Thread: What kind of Intercooler

eBay Motors: CXRacing INTERCOOLER 27x12x3 CIVIC B18 B16 ACCORD CRX (item 370101221393 end time Oct-28-08 18:41:02 PDT)

^Get it. I just ordered mine.

Mike, this is the one I got: 26 3/4" Long x 6 1/4" High x 3 1/2" Deep. They call it a 350hp intercooler, but how in the heck do you put a power rating on an intercooler? It's obviously much more expensive than the one listed above, but I got a killer deal on it gently used.

Same way you put one on an exhaust. If treated like a restriction, the intercooler has a pressure drop across it. At a certain flow rate it will become a substantial restriction. This flow rate equates to a HP level.

You could also argue that the cooling capacity comes into play some, but it's basically a restriction thing.

^Good point at the end of this post. I went ahead and ordered the one in my previous post. I'm trying to do and order everything I need right the first time around.

I get that, but I've seen people make better hp on what I'd consider to be inferior intercoolers. I guess I'll have to test this power level once I get up and running. I think I'll be making more than that, and I sorta think the intercooler will not be the weak point in the system.

I've finally taken the front bumper off (Jesus that was too easy. Should have done it a long time ago) and tossed in the giant (31x12x3) intercooler I bought a while ago. The sad truth is that it's not worth it to me to do what it's going to take to make this thing fit. I'll post pics later. It actually fit perfectly, it's just the outlets are in a bad place and the only routing option really is under the front support (which I'd prefer not to do). There's also some grinding that would be needed, but that goes without saying.







It's too bad because it fits so well and looks so bad-ass.


I'm now either going to get the 27x12x3 size that Andreas has been recommending all along, or try and find one with those dimensions and the outlets in the middle of the height of the intercooler instead of on the top/bottom because I feel that's going to be better for me.

Here's some examples that are close:

31x12x3 with middle outlets Not good for same reason. Outlets poke out too far and it's just a bit too wide.

28x9x2.75 Should work fine and is highly recommend, but I'd like something taller and thicker if I can find it.


I might end up just getting the one Andreas has recommended and use the new aluminum MIG welder at my disposal and modify the end tanks.
We'll see.
If anyone finds the "perfect" intercooler I'm looking for let me know.

Yah, I don't see how that's going to work.
See pics below. These are measurements without the AC condenser which takes up a good 3" past the radiator. The bumper support butts up against the hood latch support, so with the AC condenser in, and the hood latch support removed it looks like you have about 0.5" max for an intercooler without cutting the bumper support.

BenFenner, I am not going to explain this anymore. The intercooler does not come close to fitting perfectly you have there. The intercooler needs to fit between the headlights and it can not because as stated before the intercooler is to long it has about 2 inches of over hang that interfer with the lights on each side which adds up to 4 inches. Yes the headlights include the tabs that are sitting infront of the intercooler.




You have already placed the intercooler wrong in the pic. It needs to sit 2in lower or so. The bottom of the intercooler is going to be level with the radiator suppoer so all its goint to take is a flat plate of aluminum from boittom of intercooler to bottom of rad support. You have to cut off the tabs on the bottom that the intercooler is sitting on i your pic.

Lastly your pics show an intercooler that is sitting where the AC condenser would be. I said the intercooler I listed would fit with AC and no cutting of the bumper suport.

The intercoolers that you listed will not fit properly becuause of the placement of the intercooler outlet and inlets.


Here is the intercooler that will fit perfect.

eBay Motors: CXRacing INTERCOOLER 27x12x3 CIVIC B18 B16 ACCORD CRX (item 200277676880 end time Nov-25-08 17:29:33 PST)

Length 27"
Length (Core) 20"
Height (Core) 12"
Thickness 3"
Inlet 2.5"
Outlet 2.5"

Please take a look at these measurements and then measure yours and rethink what you are doing.

You are starting off with an intercooler that is to big to make measurements with so ofcourse you are not going to see how its going to fit. If you get the intercooler I listed you will understand how easy this is.

There are a few people here on the forum that have my intercooler install.

The reason i beleive you are incorect on certain counts is this.

Turbo motors achieve wahts called pressure resonance. So at you 66.6 revolutions per second - you have 15 psi of hot air being pumled into the vavles 66.6 times per second. Now evertime this happens - the air revererates back - throught the intercooler piping and through the cooler back to the turbo - before it is nullinfied as lag (slows the compressor blades) then back up to the throttle again.

Now the quicker it gets back to the turbo - the quicker the air can regain efficient speed and back into the clyinder for the next opening. We do have to consider here this is all happpenign in a matter of absolute miliseconds. But the key point to consider here is that the larger the intercooler - the longer paths the energy of the resonance has to travel - so the longer it takes for the intake charge air to regain speed. Higher the RPM, the more drive on the turbo housing - so more effective boost - higher volumetric efficiency - gain in rpm and the cycle starts to build RPM. At lower RPM the sysem is hampered with a larger cooler.

The air in the inlet system moves as a continuall whole block, not the engine sucking air - then the turbo chasing to fill the intercooler. Wangman this is what it seems your theorising.

But if you want to argue my theory, please theorise this further point.
You have a turbo - where the outlet snout to the engine is welded shut but the exhaust gases keep on flowing past the rear housing. Your left with a turbo thats in effectively a compression dead zone - and can not suck more air nor can it pump more air and looses its effective inertia. A turbo is totally dependant on the efficiency of both sides of its housings. Apply this to your turbo for longer periods (low rpm) and this is what gives you low end lag(lowboost). Apply this theory 100 times per second and your left with a turbo that maintans a high constant of RPM, mainting high volume of air delivery at efficiency speeds.


In summary - the larger the cooler - the longer it takes for a turbo to respond to inlet air speeds - effectively hampering boost generation and causing whats commonly reffered to as lag

Why the hell does it have to fit between the headlights? Are you blind? I'm not trying to be a dick here, but the picture I took that you posted shows the intercooler between the headlights. Yah, it's longer than the headlights, but it fits behind them. What's the problem? We're not talking about a car with AC here anymore. We're talking about my car. Don't get this confused with the AC conversation. And stop trying to duck out of the conversation. There's more to say.

If I were actually trying to use this intercooler (it sounds like you didn't even read my post where I said I'm not using it because the pipe routing is obnoxious to deal with) I wouldn't place it any lower. I would leave the tabs on there and cut away the thin sheet metal behind it that's keeping it from recessing back against the radiator. Once that's done it would take some trickery with the outlets and 90 degree couplers, but it could be done. The right side could go through the fender area and the left side could go under the radiator support.

I don't see how that's possible. Where the hell does it go? It's still 12 inches high, so it's only less wide than the one I have here. If you don't put it where the AC condenser goes, where the hell do you put it? There's no room between the AC condenser and the bumper support. There just isn't.

It would actually work fine if you're willing to route the pipes as I've mentioned. But yes, it's way too much of a hassle, and I should have listened to you in the first place.


Seriously. Read my posts before you reply to them. I've admitted that's the intercooler that will fit, and I've already said I'm going to buy one like it.