Intercooler quality and prices
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TECH Fanatic
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From: Louisville, Ky
Intercooler quality and prices I'm having a custom 6l truck manifold kit built and I'm trying to do it as cheap as possible (obviously) without sacrificing quality or reliability. I am seeing different prices all across the board and was wondering why. I don't see how an intercooler could be so different to cost three and four times as much for the same thing. What exactly is changing to cause these price differences? Type of aluminum used? Type of welds-does TIG or MIG matter? I read bar and plate in the features of intercoolers but I have not seen an intercooler yet that was not bar and plate.
Here are the two I am looking at:
EPP10001 | 24x12x4 | 3" inlet/outlet | 16bar design | $850 PLUS shipping
http://www.exoticperformanceplus.com....html?item=772
and the exact same thing on Ebay, but polished, for $170 SHIPPED!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/24x12...QQcmdZViewItem
Now I know that the unit from EPP include mandrel bent tubing, clamps and slisone couplers but still. Thats another $30 for good clamps, maybe $100 for couplers and maybe $100 tubing off ebay. So I'm still only at $400.
As far as mounting, the majority of the pictures I have seen have the intercooler mounted between the frame of the car between the two rails but I have also seen pictures where they have been mounted OVER the rails. This would put the intercooler closer to the grille opening (which I will cut out) but does this hurt flow since the air doesn't have time to travel up the intercooler once it comes through the opening?
Here are the two I am looking at:
EPP10001 | 24x12x4 | 3" inlet/outlet | 16bar design | $850 PLUS shipping
http://www.exoticperformanceplus.com....html?item=772
and the exact same thing on Ebay, but polished, for $170 SHIPPED!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/24x12...QQcmdZViewItem
Now I know that the unit from EPP include mandrel bent tubing, clamps and slisone couplers but still. Thats another $30 for good clamps, maybe $100 for couplers and maybe $100 tubing off ebay. So I'm still only at $400.
As far as mounting, the majority of the pictures I have seen have the intercooler mounted between the frame of the car between the two rails but I have also seen pictures where they have been mounted OVER the rails. This would put the intercooler closer to the grille opening (which I will cut out) but does this hurt flow since the air doesn't have time to travel up the intercooler once it comes through the opening?
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TECH Fanatic
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From: Louisville, Ky
I also found these:
I really like this one but I think it is too tall. Is 12" the maximum height you can go?
$190 SHIPPED. 32x14x4. JDM.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/600x3...QQcmdZViewItem
One inch less deep 24x12x3 $130 SHIPPED:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HKS-3...QQcmdZViewItem
$240 SHIPPED and CLAIMS to only have a .2 pressure drop so 15psi before the intercooler read 14.8 after the intercooler. How accurate is that?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FMIC-...QQcmdZViewItem
Ok, now this one looks cheap. The airflow looks like it would suck as the passageways look thin from the front. Is JDM any good? $128 SHIPPED:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/31-x1...ECLIPSE-CIVIC-
GOLF-AUDI_W0QQitemZ180060029264QQihZ008QQcategoryZ33742 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
OBX 25x12x3 for $425 SHIPPED
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OBX-F...QQcmdZViewItem
I really like this one but I think it is too tall. Is 12" the maximum height you can go?
$190 SHIPPED. 32x14x4. JDM.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/600x3...QQcmdZViewItem
One inch less deep 24x12x3 $130 SHIPPED:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HKS-3...QQcmdZViewItem
$240 SHIPPED and CLAIMS to only have a .2 pressure drop so 15psi before the intercooler read 14.8 after the intercooler. How accurate is that?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FMIC-...QQcmdZViewItem
Ok, now this one looks cheap. The airflow looks like it would suck as the passageways look thin from the front. Is JDM any good? $128 SHIPPED:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/31-x1...ECLIPSE-CIVIC-
GOLF-AUDI_W0QQitemZ180060029264QQihZ008QQcategoryZ33742 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
OBX 25x12x3 for $425 SHIPPED
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OBX-F...QQcmdZViewItem
I posed this same question couple weeks back and was told by most of the FI Guros that the differance is basically cheap chinese labor. SmokinHawk i beleive uses one and has no issues with it. obviously getting name brand like HKS or something would run an arm and leg.
i would be interested in seein a comparison between the cheaper intercoolers and the more expensive ones to see what the pressure drop would be if any and what the AITs are. anyone have any????
i would be interested in seein a comparison between the cheaper intercoolers and the more expensive ones to see what the pressure drop would be if any and what the AITs are. anyone have any????
the differents in qualiy has got to be a factor......i think bell or another place has got a big write up on different intercooler selections...do a search on intercoolers and you should find it. in my experiance i have seen a cheap air to water intercooler leak water internally in to the motor and cause damage, and i would never buy a cheap air to water after seeing that.....so you woulg also got to think the a2a's will leak and be made not to last as long.
Cheap means junk cores that are not pressure tested. Most cheap cores will start ballooning under high boost pressure. Don't skimp on the coolers. Also the becareful with the cheap water to air coolers, as they are using air to air cores, which is a no-no. Also if you want the best you will need to get the HD cores. They are pricier, but are the best cores, though sometimes hard to find.
FormerVendor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 0
From: Hell AFB
The silicone fittings we use in our kit are a super thick 5ply. I'm sure it can be done for less but your sacrificing quality on the fittings and clamps. The clamps and silicone are defiantly not cheap.
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The shop doing your custom kit must not have very good advise if they cant explain to you the differences and allow you to make a good final decision based on your budget. P.S. you only live once and once your old and married and cant play with cars anymore your going to wish you spent the extra money. 
FormerVendor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 0
From: Hell AFB
Keep in mind, our kit is for the ATI setup. However, the FMIC mounts exactly the same unless you are putting a velocity stack on the turbo and shoving it into the bumper cover 
I can sell you FMIC, Brackets , all hardware to mount , and all pipes,clamps,silicone to run the pipe up to the throttle body including a 3/8 bung to install your IAT, if you specify where you want the BOV you can send us your flange or buy a BOV from us to weld on there.
I can sell you FMIC, Brackets , all hardware to mount , and all pipes,clamps,silicone to run the pipe up to the throttle body including a 3/8 bung to install your IAT, if you specify where you want the BOV you can send us your flange or buy a BOV from us to weld on there.
I bought the 24x12x4 for $120 out the door. All of those ebay intercooler guys are in Southern California and within a 15 minute drive of each other and myself....so its cut throat.
There are tons of guys here easily making in excess of 600hp and use the same intercoolers. If EEP is using them then obviously its good enough.
I also purchased all of the pipes and bends in aluminum for $100 on ebay which included the t bolt clamps. I figured in another $30 for 3.5 to 3 inch transitions for the intercooler pipe to the MAF and $50 to tig weld the pipes together. The total came out to $320.00
It wasn't difficult to piece the FMIC together.
YMMV
Here are some pics for reference:
This picture was just a mock up and the intercooler has since been tucked up.
YMMV
-B
There are tons of guys here easily making in excess of 600hp and use the same intercoolers. If EEP is using them then obviously its good enough.
I also purchased all of the pipes and bends in aluminum for $100 on ebay which included the t bolt clamps. I figured in another $30 for 3.5 to 3 inch transitions for the intercooler pipe to the MAF and $50 to tig weld the pipes together. The total came out to $320.00
It wasn't difficult to piece the FMIC together.
YMMV
Here are some pics for reference:
This picture was just a mock up and the intercooler has since been tucked up.
YMMV
-B
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 219
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Intercoolers
Originally Posted by RW99
FWIW, the Griffin IC's are made here in the US.
James
