ok that clears it up, thanks

 

Tom, what's the status of your build(s) anyways?

 

I would think a 12x9 would fit a car with a/c in place

 

That's just the size of the core, but you are correct, it will fit with AC if you get a bit creative with either offsetting the IC to one side (still a really tight fit) or carefully bending up your AC dryer.



Changing out to a GT2554R setup but getting caught up in all the small details (aka coolant lines/fittings/wastegate/etc...). Should be running again soon, but it's all the little crap that's holding me up....

For example, got a set of snap ring pliers to clock the turbo in the right direction and I had to apply so much force that it bent the arm of the plier before moving the ring so have to go out and get a long arm heavy duty one.

Side note, test fit the reroute part you made me and it was perfect.

 

Don't spend alot of money on good snap ring pliers. I tried 5 different pairs on a turbo and destroyed them all. Then i got smart and bought some of these.
I ground the tips down just a little to fit in the snapring hole, works like a charm and cost me a whole $7 at the local hardware store.
PS, don't pinch your hand.

 

yeah the snapring pliers suck, the ones i bought made you pull them apart to close them (extremely difficult) and i broke off one of the tips in the snap ring, in the end i just grabbed my craftsman needle nose, but those look nice cjernigan. I had to remove the exhaust housing first since i didn't have a pair with a bend

 

couldn't open one i was working on without large snap-on snapring pliers....i broke two 90° needle noses.

 

12x9x3 is a *big* intercooler?

 

I don't remember the calculated numbers, but it's oversized in relation to the max hp potential of the GReddy 15G turbo so for that particular turbo it's "big." Hell, it's much wider and almost the same size as the radiator.

Depending upon power and heat generated from a turbo, sometimes all a bigger IC adds is weight and bling instead of any extra meaningful cooling. Everything is relative to the car/setup/etc...

 

I'm pretty sure my "auto" all metal (not aluminum) radiator core is 24x12". 12x9 radiator would be smaller than the one on my metro.

I'm gonna try a 18x9x3 or 18x12x3 core I/C and keep A/C.

 

so I guess my 22x9x3 is kinda big then.

 

core or overall dim's? If core, you'll have to work around the a/c evaporator. I think mine's 25" wide overall and there's no additional room either way with the evap in the stock location.

 

core. evaporator schmevaporator. AC is dead weight

 

Tim- you might consider the tube N fin version of the 18x12x3 given Jason's results from the TDR. I think it's worth a try given the bar N plate dramatically reduces the flow through the IC to the other exchangers. My cruise temp has gone up 2c with addition of that 18x12x3 bNp IC - which covers double the a/c condensor surface of the previous IC. I have a giant rad with some direct air flow exposure down low, so it's probably gonna have a more dramatic impact on smaller rads. This is essentially the tubeNfin version of my IC.

Koto- I think that's a good size and shape IC. Good exposure in the mouth to oncoming air and you won't run into high IATs when you pump up the boost. Let's say your ready for 300hp when you want it.