Pics of side mount intercooler setup.

[briguy]

Does anyone have any pics of there side mount intercooler setup.I need help setting my 240 up and pics will give me some ideas.Thanks Brian

[Bosrudorfer]

Go FMIC, going sidemount on a 2.4L is not smart....

[DRFT(kinda)]

^

[Neejay]

Go FMIC, going sidemount on a 2.4L is not smart....

Wouldn't it depend on your HP goals?

I was under the impression that a smic would do just fine up until around 250whp.

I know I'm planning a mild kit, so I wouldn't want more than about 200-220whp.

Not being an ***, if Im completely wrong please explain it. Thanks.

[briguy]

Whats the bad thing about sidemounts.

[Craving4Boost]

I hear the RB sidemounts make good power? anyone have experience?

[C-Kwik]

Sidemounts have 2 major drawbacks. one, they tend to have less ambient airflow through the core as they are usually behind the bumper cover. This effects efficiency. Second, they tend to be smaller due to the smaller locations in front of the fenderwell and can cause a decrease in efficiency, airflow and/or for those who track the car, it tends to heatsoak more.

The last is not as obvious, but can be the most important if you trackrace. Reliability on the track has a lot to do with consistency of conditions, including those of the mechanicals of the car. On a track, you tend to be on and off boost quite a bit. A long straight is going to put a lot of heat through the intercooler. Even large intercoolers will have a difficult time shedding all this heat as quickly as it goes in with a moderate amount of boost. The key is to size the intercooler large enough to shed enough heat during the times you are not on boost so you are not getting to a point where the intercooler is no longer effectively removing heat or allowing intake temperatures to rise too much. It should be noted that the intercooler is also cooled to some extent from the inside during off-boost driving when intake air passing through it absorbs some of the heat back out. This is relatively small in comparison to what the ambient air does as off-boost driving generally means that less air is going through the core than during boost.

A factory intercooler, especially a sidemounted version, is generally going to be small and thin. There is going to be little mass to allow the intercooler to act as a heatsink and ultimately, it will reach heatsoak much sooner than a beefy frontmount would. A sidemount will probably be okay for the street as stoplights and traffic tend to get in the way and buy you time.

Sidemounts can make good power. Most sidemounts have plenty of cross-sectional flow area for the intended factory boost levels. And it's got enough mass to make a couple of dyno passes with little affect on overall performance. But dynoqueens have the luxury of time between runs and water sprays and fans directly on them. Track cars need attention in this critical area to maximize a balance between absorbing heat and shedding heat in a limited amount of time.

My opinion - decide on an intercooler based on how it will be used. Certainly compromises will need to be made for space and budget, but consider a little extra invested here if your usage necessitates it, can save your motor and perhaps make your track experiences more pleasurable.

[briguy]

I am only looking to have a little fun,I recieved a toyota ct-20 turbo thats in great shape for free, so I bought a top mount turbo manifold and bought a sr-20 intercooler with all the pipes for 25.And I am currently pulling the motor to put new rods and pistons etc.Just wanted to know if anybody is running a side mount on there ka24de

[Florida240sx]

If your rebuilding your engine what's another $100 to get a used FMIC???

[24DSXY1]

I am only looking to have a little fun,I recieved a toyota ct-20 turbo thats in great shape for free, so I bought a top mount turbo manifold and bought a sr-20 intercooler with all the pipes for 25.And I am currently pulling the motor to put new rods and pistons etc.Just wanted to know if anybody is running a side mount on there ka24de

Who makes top mount t25 manifolds for ka24de? I've only seen 2 bottom mount mani's, ss autochrome and jgy customs.

Anyways I'm also planning on using a side mount i/c, but from a 98 gsx, I think it's a bit larger than the sr20 one's.

[briguy]

I am sorry I have a ss autochrome bottom mount manifold

[Neejay]

Sidemounts have 2 major drawbacks. one, they tend to have less ambient airflow through the core as they are usually behind the bumper cover. This effects efficiency. Second, they tend to be smaller due to the smaller locations in front of the fenderwell and can cause a decrease in efficiency, airflow and/or for those who track the car, it tends to heatsoak more.

The last is not as obvious, but can be the most important if you trackrace. Reliability on the track has a lot to do with consistency of conditions, including those of the mechanicals of the car. On a track, you tend to be on and off boost quite a bit. A long straight is going to put a lot of heat through the intercooler. Even large intercoolers will have a difficult time shedding all this heat as quickly as it goes in with a moderate amount of boost. The key is to size the intercooler large enough to shed enough heat during the times you are not on boost so you are not getting to a point where the intercooler is no longer effectively removing heat or allowing intake temperatures to rise too much. It should be noted that the intercooler is also cooled to some extent from the inside during off-boost driving when intake air passing through it absorbs some of the heat back out. This is relatively small in comparison to what the ambient air does as off-boost driving generally means that less air is going through the core than during boost.

A factory intercooler, especially a sidemounted version, is generally going to be small and thin. There is going to be little mass to allow the intercooler to act as a heatsink and ultimately, it will reach heatsoak much sooner than a beefy frontmount would. A sidemount will probably be okay for the street as stoplights and traffic tend to get in the way and buy you time.

Sidemounts can make good power. Most sidemounts have plenty of cross-sectional flow area for the intended factory boost levels. And it's got enough mass to make a couple of dyno passes with little affect on overall performance. But dynoqueens have the luxury of time between runs and water sprays and fans directly on them. Track cars need attention in this critical area to maximize a balance between absorbing heat and shedding heat in a limited amount of time.

My opinion - decide on an intercooler based on how it will be used. Certainly compromises will need to be made for space and budget, but consider a little extra invested here if your usage necessitates it, can save your motor and perhaps make your track experiences more pleasurable.

I have already planned for the sidemount's lack of flow via a 180sx Zenki bumper ($35):



As far as heatsoaking...I dont autox/drift/etc., and I'm never in traffic with this car. I think I'll be alright with a smic (...for right now). I don't plan on staying with it forever and I'll eventually get a fmic, but for now a smic will do me just fine. I agree though, if you autox/drift/etc., I'd definitely get a fmic...

But like it was stated: It all depends on your setup/plans for your car.

[lrb_2000]

go with a sidemount if you can get it decectly cheap.. because front mount kits can be had from around $225+.. maybe cheaper... you'd have to have a pretty tight budget to use a sidemount.

[2FourTee]

sidemounts are just fine up until about 7 or 8 psi.

However, on mine I plan to either use the factory "duct" that normally routes fresh air from the bumper opening into the intercooler, or making my own out of some scrap metal until I get a front mount.

I think with proper ducting, forcing all the air that passes through that opening THROUGH the intercooler, it would be much more effective.

I wonder if a small puller fan could be sourced for the back of it???