intercooler or mesh?

[NoStickers]

I really hate the idea of having a messed up intercooler from little rocks and stuff and was thinking about getting some mesh to cover just the middle opening in my bumper. was thinking about getting this

http://www.store.yahoo.com/tyf....html

im looking for other ppls opinions about this? i dont really like mesh b/c it looks ricey but since my intercooler cost me $900 i dont wanna mess it up. thanks

[Silent Drifter]

who cares just buy the mesh.

[daniel240]

i cut out the support brace in the front and i put that gutter gaurd **** in that you get at homedepot for like 99cents. if you take your time and do a good job it will look good. i also put it in the grille. heres a pic.

[Onizuka]

Im usually a function over form guy, but mesh just doesnt look too good in my opinion. Hundreds of people run their intercoolers unguarded, in a worst case scenerio you will have to go out and straiten some fins, because if the rock is big enough to kill the IC, chances are the mesh wont do jack.

[Nathan]

because if the rock is big enough to kill the IC, chances are the mesh wont do jack.

It will if you let captain epoxy/grade 8 bolts install your mesh Thanks for the gutter guard idea daniel, I'll DEFINITELY get some of that! I'm painting mine black though, wouldn't want anyone knowing what lurks behind it

[creophus]

Good point J Spec...but I do like the way that daniel's setup looks. I'm thinking of doing something similar myself. My intention was the "hide" the intercooler though. I haven't figured a way to make it look stealth without blocking airflow. Maybe if I paint the mesh black?

[NoStickers]

well if its only 99cents i guess ill get a little and paint it black to see what it looks like

[daniel240]

only thing is, its a sheet like 3or 4' by about 8-10'' and i dont know if it would be tall enough to fill in the gap on the s13's because arnt the openings on them taller than the s14's? for some reason i think we tried this on my friends s13 but i may be wrong

[Nathan]

The opening on the S13 is less than 6 inches tall I know this because I mounted a 6 inch tall IC behind mine and it filled it totally.

[NoStickers]

its less than 5 inches just measured it

[Hijacker]

my solution: mount your intercooler higher

[extheflow]

daniel...what grill is that? i like it.

[Nathan]

i put that gutter gaurd **** in that you get at homedepot for like 99cents.

[MainEvent212]

another thing you can do is use vinyl paint...it is very thin and will not block up the fins in your intercooler...that means it still inter-cools lol

i hear it works great...i'm gonna probably spray a NICO stencil onto my FMIC when i get the chance :ylsuper

[daniel240]

daniel...what grill is that? i like it.

its the stock 96 grille with the mesh stuff in it

[daniel240]

thats not the stuff i used. that stuff is more flimsy and not as strong. the stuff i used was like a 4' X 10'' piece of it. i bought a thing of 5 of them together.

[NoStickers]

i just finished installing the gutter guard and putting bumper back on. you dont even notice it, its hard to tell theres anything in front of the ic

[Nathan]

Does it hide the intercooler very well?

[extheflow]

its the stock 96 grille with the mesh stuff in it

dang...shoulda recognized it...i lost mine awhile back('96) need a replacement.for some reason i thought mine had 3 bars running across.

[NoStickers]

Does it hide the intercooler very well?

nope it doesnt, almost looks like there is just an intercooler

[Nathan]

Hmmm, thats kinda disappointing I'll do it anyway though and we'll see how it goes. At the very least its extra protection.

[NoStickers]

ya it looks like it will stop little pebbles but like J-Spec said

...if the rock is big enough to kill the IC, chances are the mesh wont do jack.

[daniel240]

dang...shoulda recognized it...i lost mine awhile back('96) need a replacement.for some reason i thought mine had 3 bars running across.

i think all the 95's had the grille w/ 3bars across it and maybe some of the 96's did too, but all the 96's i know are like mine.

[The Mic]

my friend keeps telling me that i shouldve gotten a top mount IC. SRs cant be top mounted except fro the GTi-R version which is fwd/awd right?

[whiterps13]

my friend keeps telling me that i shouldve gotten a top mount IC. SRs cant be top mounted except fro the GTi-R version which is fwd/awd right?

i like your front mount, it just needs to be a little bigger ;]

[nissanrcer240]

my friend keeps telling me that i shouldve gotten a top mount IC. SRs cant be top mounted except fro the GTi-R version which is fwd/awd right?

Heck no dont get a top mount, can you even get a top mount for a RWD sr?I heard its not recommended to use the top mount even if you get it with the GTi-R motor

[Onizuka]

maybe he ment V-mount, which can be by far the most effective way to mount an IC in terms of cooling and throttle response.

[Cyberkreig]

another thing you can do is use vinyl paint...it is very thin and will not block up the fins in your intercooler...that means it still inter-cools lol

i hear it works great...i'm gonna probably spray a NICO stencil onto my FMIC when i get the chance :ylsuper

You can also find a shop that works with radiators. have you IC sprayed with radiator paint. Paint that is designed not to clog fins and to allow efficient heat transfer.

The attached lurks behind my bumper.. or does it?

[Nathan]

I would feel bad spraying my 500 dollar intercooler core though...it just seems so...wrong.

[Cyberkreig]

I get alot of that..but its not exactly rattle can.