FS: ARC intercooler

[Oblivion]

Looking to upgrade your stock intercooler? This offers far greater cooling capacity than the standard one resulting in giving you more power across the rev range. A brand new one of these will set you back over $2000! If you feel rich... = http://www.rhdjapan.com/arc-intercooler-smic-ec5a-ec5w-cd9a-ce9a-53456 ARC is a highly respected Japanese brand of the same quality as HKS, Greddy etc

Why bother with inferior bar and plate intercoolers when this is yours for a measly 100 bucks!

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The bottom row is dented but I've had my car on the dyno not long ago with this on and it works well with no leaks.

[jb2815]

I was looking at this on trademe a while ago when it was on but had no spare cash at the time..

What would a intercooler like this offer on an otherwise un-upgraded car?

Would it offer more power at lower revs?
Would it offer improved fuel consumption?

[Oblivion]

Yeah I dont know why I didnt think of putting it up here in the first place lol.

An aftermarket intercooler is basically going to make the air going into the engine colder and more dense, similar to how a cold air box / intake would improve a cars performance.
As this intercooler isnt huge theres no lag so you should see better performance right across the rev range rather than just top end.
Better intercoolers are apparently better for fuel economy but I'm not sure how much of that you would notice on a VR4!

[Ryan]

I could not see any difference in fuel economy once I'd fitted a larger FMIC to my old VR-4.

[dickytim]

is this one a direct bolt on?

[Oblivion]

Its specifically made for EC5W / EC5A VR4's so it will bolt on without any hassles. I think some PFL cars may have to shorten the stock intercooler pipe on the drivers side which is easily done though.

I think it would look good blacked out behind the bumper for a stealthy look :)

[jb2815]

I think my FL would need some PFL pipes because mine bends up to the top of the intercooler on the drivers side.

[zentac]

Why bother with inferior bar and plate intercoolers when this is yours for a measly 100 bucks!


ooowww... bar and fin vs tupe and plate argument. One that will rage for years.

Ive seen tube and plate intercoolers running 1000+ bhp on EVO's with very little pressure drop and very little temp increase 34 ext temp went up to 37 deg's by the time it hit the manifold, thats bloody good cooling, but probably a discussion for another thread.

[CANDEE]

I think my FL would need some PFL pipes because mine bends up to the top of the intercooler on the drivers side.
No it wont dude... That is the soft pips that on it... that pipe should come off and all you will need is some silicon joiners to fit it up. :) Its come off a facelift too. :)

[funkstardelux]

ohh lush intercooler ..i missed out on one on ebay last year..rare as anything and new cost a bomb.

[bradc]

Go for it dickytim ;)

[jb2815]

No it wont dude... That is the soft pips that on it... that pipe should come off and all you will need is some silicon joiners to fit it up. :) Its come off a facelift too. :)

Oh yeah haha, but the hard pipe does still bend up to past where the bottom of the current IC is so the soft pipe would be a bit of an elbow, would this interupt air flow much..?

[Oblivion]

FL / PFL .... the pipe in question can be seen clearly in this thread here:

http://www.clubvr4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9945&highlight=intercooler

If your pipe on the driver side turns up like that all you should need to do is chop off the curvey bit and join with a silicone hose.

[Oblivion]

Sold!

[jb2815]

Was very tempted to buy this for myself if I had a bit of spare cash. I'd be interested if whoever bought it could post and say how it turned out!

[karlous54]

Installed it today after giving it a little TLC.

There is a significant difference, more pull right through the rev range, and not alot of lag.
I knew my clutch was on it's way out but it was slipping on the motorway when i planted it.

So apart from having to cut the factory inlet pipe down it was a direct bolt on.

[karlous54]

updated

[jb2815]

Awesome, I should have forked out, dammit! haha. No I would have been sleeping with the dog if I spent another weekend putting that in my car. Hope it goes well for you. :D

[karlous54]

Yes well my mrs hasnt seen it yet. Prob wont even notice :)