[Mk2] [Turbo] XS Power/Ebay intercoolers

[ryan]

Are they bar and plate or tube and fin like the Greddy? I going to hold out and pay a bit more for a second hand GReddy I think. Have been doing a bit of research, and theres so much conflicting advice out there

[malcster]

http://mr2.com/TEXT/CT26TurboLimits.html

Worth a read.

I feel your pain though. In the end I went down the 'get what you pay for' route and forked out for a GReddy.

Cooling's not something I wanted to skimp on. Although from what I have read, one thing is always true wherever you read - stock SMIC is crap.

[Driftlimits Performance]

The thing that lets the cheap intercoolers down are the pipes and connectors.

The actually cooler itself is ok.

Ditch the silicone pipes, and the right angle metal pipe, and replace the lot, ditch the mikalor and get a proper fitting clamp, and all will be good.

[ryan]

Thanks for the replies guys .
It seems that bar and plate (ie cheaper I/C) are better for smaller intercoolers (ie MR2 turbo stock position)
Tube & fin (GReddy) seem to have better flow, Bar & Plate (Berk etc) have better cooling. So I would assume that with mild mods, in an MR2 better cooling is more impotant unless higher flow was required (ie very high psi)

[Driftlimits Performance]

what power are you looking to run?

if just around 300 ebay one will be fine

[ryan]

what power are you looking to run?

if just around 300 ebay one will be fine

Yeah, 300, perhaps 320 in a year or so with supporting mods

[Shmed]

ditch the mikalor and get a proper fitting clamp, and all will be good.

I thought mikalor clamps were good?! Have I been misled?

[Slarty]

ditch the mikalor and get a proper fitting clamp, and all will be good.

I thought mikalor clamps were good?! Have I been misled?

No, they are good but the ones that seem to come with the ebay intercoolers aren't the right size. Mikalor clamps have a pretty narrow range of adjustment, and the ones on the ebay kits "bottom out" before they actually fully clamp the hoses.

[Shmed]

Aah, now that is something I can vouch for. My boost leak was a result of ill fitting mikalors, but I just replaced them with smaller ones and all is good.

[willfinch36]

I've got a greddy, and it made a hell of a difference

[craig]

I have an ebay job, been on the car for approx 1 year, all good. Pipes/clamps fittings and cooler itself spot on. I run mine with a GTSchris spal fan and shroud as this was missing from the kit. (As with all ebay kits i believe.)

Your choice at end of day though dude

[DeusMR2]

The thing that lets the cheap intercoolers down are the pipes and connectors.

The actually cooler itself is ok.

Ditch the silicone pipes, and the right angle metal pipe, and replace the lot, ditch the mikalor and get a proper fitting clamp, and all will be good.

seconded

I've had the xspower interocoler on my car for about 4 years now on my mildly modified 2 and it's running fine.

As mentioned above:
Intercooler: good (but no shroud, use a Greddy one if you really need to)
Pipes: Silly bends but work.
Hoses: Some of them are rubbish but generally useable.
Clamps: Good quality but wrong sizes. They will work (for a while).

Upgrade the clamps and perhaps the hoses and it will run fine

[StevieL]

ditch the mikalor and get a proper fitting clamp, and all will be good.

I thought mikalor clamps were good?! Have I been misled?

I used them once, took them off after one RWYB session as they kept popping off!

Save up for a GReddy one Ryan

[uglee]

I broke down on the M8 at rush hour on the only stretch without a hard shoulder because of the crap clamps.
In my haste to get out of the situation I pushed the bottom hose back onto the intercooler and caught the undersides of both forearms on the manifold.

I only had to have the bandages changed everyday for the 1st 3 weeks, finally healing after 6.

Changed to a GT4 CC pretty sharpish after that.

[mark239]

clampco t-bolt clamps are much better than mikalor.

Mikalor are too fat and leak.

[T.F.S.]

bit of sealant under the hose before you clamp it down, normal cheap jubille clip, job done

[adam3442]

Some IC flow rates for you...

Stock Intercooler: 172 CFM
ST 185 RC air to water Intercooler: 230 CFM
Greddy: 253 CFM
Spearco: 320 CFM
Garage Fukui/A'PEXi/Phoenix Power IC: 387 CFM