Tube And Fin Vs Bar And Plate

[mid life crisis]

ok guys i need your advice. i want to fit a fmic to both mine and my sons r33 gtst skylines here is the problem i am faced with. what do i buy do i get a bar and plate or a tube and fin intercooler is there any advantages or disadvantages with either cooler im so confused the more i search the more confused i become my head is starting to hurt also outlet size is 3 inch the way to go or 2.5 inch both cars only have exaust 3 inch cat back. pod filter. what type of performance gain can i expect going fmic over the stock one?

[Col-GTSX]

www.are.com.au

Will answer all your questions....

[mid life crisis]

i just come from there and got more confused lots of info but no real conclusion as to what one was better

[mid life crisis]

anyone with any idea?

[race_snooze]

there are also many different types of bar and plate / tube and fin. The way the tanks are made and set up make a massive diffrence on how the air will flow through the core. (wish i could find the site i got this from) The 2 main types are not better or worse then each other both are used for differant applictions. Just make sure you get one that is a known brand not the chinese nock offs, even though some of them are actualy good.

What you want to look at it the point at which the tanks and pipes will flow through the core, eg if both tanks and pipes are in the same entry/discharge point you are not utilizing the hole core, the pipes need to be at different points or have some sort of displacement to spread the flow but not impede it. Hope this is some help

All of that was from a full report on intercoolers

[Abo Bob]

Ok the general rule is that bar and plate cool better but are more restrictive. Tube and fin flow better but don't cool quite as well.

Most people put the tube and fin on their skylines because they don't need any extra restrictions, especially with a stock turbo like you obviously have.

I have a tube and fin. Enough said. :D

[Beeble]

Tube and fin was also supposed to have better flow-through to your radiator. I'm sure i read that somewhere.

And yes, what ^he said - better flow through the intercooler core, but less cooling ability compared to bar & plate.

I did a lot of reading on this a while back.

And i also got tube & fin

[Bl4cK32]

make sure you get one with a good designed end tanks. Its all about the flow through the tank as mentioned. See the std GTR intercoolers for the design im talking about.

i hate the cores that have the inlet / outlet down the bottom.

If you only want up to 300rwkw the GTR ones are more than capable, and are tube and fin = good flowing of air through to radiator still.

Ive got a hybrid of bar and plate / tube and fin. Just thought id add that to confuse you even more.

[MacGuyver]

In terms of performance on the street I don't think there is any real difference between bar & plate VS tube & fin. Just make sure you get a decent brand. I'm another one with a tube & fin 'cooler.

"When I grow up, I'm going to Bovine University!"

[someonestolecc]

I thought I'd let calsonic do the work for me and am happy with the GTR cooler on the cefiro.

Why not just pickup some clean GTR ones?

[thommo]

yep, tube & fin gtr cooler here.

[mid life crisis]

looks like people are heading more towards the tube and fin design intercoolers.

As said above though its good to have the better designed end tanks thats where im not sure which way to go as the bar & plate cooler im looking at has the better designed end tanks and the tube & fin cooler i am also looking at has the normal end tanks. Seems most people are still going for the tube and fin design with the normal style end tanks is this correct?

cheers allan

[Beeble]

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...howtopic=101027

free plug; didn't buy it from these guys, but i'm a happy camper

Edited January 13, 2006 by Beeble

[mid life crisis]

lol im trying to decide from kit 1 and kit 3 from that link.

[GunMetalR33]

Are the pics on this thread bar and plate?

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...howtopic=101027