Intercoolers

[V5-Steve]

Which intercooler is best to go for, should I go for a jabba one, a forge motorsport one or an allard one. I am not sure which would be best, they are all roughly the same price but I am wondering which one is best.

[bobjim]

think the allard one is more wonga but been told it breaths/flows better dont know about the jabba one,

or get a universal FMIC and just find out what piping you need and order that separate, might be cheaper

[ap0gee]

The thing you have to remember is that a bigger intercooler won't increase your engine's power as such, it will just reduce the onset of 'heatsoak', and so stop the car feeling a bit sluggish when you drive for long distances on hot days.

Unless you're driving balls-out for long periods of time, I don't think you'll ever push any one FMIC to the extent that it'll show improved performance over any other one. Whichever one you choose, you should see an improvement over the standard SMIC on long runs, that's for sure...

[KenONeill]

Also, unless you're running or planning a big turbo engine, an oversize intercooler can actually give you turbo lag, as pressure builds up inside it!

[RichB86]

on a seat forum i read about the laguna IC been used as its smaller? thought about this?

[V5-Steve]

Thanks for the replies, I have not looked at the laguna one but will research it. I have to admit I have limited mechanical knowledge so its all a bit hit and miss and open to suggestions from you guys.

[KenONeill]

To clarify my last then:-
A big cooler has more internal volume that needs pressuring when the turbo's coming in, and a really over-size one wrt the turbo capacity will take time to pressurise in that situation.
There's nothing wrong with the idea of a high flow unit, but don't buy on the basis of "our cooler has a higher volume than anyone else's" unless you're planning a big turbo high-power engine, rather than just reducing heat soak issues wrt the standard SMIC plus an arch vent. Use a site search if you want to see more about arch vents.

[Lummox]

Originally Posted by RichB86

on a seat forum i read about the laguna IC been used as its smaller? thought about this?

The Laguna IC is usually fitted to the Mk3 Ibiza.

[mattbeef]

There is a THS one that looks a decent size to try if your feeling brave

[ForgeMotorsportUK]

Nuff Said



It's unwise to pay too much, but it's unwise to pay too little.

When you pay too much you lose a little money, that's is all.

When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything,

because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing

you bought it to do. The common law of business balance

prohibits paying a little and getting a lot. It can't be done.

If you deal with the lower pricing seller, it's well to add something

for the risk you run. And if you do that, you will have enough

to pay for a better service and product

[oilburninnut]

the jabba one is actually a pro alloy one and they are very good,but this comes at a price which is.........price,the forge one i believe is the most cost effective and is also very easy to fit,the allard one will probably be much the same as the pro alloy.

[Babs]

Originally Posted by oilburninnut

the forge one i believe is the most cost effective

At circa £800?

[oilburninnut]

yea but no one actually pays that for them,my new pro alloy job will be about £1400 so as a comparisson they are cheap

[Babs]

£1400 for an IC!?

Why!?

[oilburninnut]

cos its absolutly bloody hugecustom made,they need the car for 6 days too,oh and they remove the aircon,for the turbo thats going on i need the largest ic that can go on

[Babs]

Mentalist

[oilburninnut]

lol,its all on stop for the minute cos the missus wants to go on holiday again,apparently i've spent too much on the car this year,where the hell does she get this rubbish from eh?

[Babs]

I hear Slough's quite nice this time of year? Or Hull?

[oilburninnut]

Originally Posted by Babs

I hear Slough's quite nice this time of year? Or Hull?

[Angry Dog]

Hull's ok lol.

Im surprised a standard Forge or Pro Alloy cooler isnt up to the job - both their cores are very good. Most huge power Cosworth tend to only run the Intercoolers on offer, dont need too much custom at all.

I did get one drawn up that would be good enough for use in a 600bhp car, but iirc you deemd this to be too expensive, yet it was under half the cose of the one you're getting from Pro Alloy??