As everyone knows the stock intercooler is crap. I remember talking to a couple of venders at the Dragon a few years ago and they all said the same thing, that the GP intercooler is best. The problem with any top mounted intercooler is heat soaking. when you get a bigger intercooler say Airtech, witch I like, the recovery time is too long compared to the GP intercooler. The problem with a front mount intercooler is it affects throttle response. I was out messing around with the Helmet and Lotus so I was thinking about the difference in them. On my Exige it has a fan on the intercooler. The intercooler sits just above the air filter in the left side side scoop. The fan is controlled by a switch in the cabin. It gets plenty of cool air from the side scoop so I only run the fan on spirited drives. So I was thinking maybe this would work on an R53. Maybe an AirTech intercooler and a low profile pusher fan to blow cool from the scoop down through the intercooler. Or this may even help a stock intercooler. I know Meth is better and there are air/water intercoolers but this may work well for a few less dollars. Since I don't have an R53 and my CFO would not free up money to get one to try this out maybe one of you R53 guys could.
There’s just no room for any fan to fit between the top mounted i/c and the intake manifold. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
The gasket on my bonnet air scoop sits right on the intercooler when the bonnet is down. There is barely room for airflow under the intercooler for air to escape. Maybe a higher bonnet with a bigger air scoop and some computer fans. But that will change to looks of the car.
Well I was not sure because the Airtech intercooler is so fat. I thought if it fit maybe a fan would fit
I had the same thought a few years ago but as Beken mentioned there is just no room without modifying the hood. I have no issues with modifying but well the outcome be worth the effort? I wish there was a “budget” fix for this issue. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Something like this, it’s 2.5” in the center and 1.5” at the side https://www.americanvolt.com/products/dual-6-inch-electric-fans-12v-80w-atv-honda-yamaha-water-oil-coolant-cooler-fan?variant=35796151821¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic
I am revisiting this idea and was wondering what W/A IC you are running? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well that’s a bummer. That is a pretty sharp looking system. I assume you have had the system for a while, advantages/disadvantages over an air/air unit? The more reading I do it seems like adding a water /meth injection system is going to be the biggest bang for the buck, upgrade wise. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
To tell you the truth I don't really know if this is a better intercooler or the stock one was, but I like this one. I replaced the factory one when the car was 6 months old. It was the only one that looked like the original one. I've track the car several times and had no problems.