andyfloyd

Friends, I believe it has come time in my setup to upgrade the intercooler. Currently I'm using a 350hp vibrant intercooler. I can't remember but I'm pretty sure my core doesn't have the better turbulators in the core. So I'm seeing IAT's get to to around 45-50c when ambient is somewhere around 30ish. Using a program similar to virtual Dyno shows a correlation between my intake temps and power dropping past 6k. I am aware the BP is not a great flowing engine up there but the intercooler isn't helping matters.

Quick details on my setup built bp4w
FM manifold/dp/3" exhaustGTX 2860r gen2
750cc ev14
93 pump gas 8.5:1 compression



I have other logs in 4th gear that show slightly less drop up top, part of the drop could also be doing a pull in 5th gear with the top down is increasing drag coefficient. Either way I'm really looking hard at the precision 350 and treadstone tr6. Precision is rated to 350, treadstone is 400. I don't want to go much bigger because it's a street car and I don't want to cut things up. Anyone have some interesting data for me to look at? Thanks

andyfloyd

Also if anyone is wondering that's a gtx2860r gen2 running 22psi and it gets full boost at 3800 rpm .63 turbine a/r.

intenseapple

84.7f was around my peak in 65-70 degree weather. Ebay t3 with mystery FMIC. Boost topped out at 13psi, completely stock motor with 440cc injectors.
I was only making ~200whp so there's a big difference in heat between our setups, but I'm surprised you're seeing that much more heat.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

I will try to get a log for you this weekend. I'm running a gtx2867r at around 20 lb

andyfloyd

Thanks for the log I appreciate it. My IAT was lower when I had the 2560r running 17psi. But I was making less power so the intercooler wasn't working as hard. I think I just reached a point where it can't keep up anymore. This was also a long 5th gear pull which is worst for heatsoak, kinda a torture test for the intercooler.

andyfloyd

Awesome brother I appreciate that. What intercooler are you running on yours?

Mudflap

I highly recommend you addressing the flow through the intercooler and up through the hood first. I had huge gains when I put in hood louvres. So much so that I had to block half of the air in the winter because I never could bring it up to temp.

andyfloyd

I would do that but my car is a street car. I don't want to cut up the hood. When it rains my Bay will get all wet I just can't do that. If this was a race car I would totally do that. I think the biggest issue is the lack of turbulators in the intercooler and it's heatsoaking like crazy.

intenseapple

No problem, mine was only a 4th gear pull so that's another factor. Out of curiosity, are you directing air through the intercooler/radiator with a shroud or anything? I don't have any experience with it personally, but it seems like buttoning up the airflow to force it through the IC and rad makes a huge difference...

andyfloyd

Yes, I have the stock undertray and the stock type ducting for the front end. Coolant temps are always around 190-205* so it's getting plenty of airflow. My intake temps don't get as high when I do a regular 2-5th pull they top out at maybe 45c. They only get really hot on long 5th gear logging pulls.

I'm about to pull the trigger on a treadstone tr8 which is rated to 500hp and has a lot of turbulators. I like the precision 350 but it's roughly the same size as the vibrant I have now. Even though the precision has a really good core is small size could be a limiting factor.

intenseapple

Can't go wrong with a bigger IC! I'd look into doing some ducting too though, I've seen some pretty amazing results from adding an undertray and shrouding to direct air where you want it

andyfloyd

Right, that's why I have an undertray and ducting already there :-)

Mudflap

Here is my extreme example. 1/4mile run, 100F day. I'm pushing 25psi and around 350hp to the wheels. This is a FM intercooler with no hood openings.

That is a 90degF rise in manifold air temp (IAT), measured just after the intercooler, in 12 seconds. Look at the insane rise from 2seconds to 8seconds. That is a 70degF rise in 6 seconds!!

After this, I changed my intercooler to the WAY bigger Ebay version and put in hood louvres and put in ducting. I'm still waiting to go back to Bandimere to get another run in.

andyfloyd

Holy **** man it was getting toasty up in there! Makes my log look tame, lol but mine was like a 80* day and it will only get worse from there. Do you have any logs from after you did the louvers as larger core? Thanks so much for chiming in I really appreciate the data.

Mudflap

I did all of those changes (intercooler, hood louvres and ducting) over the winter. Then Covid. So I'm waiting to get my butt back to the track.

First I need to let my 3.3:1 rear end get broken in. There is a joke in there somewhere..

andyfloyd

LMAO, right on brother. I think things are sorta getting back to normal at least on the covid thing. Everything else that is going on I just ignore to be honest hah. I bet you'll see a drastic reduction in IAT. What size core did you upgrade to?

Mudflap

I used a CRX Racing 27x12x3 sized core. They are below $300.

andyfloyd

I've narrowed mine down to one I think. I'm about to go full baller and just get the Garrett GT 400hp. It's core is 18x6.5x3 which isn't really much bigger than my vibrant but it's crazy efficient and I don't plan on going for more than 400.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

I didn't forget to get a log. I just didn't get a chance.

andyfloyd

Thanks man. I'm still torn between the Garrett and the treadstone. Garrett is smaller and more efficient, treadstone is bigger and good but not as good. Not sure which to go with. My vibrant I have now is the same size as the Garrett. My vibrant is the old design with no real turbulators in the core. So I'm wondering how much the Garrett with the best core on the market will do in comparison. Just don't wanna go and get the same size and it not make an appreciable difference.

And just for ***** and giggles there is my Bay