Hahn Racecraft Upgraded side mount intercooler

[Pj97GST]

Ok, It's been about 2 months of hard testing with the HRC upgraded side mount for the 2G's. I originally had a Greddy "small" FMIC. I got rid of it for $$ and trade for the HRC unit that he (the previous owner) had installed.

I was a bit hesitant at first, figuring that this I/C would be a significant step down in performance levels due to the fact that it is only a side mount.

At first inspection, it is much thicker that the stock smic which I had handy for visual comparison. Installation was a snap, using all of the stock bolt holes and mounting points. It mated right to the HRC Stage I pipe that I have installed, and RRE lower pipe.

Upon completion of the install, and upon test driving it, I felt an immediate difference in power. Due to the smaller core size, and less of a boost drop, I gained 1psi. The car is much more responsive under boost, and the turbo spools quicker as well.

With the Greddy, the car seemed to build more mid rpm power, than low end, and seemed a bit sluggish until full boost was achieved. With the HRC I gained more acceleration on the bottom end, and boost seems to hit a lot harder. Now, the front end will break loose as I reach the upper RPM's in 2nd, and give a healthy bark as I hit 3rd. (A bit of throttle modulation cures that, but it sure is fun!)

The biggest concern to me is the intake charge cooling efficiency and the HRC does VERY well.. typically, I saw IAT's of 7~10deg over ambient with the FMIC. With the HRC they are 10~15deg. Not bad at all.

Under continuous hard pulls, the intercooler will eventually heatsoak as will the stock unit, but not nearly to the same degree or as quickly.
The thing that I like best about the HRC unit is the increased boost response.

Overall the HRC has thusfar proved to be a VERY good intercooler, and offers the stealthy look that I was hoping to achieve. (seems that some are slightly hesitant to race a 2G when they see a FMIC)
For those that are looking for a quality upgrade to their stock unit, but don't necessarily want a FMIC, this intercooler is the way to go!

[95GST]

Upgraded sidemount are sure good thing. Some comments, with the FMIC, pressure drop IS expected, turbo lag is expected a little bit too. You could turn up the boost 1-2 PSI and enjoy the cooler air when an FMIC is installed(assuming your have the fuel to support the colder, denser air).

Also notice now is the winter time, but in the summer things get a bit hotter and I think the FMIC will have some more benefit. Also if you boost a lot, the FMIC will be less prone to heat soak in hot weather.

SMIC are still good though if you want to spool up fast, especially when it is twice as big as the crappy stocker.

[nukefission]

Originally posted by fwd14bdsm
The biggest concern to me is the intake charge cooling efficiency and the HRC does VERY well.. typically, I saw IAT's of 7~10deg over ambient with the FMIC. With the HRC they are 10~15deg. Not bad at all.


How do you measure your IATs?

[DiamondsR4EVR]

You know I've been thinking about that Star Performance Intercooler. Its small AND its a front mount. That should be
perfect for low pressure loss and high cooling capacity. Its on sale right now at Importparts.com. Has anyone ever used it?


Jesse
99 GSX

[Edited by DiamondsR4EVR on 01-28-2001 at 04:56 AM]

[ecoli]

I have heard people say on email lists that the Star Performance Intercooler isn't so great. I don't like the design of the end tanks, just from looking at the picture. they are not tapered at all to help the air flow. Just because an intercooler is small, doesn't mean it won't have high pressure loss, the small stock sidemount I/Cs have high pressure loss. Going to a well designed FMIC should give you less pressure drop than the restrictive stock I/C. I don't know what kind of core they use in the Star, or if it flows well or not. It is fairly inexpensive though, when you consider it comes with a GReddy BOv and all the I/C piping, if you don't already have I/C piping and a BOV.

[Pj97GST]

I had the Star in my car for a while... Hated it! It is way too small, heatsoaks, the pipes are ill fitting and worst of all, thay are unbeaded.
Sure, those chromed pipes look fancy and all, but how many times under boost did I find myself under the car fighting to get a pipe re-clamped?!? Too many to count.. eventually I took them all out and welded beads on them.

The upper I/C pipe barely fits around all of the other stuff, and to top it off, the flange for the BOV is posistioned so that there is no way to reroute it to vent back into the intake pipe..

On 97+ DSM's you have to remove your foglights,, I'm pretty sure that it's the same on the 95~96's as well. The pipe that runs along the top of the core behind the bumper support and feeds into the lower i/c pipe runs right where the foglamps are mounted, so you have to pull them.

I had to zip tie a section of the lower I/C pipe out of the way. It would get hit by the counter weight on the tranny shift linkage.

Essentially, the core is the same one as the F-Max kit for the Hondas, but the end tanks are a bit different. They aren't tapered, and in my opinion, wouldn't really allow for a smooth flow of air.

Just my opiniaon again, but Star kit isn't really suited to handle anything much bigger than a "Super60" if that.. I know that I had problems with it with my 14B.

Nukefission: I can monitor my IAT's with the OBD II datalogger.

[nukefission]

Originally posted by fwd14bdsm
Nukefission: I can monitor my IAT's with the OBD II datalogger.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but don't you get those IAT values from the MAS, through the Datalogger? If so, then how can you characterize the cooling efficiency of an intercooler when you are taking measurements before it? Is there some secondary air temp monitor after the intercooler on 2Gs that I'm not aware of?

[Pj97GST]

I apologize, I guess that I didn't clarify myself.. The IAT's on the datalogger are used as a refernce point. (to see the change from ambient incoming) We have a temp sensor mounted in the upper i/c pipe, just before the TB.http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1451258&a=10897393&p=37746557

[nukefission]

Yeah, that makes sense. Now I have one last question for ya :). I've heard of others putting a temp probe in the upper I/C pipe like yours, and I want to do it too. How do you physically get it in there? Do you just drill a hole and tap it in? Also, what brand/cost temp probe are you using?

Thanks!

[95GST]

What does it mean to say that the endtanks are tapered?

[ecoli]

Originally posted by 95GST
What does it mean to say that the endtanks are tapered?


Notice in these pics of the GReddy intercoolers, how the endtanks are smaller at one end and how there aren't any abrupt 90 walls that the air is gonna run into, they atleast try to round everything a bit.

http://www.roadraceengineering.com/parts/greddy/bigeclipseic-compare2.jpg

While the Star Performance intercooler looks like they just welded on some pipes cut in half and welded the ends shut.

http://store.importparts.com/isroot/wfp79411/SiteImages/starintercooler.jpg

[95GST]

Ecoli, I thought you told me that the greddy FMIC is supposed to come with a bent in the bottom :) Do you mind explaining why the picture here is straight

[ecoli]

Hell if I know! I have had both the small and the large and they both had the bend at the bottom... Those must be thier "show" models. I think they must have hammered our bottom bracket on. :)

[95GST]

And they are both brand new!??
So what do you have to say when you upgraded from the regular to the big FMIC?

[ecoli]

I didn't notice any difference yet. However, I only had it on for about a week, before I put the car in storage for the winter, and it was already fairly cold out. I assume it will help a bit in the summer when its hot and I am driving for a while. I dunno if it will make much difference in short 1/4 mile runs at the drag strip. I ran 117mph on the small one, so who knows if actually needed to upgrade.