Hey guys, I have been out of the boost game for a little bit but I hope to be stepping back in soon. I want to run an intercooler on my V2 on my fourth gen. For those not familiar with my car it's a 98 5 speed with a 3.5 swap. I have a full V2 kit with all of the supporting mods, I would just like to run an intercooler when I put the kit back on. What size intercooler are you guys running, and are you happy with the results? Where is the best place to buy an intercooler and the piping? Any recomended piping kits? I will be running my 3.125 pulley initially and my goal is to make 400+ hp. Thanks for any help/advice.

been a long time since mine was installed. I bought an inter cooler and piping off eBay form user cxracing. Cant remember the size but its huge. Its not bad in terms of efficiency because the EU and boost sensor I see about 11-12psi at full boost. Got the 3" piping all the way too. Pulley used is the 2.87 on the V2.

How much power does your car make? Are you a 3.0 or 3.5? Why did you go with 3" instead of 2.5" (just curious not saying you did something wrong)? What else did you need to buy other than the ebay "kit"?

looks like 96sleeper was running 3" piping as well, and my set up is very similar to his old set up....hmmmm

http://forums.maxima.org/dyno-discus...hp-368-tq.html

having seen different setups. if you manage to keep the 3" piping relatively easy to run, it wont hurt. For your goals, 2.5" is easier to run and will not hold you back. you could always do a 2.5-3" transition under the driver side fender to keep the pipe going upto the tb clean looking and 3" 400 should be easy to make, im curious to the tq and power curve.

http://www.frozenboost.com/index.php?cPath=216

http://www.frozenboost.com/index.php...8d471f9c526e96

Are you going to attempt to keep your fogs or are you prepared to just loose then?

Im using a 12x30x3 Delta Fin type purchased off Ebay, with all 3" piping. I bought a universal pipe kit off ebay with a CAI kit and just cut the pipes to fit how I wanted.
I bought my couplers from http://www.atpturbo.com/mm5/merchant...gory_Code=SILB

Im real happy with my setup, I only lost about 1-1.5 psi which I feel is pretty good considering how large the IC is.

here is a bar and plate set up similar to what you are talking about
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Bl...32355f&vxp=mtr

also I searched for delta fin intercoolers in the size you reference and it seems that 31x12x3 is a popular size....is that what you have?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DSM-ECLIPSE-...bcf241&vxp=mtr


*Edit*
One other thing. I don't have my parts in front of me so this may be a stupid question, but I have a Vortech BOV to go with my set up. What style flange does it use? I know it's not the same as my HKS SSQV, is it a standard two bolt like this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polished-3-A...40664c&vxp=mtr

I am not familiar with air to water set ups. Thanks for the links though.

I don't care either way really....I would like to keep them but I don't want to have some sort of crazy pipe routing just to keep the fogs. I'm all ears if you have a good suggestion on how to keep them eaisly.

Then I guess I shouldn't mention using your a/c for your intercooler. I know you want a basic front mount intercooler but I couldn't help myself.

Your correct, it is 31x12x3
The flange depends on the BOV being used. I have the Vortech Mondo and its shaped just like the base of the BOV, it has to be welded on.
This is what mine looks like,


Flange for the Vortech Maxflow race,

is there any reason to choose delta fin over bar and plate for our applications?

Nope, i was hoping you had an idea .

I kinda refuse to lose my fogs which is one thing that holds me back from an ic setup. Keeping them would probably require a bunch of crazy bends, like you said, just to get to the inlet side. But im all ears too.

keeping the fogs is simple with 2.5 pipes, theres a triangular section on the frame on each side of the radiator which has enough room to drill out a 2.5 inch hole.you can then weld 2.5 inc mild steel sections to incorporate the section of pipe to the frame and use couplers on both sides, or just run the 2.5 piping through it if you want to stick to aluminum. one side comes up right near the lower rad hose, the other on the other side pretty clear of everything. you can fit a huge cooler and still keep the fogs.

is the the one you got flava??
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intercooler-...item2564eb0340

I'll take a look at that, thanks.

I think its really on ones preference. From what Ive read the Delta fin is lighter, and less restrictive allowing more air to pass through it and the bar and plate is more effecient at cooling but heavier due to more material used to make them.

Nope, but thats a really good deal. The T clamps are included and the couplers are of good quality, not the rubber pieces of crap. Thats easily 60.00+ dollars right there.

Such a nice front end!!!!! And I hate the 95-96 bumper.

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on this one. I'll try to remember to post back about how it works out

http://forums.maxima.org/6171429-post32.html

Original thread:
http://forums.maxima.org/supercharge...nt-mounts.html
If you do 90 degree elbows straight off the ic they might fit.

I like how the intercooler just looks like a grille.

would you think there is any advantage on forking out 300 bucks on a precision bar and plate intercooler like this

http://www.precisionturbo.net/heat-e...er---600HP/394

over the ebay ones?

I remember when researching an intercooler and I decided to go with a bar and plate over the tube and fin. I've had this one a few years and was going to go with a larger one, just doing some google searches it seems as though it really doesn't matter because they both do the job and both have draw backs. If you live in a consistently warm climate the tube and fin will do slightly better because heat dissipates from the intercooler itself, the bar and plate retains heat since it is more/thicker metal when it is hot. The tube and fins are thinner and are less expensive but they can be damaged by road debris easier and internally may flow less. IMO our boost levels it doesn't matter.

the fin density looks substantially higher on the precision ones, it probably also depends on the ebay seller. I will try to keep it 2.75" all the way through and see what it does for flow velocities...

I am using an intercooler from Treadstone performance.
http://www.treadstoneperformance.com...10+Intercooler

Looks so perfect and mean. Cant wait to see what this puts out boosted man.

i dont think that at 400 whp levels, it makes such a huge difference, but, there is a huge amount of difference in fin density on true garrett/precision intercooler cores. and that is what really makes it more effective. if money is no object go with a true core, i would even consider the smaller precision/garrettt 350hp rated cooler which sometimes can be found used for cheap, over a larger, wider, ebay cooler.
you plan on getting dyno numbers before winter?

oops missed that you had already pulled the trigger -_-

Yeah, Albert kinda talked me into it. I have all of the parts I just need some motivation and free time

I figured this set up is cheap enough if I need to switch to a smaller intercooler in the future I really have not lost much of anything.