CXRacing Intercooler 34x8x2.75 Eclipse 1G Laser Talon : eBay Motors (item 170439426831 end time Feb-28-10 19:17:47 PST)

or

CXRacing RX7 Turbo V-Mount Intercooler FD3S FMIC : eBay Motors (item 390154208185 end time Mar-19-10 16:30:00 PDT)

With both of these designs, the piping is already facing towards the engine. After looking at SKMetalwork's DIY CX racing kit, the amount of odd bends/cuts needed to get the piping right to a standard side exit IC is extensive.

With one if these, on the TB side you may need as little as 2 90* bends to mate to the plenum and a 90* and a straight to mate to a clocked down turbo.

So?...

 

I bet making a 90* turn via an elbow is going to be far more efficient that dumping your charge right into that end tank wall and then forcing it to making a turn into the core. If you want a good idea of efficient IC design when it comes to entry/exits, then look at some high dollar replacements for OE turbo'd cars.

Regarding charge pipe bends and length- I was overly concerned about it on my original setup and went with a narrow radiator so I could make the cold side pipe do a direct run from the IC outlet to the throttle body. Later I decided I would use that pass through spot for an oil cooler, so I ended up doubling the length and number of turns on the cold side tubing. It had no impact on charge temp nor throttle response. I've seen similar comments on others' setups here.

This is a nice end tank design:

 

Is it me or are most of the IC designs a bit on the long side to fit easely in the engine bay ? I do not wan't to lose the AC and it's radiator.

 

Lots of DSMs with 90 degree end tanks making over 400HP with GT30ish sized turbos. A bar and plate IC itself is going to be the biggest restriction in terms of laminar flow on the intake side regardless of tank layout AFAIK.

 

I dont think Ive ever seen a 'back-door' intercooler being used on a miata, but I dont see why it wouldnt work if you got one the perfect size.
Im imagining running a smaller radiator mounted in the middle giving you openings on either side iun with the charge pipes could come straight back. But like I said, for it to be done right (I.e. not wasting space and forcing you to run a too-small radiator) it would probably have to be custom made at the perfect size.

 

But making less than they would if they weren't running that design- if it were a good idea you wouldn't see intercoolers like the upgraded skyline unit above. Or see IC tubing with nice flow curves vs. harsh right angles/edges. Designs that lack flow are comprises for fit. Even the eBay coolers that dump into those super shallow end tanks at the bottom/top end are a bad idea. Along with entries/exits at the tube/bar bar ends in the end tank- they usually sit a good 1/8" above the mating surface. These are characteristics you won't see in the high dollar intercoolers. There's a few threads here that discuss this and cover the tube/fin vs. bar/plate.

 

Ya, the GTR has one of the best IC designs I've seen. I've owned one in the past.

How wide is the radiator? I'm not overly concerend about the end tank design. People have been using back door end tanks for V mount intercooler systems for a long time.

 

People have been doing female circumcision for a long time too, doesn't make it a good idea.

 

I laughed my *** off at this lol.

Full tilt boogie, what size intercooler are you using on your 99?

 

I think its 16x11x3
Over the radiator charge pipes (like TDR only not homo and much cheaper)

 

koto =

Yeah, my point is that it's yet another compromise down that path to an intercooler. I've got the big CX barNplate with the crap end tanks and low low entry/exit - and I'm considering ditching it in favor of the delta fin that type that brainy picked up on eBay given his results. Plus it lets far more through to the other exchangers in a stacked setup which I have: IC, condenser and rad.

 

It would be cool to put in an AFM pre-turbo just to log flow differences with stuff like this. It would be good data for intakes, cams, ICs, pipe routing, etc.