR GO HOME LOL.

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:51 pm
by turboleg
:D

So basically I guess what I want to know is will the formentioned IC do the job on my VF11?

I don't have a problem pulling that IC out and installing a new one with all new piping when I get a bigger turbo.

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:40 pm
by BAC5.2
It'll work fine.

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:49 pm
by turboleg
Thanks!