3SGTE: 2nd Gen MR2 Turbo Intercoolers

[MR2SW22]

umm, i can't see any fan in the pic, and if that is a stock wrx IC, i've heard that they are not really good IC's because of heat soak. I have some WRX friends, i've seen the stock IC's, the STI-wrx IC is much thinker than the wrx one, if i were you i would have gotten a stock STI IC to use. Also, a fan to pull air from outside of the engine lid down would be a good idea. But even if you did that, it's not going to work as good as my SMIC with a 9" puller fan.

[trd2000gtlover]

okay i know this is probably an insane question, but does any one have a frount mount intercooler, i'vew seen one before but never to ask about it, just wondering cuz i would like to do that

[MR2SW22]

Originally Posted by trd2000gtlover

okay i know this is probably an insane question, but does any one have a frount mount intercooler, i'vew seen one before but never to ask about it, just wondering cuz i would like to do that

the amount of pressure loss would be too great to do something like that, you might even lose HP, just a guess though. You can however run a water-to-air IC and hook up a heat exchanger up front, that would work good.

[Sang]

Originally Posted by trd2000gtlover

okay i know this is probably an insane question, but does any one have a frount mount intercooler, i'vew seen one before but never to ask about it, just wondering cuz i would like to do that

Yes. Ask Sport had it done on their track car...

And no...it's not a good idea for you to do that when a Trunk mount IC or A2W are better, more viable options.

[trd2000gtlover]

ok thanks guys, also you guys wouldnt where i can import a 99 wing do you? i really that wing and i want the all jdm look i have taillights coming soon so if you have any information like a sight or something, fiberglass if possible ive seen the carbon fiber ones but my 2 is silver so i want it to match without changing my theme

[grmreapr]

TOYOTA 91-98 MR2 3SGTE INTERCOOLER KIT [MR2 INTERCOOLER KIT] - $399.00 : GodSpeed Project, The Art of Performance

i use their intercooler on my nissan (works awesome and picked it up pretty cheap on ebay) but I also found out they make one for mr2's

[mr2magic]

Just thought i'd pick up on this thread :-) What's the general thought on top-mount IC's over stock position? If i go top mount i can just abount take any IC i want cant i? or are there restrictions on size with regards to pressure drop etc. any thoughts on mounting? maybe even sets?

[MR2SW22]

Originally Posted by mr2magic

Just thought i'd pick up on this thread :-) What's the general thought on top-mount IC's over stock position? If i go top mount i can just abount take any IC i want cant i? or are there restrictions on size with regards to pressure drop etc. any thoughts on mounting? maybe even sets?

well, the water to air that the all-tracs come with are very good for a fast throttle response and work well. but just an air to air top mount like i use to have on my 90 all-trac sucks because you get major heat soak. that means when you pull up to a light and the heat from the motor rises and hits the intercooler heating it up to a very high temp which can hurt power output. even when i put a fan on the top of it, it really only worked well at high speeds like on a freeway. if you go top mount, go W2A.

[mr2magic]

That sounds logical. How about a heat shroud with a spal pumping air from the side intake up through the IC?

Do you have any recommendations for W2A IC's for the two?

[MR2SW22]

Originally Posted by mr2magic

That sounds logical. How about a heat shroud with a spal pumping air from the side intake up through the IC?

Do you have any recommendations for W2A IC's for the two?

The cheapest and most affective way dollar for dollar is a side mount IC in the stock location, get a thick 4'' core from ebay, put a high 9"puller spal fan on it, and a block off plate so all the air that comes into the engine bay goes through the IC. they are good IC's that are able to support up to 400hp to flywheel. if your looking for more than that, you should do a trunk mounted intercooler with dual fans, or a W2A IC. as for suggestions, there are a lot of guys on here that have w2A IC's. you can run a ST-185 or ST205 all-trac W2A IC, or make your own from kits people sell. it all depends on your future HP goals, and remember with the W2A IC's you sometimes add a lot of weight to the car with a heat exchanger, water, pumps, thick IC cores.

[Sang]

Originally Posted by mr2magic

How about a heat shroud with a spal pumping air from the side intake up through the IC?

There is very little airflow through the sidevents compared to the amount that naturally flows from underneath the car and up through the engine lid.

[texasmr2]

I have seen a few MR2's running a PWR A2W IC that have very minimum piping from compressor to TB and they are very inexpensive compared to alot of A2A IC's so that could also be an option. For 400+hp application's on a side mount IC there is also the option of having water injection, heck even that stuff 'Water Wetter' help's alittle, but basically if one want's a high HP MR2 there is NO substitute for doing it right the first time.

[mr2magic]

So if i see this right it's a trade off between stock location with low air flow but little chance of heat soaking and top-mount with big airflow but also big chances of heat soak, right?

How viable is a bottom mount? Has anyone tried that before. I mean the air flows naturally from bottom to top due to the pressure drop created behind the rear windshield, so given the ground clearance and the room.....it may just work. any thougts?

btw. i'm not in the market for high hp. the 200+ stock are enough for me. LOL

[texasmr2]

A side mount is all you need then.

[MR2SW22]

Originally Posted by texasmr2

A side mount is all you need then.

yea, im running hopefully 320-325hp the to flywheel after tuning and a lot of boost, and im running a side mount 4"thick and a 9" puller fan, it works so well can touch the IC with my bare hand and it's nice and cold even after a 20-25 minute drive. since im not gonna get near the 400hp mark it's cheap, and works great.

[mr2magic]

Oh I know a sidemount is all I really need......but let's be honest ist not abount needing is it really? If it was we wouldn't be driving MR2 :O) I was basically just thinking out loud. Maybe placing the IC underneath the motor would allow for larger IC with perfect airflow?

[jimf0930]

Is there anything wrong with using SSAutoChrome intercooler its probaly the cheapest kit that I have found.Has anyone installed it on there 2? I was looking at going with KO racings intercooler kit but whats really the difference between the two of them If anyone could help me it would be great

[mr2ya]

some of these are new to me
ssauto looks good enough for me , IM not a lable whore nore do i think ones metal
is better than another,
Honestly I will probably rig my on top mount
with ssauto core (they are cheap) and i mean price not quality
aluminum is aluminum.

[Sang]

Originally Posted by mr2ya

IM not a lable whore nore do i think ones metal
is better than another

You think wrong.

[Sang]

Originally Posted by jimf0930

Is there anything wrong with using SSAutoChrome intercooler its probaly the cheapest kit that I have found.Has anyone installed it on there 2?

I installed a kit for a local back in November. The couplers are cheap, and I had to bottom out the t-bolts on all the connections sans TB inlet. I get a call from him the week after telling me that he blew a coupler. Then another call a few days after that with the same thing.

Originally Posted by jimf0930

I was looking at going with KO racings intercooler kit but whats really the difference between the two of them If anyone could help me it would be great

1. KO Racing has some of THE BEST customer service.
2. Kris (et al) fabrication skills are top notch.
3. KOR kit uses polished SS304
4. KOR kit uses 2 piece piping as opposed to 4
5. KOR kit uses better, properly sized couplers and properly sized CT clamps (better designed clamps you can use short of plopping down for vbands or even more $$ wiggins).
6. KOR kit comes with a fan shroud, fan, and body shroud

If you don't want to pay for a KO kit, i'd just buy Baktasht's kit with 1-piece cold pipe.

Edit: One of the most important aspects in buying a part for myself is point one I listed above.

A recent review of a couple of SSAC vendors on SF and NA-t (if you guys happen to be registered on their forums).
XSPower Turbo AND Wastegate FAILURE!!!!!!! - Supraforums.com

Basically...guy buys parts, guy installs parts, guy finds part was defective, guy messages vendors, then guy is called ignorant from the vendors.

Personally, I wouldn't buy from a company that has little/no customer service.