Thread: Intercoolers Brand Name/Ebay

That was just an example I don't know that the pressure drop in the ebay core is only 2psi, IMO it's a few psi more. I just keeps getting worse with more boost too.Those little percentages all add up, 8% of 300hp is 25hp. It helps your turbo and motor last longer and run stronger

It's your car it is still going to have power but why spent money on anything, why not just leave it stock.

Great point. I don't think you guys need to feel like we are putting people on the spot here. Face it, most of us (including me) won't be able to even afford a $500 intercooler. But to me that's not the point at all of this thread. I still am VERY interested in the benefits and finding out as much as I can about how much it matters to properly cool your intake charge. I don't see how this is any different then any other topic discussing turbocharged motors and the important aspects of proper boosted applications. If you feel like you need to come on here and defend yourself, that's not a problem we are all adults and can see your point of view. But I just want to make sure you guys understand the point. That said, some might decide to change up their setup if they realize the potential they might be holding back...who knows. I for one have learned from this thread.

Keep the info coming.


Dudeman

My point of view is that there is really no big difference between the intercoolers from ebay and brand name, yes there are design differences but a nice bar and plate designed ebay intercooler will do just fine. And just like someone said there is no reason for the average joe to go out and spend 500.00 more on a brand name intercooler when its basicly gonna do the same exact thing probably unnoticable to the average person.

I understand the pressure drop thing is rough. I based my 2-3psi of boost pressure on a 9hp or so increase per pound of boost pressure. It's rough, but for what its worth, 2-3psi increase on a t28 or so would be roughly be around 18-27hp.

btw, I'm not contradicting your statement at all... just stating that for some of us, This is sort of neglidgable... this whole argument is tired. If power being robbed is an issue, for what its worth - with the 400-500 more dollars you can sell what you got that makes 300 hp and buy a 30r, or an sc60 series, or hx35, etc. even though its more practical to spend it on something else, You know?

For example, I have a 400 dollar intercooler w/ hks entanks (can't remember the core brand) sitting on my shelf that I got from Coach... but I'm not using it. I'm just using an ebay core because it fit better. This isn't one of those instance where you can say you get what you pay for because in reality, with an ebay intercooler you're not really getting a poor product... no its not the best, but the absenses and discrepencies really don't have that much of an impact considering the price. To reiterate, 35 hp and a little extra strain on my turbo isn't worth 500 dollars... especially for a street car.

I've measured less than .5psi drop across my $100 IC..... At 10psi on 3071r. Sure wish I spent another $500 for a name. Size an intercooler right and you don't have problems...

thank you, dudeman

You have some good practical points about upgrading the turbo I will give you that much

I just see a lot of guys spending money on cams, flywheels, divorced O2 housing, tubular exhaust manifolds stuff like that all day long. All of that stuff is in the same price range or more than a decent IC especially when you put the price of a $100 ebay and the $60 shipping and handling on The IC will in most cases give you more power at the end of the day.

As far as fitment goes Spearco's catalog is pretty big there are a lot of different sizes, and there are cores with no end tanks to keep costs down and you can put the end tanks where you want

i run a ebay ic. its pretty big considering the small front end of my nx. it cools the air fine. the motor never over heats or really gets up there in temps. no way would i spend 600 for a ic at that point id invest in an air to water set up.

stratton.

i rock ebay all day long. if i had 600 bucks to blow. i would still get a ebay one and spend the other 500 on stuff that makes more power than a name brand intercooler.

I would like to see some comparissons on smaller whp set ups. Like the 200-350whp range. It seems everyone thats done any sort of testing on the ebay i/c's is running like 50psi of boost and making 500-700whp which is just a little bit out of most peoples goals or specific whp output.

I dont doubt you can get a decent amount of power from upgrading to a name brand i/c set up. But for the lower hp cars i dont know how much you would actually gain. Its tough to base everything off the research of the honda guys and the mitsubishi guys, because everyone is running completely different engine set ups, and the engines are all different internally as far as compression, displacement and bore and stroke. So an i/c that would work good for the sr20 might not be the best on a 4g63 which is most likely running 20psi more boost than we are.

Just my .02