BTW I recently ran across an old article in SCC (A Silvia IIRC) where they mentioned getting a tube/fin core with a large frontal opening area, like the TDR, specifically to improve cooling.

frank - this ebay tubeNfin unit is practically a direct swap with the barNplate ebay cooler I now have (and fits w/o a/c mods).

If it were me building my setup from new, I'd go with the tubeNfin just in case- given the nature of cooling issues on a turbo Miata. Odds are, if it's reducing coolant temps tthen it's probably also improving the exhausting of hot air under the hood with greater flow through the radiator.

As it stands now, I can only create a rise in coolant temp when I come to stop after running hard (but the fan brings that down). But I'm sure that'd be different with a stock sized radiator.

Makes you wonder if a barNplate could be helped by putting a "wedge" on the front side of each tube. :dunno:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...r/bNpICmod.jpg

I've got an older FM2 setup now but dang it must weigh 60 lbs and it has the all over the place piping. I do have a PWR rad and SPALs that came with the car and I installed, but the weight savings alone would be worth it for $140.

I always knew there was a reason the Suby STI came with a very light and smallish tube and fin and people seem to make great power with 'em tuned. Heat soak is only a problem at high boost, short bursts without speed limit cruisng to cool 'em back down.

Frank

There is one company that uses cores that have rounded edges instead of square ones thought they are still bar&plate design allowing more laminar airflow.
Now just to find the link. Heck maybe it's BEGI.

The Silvia article in SCC I mentioned earlier talks about exactly that - some Japanese tuning company, may have been HKS.

I find it interesting you bumped this thread, I was just reading through this thread last night. I have just purchased a new tube & fin intercooler to replace my current B&P....

the ducting included in the kit is the magic.

IIRC, it was Dave Coleman's project S13, and the FMIC in question was an Apex'i unit, such as - INTERCLER KIT-ECLPS 95-99 532KM02 by APEXi

They call it "Delta Fin"

There are now eBay/china copies of that design. At least they look like it on the outside. Wonder how it measures up compared to the tube/fin...:dunno:

hey that's what I bought, i thought it was just tube and fin...

Intercooler 27 x 7 x 2.5 delta fin Miata RX-7 RX-8 GTI:eBay Motors (item 200360402212 end time Jul-08-09 11:44:43 PDT)

I'll examine it next week when it shows up.

To bad the TDR IC cost like 8 times more then the average setup.
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are begi intercoolers bar & plate? I've never looked into it.

Hmmm....this looks much more "tube and fin" vs. the Apex'i unit, I wonder how it'll perform?

yes.

Any closeups of that Apexi ic's tubes?

They call it delta fin in the auction, when I purchased it and saw the picture i didn't think anything else but tube&fin. I'll kinda be pissed if I get a true delta fin, because I want tube and fin.

It's a delta tube and fin, very light, very cool. each set of runners point inward so the airflow can easily make it's way into the channel.

http://www.boostedmiata.com/intercoo...%20(Large).JPG

http://www.boostedmiata.com/intercoo...%20(Large).JPG

This makes it more clear:
http://www.boostedmiata.com/intercoo...%20(Large).JPG

needs more pc pro.

Nice!

If I were to nitpick, they shoulda done something similar for the charge air entries.