Is there anybody out here that can calculate how big intercooler I need on my racer?? I have searched the web and talked to several experts without any answers...
Thanx, Marcus

i dont think there is any exact method for measuring itercooler size requirment for your engine in your backyard workshop, but i have read a method in a book in which vacuum cleaner with a vacuum guage and maybe some airflow meter could b used to c if the given intercooler has enuf flow for your car or not, but u have to know the amount of air your engine will b flowing when u need intercooling most. in higer RPM range i mean.
barpk

For 200 hp you won't need anything huge. But I still like to go overkill and just put in whatever you can fit.

You have to consider things like if you are using a small turbo and working it hard then it will create more heat and need a larger intercooler. And also if your intercooler and intake pipes are too large then you will lose power low in the rev range and create more lag.

To give you an idea I have put an intercooler in our RX7 (about 550-600hp) that is 500x300x76mm with 3inch piping. And that is probably overkill.

I once had a 1.5 Pulsar that made 200hp+ and it intercooler was about 200x200x2in with 2in piping. It had little lag but the core heated up too quickly.

I'm no expert but just giving you some ideas from my experiences.

Hope that helped

There is no formula for intercooler sizing, its all trial and error and comes down to what your theory is.

I think that something that isn't massive, but effective, inlet and outlet in the centre of the core, small pipe runs and gradual mandrel bends.

Pull the front end apart, take some measurements and see what will fit, work out if you want to cut and how you can mount it. That will then be the approx size of the cooler.

I guess a nother way to find out the preformance of an intercooler is to get it running on the car and put a pressure gague on the inlet and out let and find out the pressure drop over the core.

yep. Thats a good point. I also use a temperature probe before and after the cooler to see how efficient it is.

Yep thats how its done, crap intercoolers give you a mssive pressure drop.

The outlet prode should be on the manifold so the piping is taken into consideration.

Quote:

what exactly do u mean by this? i didnt get it
clearify plz.
barpk

flyby ment "out put probe" on the manifold so the piping restriction can be taken in to account, good point

yep, exactly thanks go_the_datto, also any engine bay heat picked up along the way