V-mounting intercooler

[redline2003]

I think this is the new craze because everytime i pick up a car mag i see at least one car with a flatmount or V-mounted setup. At first i thought this was to reduce piping and save space, but the lack of airflow would not make it worthwhile although its true that the engine would recieve better cooling. what do you all think of this setup?? i think ill stick to a front mount..

[meggala]

I seriously considered it for my sr 20 cefiro shorter run for the piping

but also up and out of the way for drift off road excursions.

contray to what every one says you do not require an aftermarket intercooler when using a stock turbo.

cheers

[Abo Bob]

What is this V thing? Anyone got pics of it?

[Nozila]

I think ive seen one of these intercoolers in a video i had just yesterday. It was grip vol4 and there was a r32 from sexy knights who had this type of intecooler installed. Looks awkward.

[aybee]

the lack of airflow would not make it worthwhile

There is a curve piece that you put between the front bar opening and the cooler. so that the air going through the front bar gets directed up through the cooler then out through the vented bonnet.

would actually have better flow than fmic because theres nothing behind it blocking the air.

also for shorter piping too.

[Sydneykid]

Ahh "V" mount, actually a ">" mount, with the intercooler at the top (usually) and the radiator at the bottom. The idea is that they both get fresh air, unlike an FMIC where the radiator gets air already heated by the intercooler. The intercooler exhausts out through the bonnet and the radiator exhaust (as per standard) around the engine and out under the firewall. It also shortens the intercooler pipework considerably, in fact if you do it right you can almost mount the intercooer straight onto the turbo and the inlet plenum.

Usually to mount them in the ">" formation you need;

1. to remove the radiator support panel

2. a bonnet with a large vent

3. a suitabe intercooler

4. a suitable radiator with special radiator hoses

5. a radiator water header tank (to get the air out, as the radiator is mounted lower than the engine)

6. many hours of fabricating brackets, mounts, pipes, ducting as nothing would be off the shelf.

Have I turned you away yet?

[Abo Bob]

Yup

[redline2003]

sort of...

[T0nyGTSt]

I personally think it looks full sick y0 because the JGTC and show cars all seem to run them either < or > way depending on your orientation.

But the cars have the motor sitting way back and it looks like a nightmare of custom fabrication up front.

T.

[tridentt150v]

Have you looked at using one at all SK, is there real benefit????

[Sydneykid]

Have you looked at using one at all SK, is there real benefit????

The SuperTourer uses a similar concept for its water, engine oil, transmission oil and engine air inlet. They are all staged so that each one gets fresh air ie; not preheated by another cooler. The V8Supercar is similar but not as sophisticated. Works a charm but it is really a pain in the ass to engineer and fabricate, and it makes simple maintenance a real chore. Like try changing a radiator hose :Bang:

In an extreme racing situation it is certainly worth doing, but on a road car? Personally I think it's more for "rice" than anything else.

[predator]

can somebody post a picture of the setup..

[R31 POWER]

More here

http://www.r31house.co.jp/r31/Z0366.htm

[redline2003]

Have to admit that setup does look tough, it has grown on me, but on the street wouldnt it suffer from heat soak??

[aybee]

the idea of it is that it gets better air flow so it couldnt by its very nature suffer from heat soak.

[T0nyGTSt]

That's right.

V-Mount is the best in almost every circumstance.

We may get around heat problems with out setups with triple core alloy radiators but it's a compromise.

T.

[dangerous_daveo]

the idea of it is that it gets better air flow so it couldnt by its very nature suffer from heat soak.

In a race application maybe so, because your not stopping.

But out of interest, what about say normal city driving, stop start etc? Would it not have more potential to heat up then? Or is this a problem anyway as the pipes themselfs heat up?

I dont know, hence asking the question.

[Sydneykid]

In a race application maybe so, because your not stopping.

But out of interest, what about say normal city driving, stop start etc?  Would it not have more potential to heat up then?  Or is this a problem anyway as the pipes themselfs heat up?

I dont know, hence asking the question.

Without airflow it would be a waste of time, the hot air from the radiator goes straight up into the intercooler. With a front mount thta simply doesn't happen as the engine fan draws the radiator hot air away from the FMIC. Which brings me to the next point, where do you put the fans?

[funkymonkey]

as far as the intercooler is concerned the V setup is better as hot air rises, and all the hot air will go out the top of the bonnet wherre there's a vent above the IC. So even while the car's stopped, theoretically it should be better or at the least the same as a FMIC.

[Sydneykid]

as far as the intercooler is concerned the V setup is better as hot air rises, and all the hot air will go out the top of the bonnet wherre there's a vent above the IC. So even while the car's stopped, theoretically it should be better or at the least the same as a FMIC.

Yep, but the hot air comes up from the radiator and goes through the intercooler and out the bonnet (ie; hot air rises) On its way though the hot air heats up the intercooler. That never happens with a FMIC, the radiator is behind the intercooler and the engine or electric fan sucks the hot air from the radiator, away from the intercooler.

In a > mount in traffic or stationary, the intercooler will quickly get to 90 degrees, which is the temperature of the air coming out of the radiator. It will cool down once you get moving, that why it is an OK setup in a race car. But a waste of time and money in a road car.

Oh and you should see the damage if you have a slight front end tap, makes a real effenn mess.