Intercooler install: 18x12x3 Core, TUBE AND FIN
#1
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I went with one of those ebay specials, 18x12x3 core like Paul's but with a tube and fin layout instead of the bar and plate. The quality of the intercooler isn't nearly as nice as the bar and plates. But the size "tubes" seem to be the same as the bar and plates, so I think it'd be better for engine cooling but still flow as much. Think of a bar and plate but with rounded bars.
I wanted to keep my A/C system so it had to be offset. It looks "silly" according to my wife but whatever. I keep the A/C for her...she may want me to yank it out now. haha. Pics will be posted as it's being built.
Old step was a starion I/C, with 2" tubes. Turbo to intercooler pipe went thru the fender, intercooler to throttle body pipe went where most others go, between the engine and the radiator. I think the air heats up a lot by having that pipe routed there. So with this setup I'm routing both pipes, now 2.5", thru the fender.
![](http://www.shoremotorsports.com/pics/timsmiata/newintercooler/intercooler1.JPG)
![](http://www.shoremotorsports.com/pics/timsmiata/newintercooler/intercooler2.JPG)
![](http://www.shoremotorsports.com/pics/timsmiata/newintercooler/intercooler3.JPG)
![](http://www.shoremotorsports.com/pics/timsmiata/newintercooler/intercooler4.JPG)
I wanted to keep my A/C system so it had to be offset. It looks "silly" according to my wife but whatever. I keep the A/C for her...she may want me to yank it out now. haha. Pics will be posted as it's being built.
Old step was a starion I/C, with 2" tubes. Turbo to intercooler pipe went thru the fender, intercooler to throttle body pipe went where most others go, between the engine and the radiator. I think the air heats up a lot by having that pipe routed there. So with this setup I'm routing both pipes, now 2.5", thru the fender.
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Hopefully finishing up the driver's side tonight. I still need to put the IAC tube in and figure out where to put the BOV, so I'm gonna need mine back. I should have your BOV flange by the end of the week so we can swap yours out. Then the turbos this sunday or next week.
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No I'm not looking forward to summer traffic.
Paul has the same size I/C and it is totally covering his radiator, no A/C condensor though. He doesn't have problems I don't think, and this I/C will flow more air thru it to the radiator.
Yes you did, thanks!
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I was actually considering the tube N fin for the greater ability of passing air to the other exchangers. I really don't think that the new cooler is going that much more of an impact on your coolant sys given the old one was a tube N fin too. If there is, I think a fan upgrade would handle the traffic. My big spal pulls temps down no prob in the summer - that's w/o shroud and no holes in the hood. It just runs more frequently with higher ambient temps.
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Right. I was going to go with a bar/plate (my first try was a vertical outlet 24x12x3 core bar/plate intercooler) until I saw on another thread about intercoolers here that there was a large 18x12x3 core (same size as others made fit with A/C) tube/fin that seemed to have the same number of "tubes" as the "bars" in the bar/plate versions so it should have similar flow thru it. I wanted to try it cause i'm mostly concerned with getting adequate air to the radiator. Compared to Paul's bar/plate IC, this one is not as nice quality wise but the seems like it'll do the job nicely.
I have pics of the inside of the intercooler, i'll post them later.
I have pics of the inside of the intercooler, i'll post them later.
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Pics of the intercooler when it arrived. See junk packaging. Also, the extrusions do protrude, but not very far. And you can see the bad casting flash on the inside of the end tank in the 5th picture.
![](http://www.inoneear.com/outtheother/newintercooler/NewIC1.JPG)
![](http://www.inoneear.com/outtheother/newintercooler/NewIC2.JPG)
![](http://www.inoneear.com/outtheother/newintercooler/NewIC3.JPG)
![](http://www.inoneear.com/outtheother/newintercooler/NewIC4.JPG)
![](http://www.inoneear.com/outtheother/newintercooler/NewIC5.JPG)