Intercooler question

DOCMORGY · 10-18-09, 1:10

Hi all

I did a search to see if there were any posts regarding an upgrade to the intercooler on the 89 MX6 GT. I am replacing my radiator & was looking to see if there is much room to mount a larger intercooler : it doesn't seem to be the case.

Has ANYBODY come up with a method to install a slightly larger or more efficient intercooler onto their GT without resorting to fabricating a front mount or removing their condenser (I insist on A/C). Sorry, this may have been answered before but I can't find the info & I did try the search.

Thanks in advance
Morgy

**maffatato15** · 10-18-09, 3:42

well i know you would want to keep your A/C but if you take that out it creates a ton of room. Actually come to think of it......my intercooler is outside of the hood latch support which would affect the A/C, so it really doesn't matter. You just have to be creative.

This pic is looking from the drivers side to the passengers side. Instead of running the pipe from the turbo over the exhaust manifold, i ran it around and in front of the car.

**Keeloh** · 10-18-09, 12:01

The stock IC is pretty efficient for the stock turbo. Unless your upgrading, I would keep a stock IC.

My .02

**4cylfun** · 10-18-09, 20:15

i'm actually looking into this myself for the GT.

I realize that a bigger IC will create lag and what not, which ii'm not worried about since the turbo will be larger at some point but whats a good replacement for say an avg turbo. T3 style?

I have no issues with A/C as its going to be the fun drag/street car. The A/C is getting ripped out when i locate a delete pulley and have the pushing rad fan and IC.

DOCMORGY · 10-18-09, 23:13

Thanks for the replies. Maffatato, I like your idea. You didn't lose any efficiency with that long piping, did you? I would imagine that if I moved the intercooler to the forward position in front of the condenser I would have alot more room.

I have the Tbird hybrid turbo now, which I also had ceramic coated, and so I could do with a larger intercooler. My tuner told me I'm at max efficiency with the stock IC now when he dynoed it last.

I didn't realize that a larger intercooler would increase lag. I don't know if that should matter or not : I thought lag was the time it took for the wheel to spin up & condense the air to allow for more fuel delivery : as such, I didn't think the intercooler size would matter (in fact, the cooler air is denser itself, so I would've thought a large IC would not affect lag & would allow greater power...)

Anyway, I may try the outside option

**Ragnarock01** · 10-19-09, 14:19

The reason a larger intercooler & longer piping can create lag, is simply because there's more air between the compressor and the engine that has to be compressed to build pressure.

As for an upgrade, you can buy intercoolers that have the inlet and outlet on the same side, similar to the stock unit, like this:

Grand National GNX Regal Intercooler Mustang Turbo:eBay Motors (item 400075763745 end time Oct-20-09 12:38:18 PDT)

Something like that will give you better cooling, and if you're crafty, would probably let you keep the A/C. Generally the upgrades on this site involve removing the A/C and cutting out the hood latch support in order to fit an Evo intercooler, so if you go with a same-side unit then you'll be experimenting for the most part.

**maffatato15** · 10-19-09, 17:49

there really isn't any noticeable lag at all. I have 2" hard pipes and im running the tbird. Seems fine to me.

**4cylfun** · 10-19-09, 18:02

you have to cut out the hood latch ???

I was just going to do the evo style or whatever has an outlet on both sides. I haven't really looked into what i could fit there. Basically, like everyone, i just want one big enough to run across the radiator. I have no desire for a/c

I'm assuming that most of us just run the IC pipe where the receiver/dryer gnerally is right?

DOCMORGY · 10-19-09, 22:41

Thanks for the info. And Ragnarock, thanks tons for the link to the ebay item. I had done some searching for IC with I/O on same side w/o success, and then here you go, you post just what I need. I'll order this one up & give it a run.

I'm surprised at the folks who act like A/C is such a bad thing. I've lived in SoCal, Phoenix & Mississippi & tell you what, you WILL miss it. Even in Spokane we hit 100 deg frequently in the summer & lacking A/C is not real fun. So I'll give up the few HP in order to keep it...

**maffatato15** · 10-20-09, 0:01

no, i didn't cut the hood latch. Not sure if you were talking about my setup or not.

It gets around 90 here in summer and i dont miss the A/C one bit. Its just a luxury item that gets in the way

**Ragnarock01** · 10-20-09, 14:10

I gave up A/C cuz it doesn't fit with my turbo setup. I could probably find a shorter compressor, but I've also already removed the aluminum cooler and lines and blocked off the ports going into the firewall. I've only missed it on the hottest days in traffic

**4cylfun** · 10-20-09, 18:33

baller's like me have an A/C and a track car lol.

I could give a [shizzle] less about the a/c in the GT. On hot days, the LX will reign supreme high ruler!