Zarniwoop42

iTrader: (1)

So let me start this thread off by saying that I am a cheap bastard right now.

My friend gave me a set of ebay charge pipes, so I am going to see what I can do with those. My optoions are:

1- Cheap ebay ic

2- tiny *** sr20 ic (free from a friend who will be upgrading soon)

I have heard that the ebay ic's suck, but what is better? size, or proper engineering?

EDIT-
my setup goals are t3 8-10 psi (water/meth injection if I can find the cash, but ignore that please)

zoomzoom

I'm interested to see what people have to say about the ebay intercoolers such as this one.

I am just looking for something to run up to about 9psi through till my water to air unit is done later this year. My guess would be that they are beter than not having anything at all?

Cheers, Tim

mike_671

iTrader: (4)

If you use the search button you will get all kinds of fun and neat stuff like this

https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/sho...ay+intercooler

Zabac

iTrader: (39)

if you install an ebay IC in your car it will blow up, do not do it, seriously, my friend installed and ebay IC and his car exploded, it went 12ft. in the air and then made a really cool back flip, i was there, i saw it, it was so cool, but really do not get an ebay IC, this same kind of **** will happen to you, well do it if you will get us a great video to watch here on MTnet, where no one but you is a cheap bastard and spends shitloads of money on expensive IC's b/c we are ballin like that you know....hahahah

ThePass

iTrader: (3)

Yea basically what he means is that the ebay IC's are perfectly capable and there is no point spending more $$ on an intercooler. I found the one I wanted on cxracing.com and then noticed that they also had an ebay store where I could get the same intercooler they sell on their website for about 25% less than their prices on their website if I bought it through their ebay store. The intercooler has very nice welds and is very efficient. People who pay big bucks for intercoolers are usually only paying that because they need a special in/outlet setup other than the generic left and right side types, or if they are brand ****** and are stupid.
-Ryan

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

while the ebay ones work, and work just as well as any other... you could spot a Bell IC a mile away in a side by side comparison.

zarish

iTrader: (2)

http://www.treadstoneperformance.com...R6+Intercooler

This is the one I got. The quality is nice for the price. I haven't installed it yet but it should be fine.

Zabac

iTrader: (39)

looks a lot like the ebay ones

zarish

iTrader: (2)

Yeah it looks the same, but I'm not sure if the eBay ones come with the cast end tanks.

Zabac

iTrader: (39)

they do

MazDilla

iTrader: (7)

Those Treadstone intercoolers look nicer than the E-bay specials to me. Check out the offset fins.

zarish

iTrader: (2)

Some pics of the Treadstone.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

like i said:

MazDilla

iTrader: (7)

Yes Brain, everyone knows the $500-600 hand crafted Bell intercooler is easy to distinguish even from great distances, and the E-bay $85-150 ICs work fine...

But for $220 this looks like a good middle ground. The high fin density, louvered and offset fins, should rival the Bell core in terms of efficiency and the end tanks aren't any worse than the E-bay ICs.

Am I wrong here?

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

never said it didnt work, never said i didnt run a cheap *** ebay intercooler myself.

Zabac

iTrader: (39)

much ado over nothing
compare pauls IATs with anyone else from the dyno day, within 1*F
thanks, but id rather save $100-$500

MazDilla

iTrader: (7)

That's good to hear. That was my next question... What could I expect the efficiency spread to be?

One thing to note though is Paul is running a monster 18x12X3 core (same as brainiack, I think) I would expect his temps to be lower than a more conservatively sized IC.

I am wanting to run 300 like Paul, while retaining A/C for the street, and still achieve 95% intercooler efficiency on a hot day at the track (road course).

To that end the treadstone core appears to have significantly more heat exchanging surface area per-inch. This also maximizes the surface area which can be exposed to direct airflow in the mouth.