How does the intercooler get air on the 818S?

[wallace18]

I realize that the SEMA cars were prototypes. I just do not see how they are getting air to the intercooler on the S model. The R is plain to see. Maybe someone who saw the car in person can lend an idea? Maybe this is something they are working on now?

[Zodiac]

I assumed it was through the vents on the top of the rear fenders. Ducting will need to be added, well at least that's what I'll be doing.

[longislandwrx]

It has to be either ducting from the fenders as mentioned or perhaps air passing over the vent in the back creates enough of a low pressure zone to pull air from the bottom of the car. Maybe a combination of both?

13739

[Mechie3]

It was mentioned previously that the small ducts on top of the rear fenders was for the IC. I'm not sure how much air it can actually pull through there, but we'll see.

[BrandonDrums]

Yeah, the IC is tilted forward in the stock mounting position so I'm probably more interested to see the 818's IC ducting than just about any other detail.

Just looking at the current design, it appears that either they have the air going:

1: Through the top downwards through the IC like stock - in from the side vents, turning downwards ~60 degrees to go through the IC then the air has a nearly 120 degree bend to exit out of that vent on the rear deck in front of the lip. Seems like that would get backed up quite a bit and the hot air being pulled from the IC would have to wrap around the back of the IC to exit.
-OR-
2: They have the air coming up through the bottom - from the side vents then turning ~ 120 degrees going through the bottom upwards (backwards vs OEM and actually moving towards the front of the car a little) through the IC and exiting more or less straight out of the top. ALso not ideal but at least the waste/heated air can exit away from the IC.

Perhaps with a bendy IC to throttle pipe the OEM brackets can be replaced and the IC tilted backwards to be flat which would make option 2 far better than the OEM position IMO. The trapezoidal exit just before the rear lip would likely be a great low pressure zone to suck air up through the IC backwards allowing those two small vents on the front of the wheel wells to work better since it won't rely on air being forced through.

Even better, a high-speed radiator pull-type fan on the IC pulling air through the IC out of that rear deck vent would keep it pretty frosty if the ducts from the side vents are well insulated.

[narkosys]

I was looking at those vents and the restrictive holes in the mesh and was debating the merits of using a front mount intercooler instead.

P

[Mechie3]

For the 818S, a better solution is probably to use the side vent and a "front" mount IC in those large side vents.

Not sure how to make it work with the 818S without looking stupid, but I like the F1 inspired intake on the Ariel Atom.

http://www.0-60mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Atom_500_V8.jpg

[Zodiac]

I'm sure we will come up with something. two small intercoolers having one on each side vent would work if there is room. Also I'm sure FFR is working on that as well as they did rush to get it ready for SEMA and Dave did mention he would not be releasing it the way it stands now.

[blueoval_bowtie_guy]

They will be doing about 3 months of track testing with the prototype R model. I'm sure they will be able to figure out a way to get sufficient airflow through the intercooler to drop down the intake air temp and also to prevent heat-soaking the intercooler. I would be willing to bet that Dave doesn't really want to detonate any engines during testing.

[PhyrraM]

FFR will not move or replace the stock intercooler in relation to the motor. To do so wouldn't fit the goals or market profile of the kit.

They will do thier best to make proper accomodation of the intercooler to the limits of what the styling, body panel construction processes, and costs will allow. The rest is on the builder.

[Mechie3]

They will be doing about 3 months of track testing with the prototype R model.

R model uses a large cutout in front of the passenger side hump. A seat would obstruct that though and a windshield would make it pretty inefficient. I'm hoping they do testing both ways (S setup and R setup).

[BrandonDrums]

FFR will not move or replace the stock intercooler in relation to the motor. To do so wouldn't fit the goals or market profile of the kit.

They will do thier best to make proper accommodation of the intercooler to the limits of what the styling, body panel construction processes, and costs will allow. The rest is on the builder.

Makes sense. I think adjusting the angle of the stock IC would be more realistic than re-locating it for the stock package. Not to suggest they won't perhaps have a water to air setup as an option but for the base kit I think there's a reason that vent is where it is.

An earlier post mentioned the mesh being restrictive, the mesh is on the exhaust portion of the intercooler airflow path, and wide wire mesh is not really that restrictive. Probably less than 1% I'm far more concerned about the air entry and exit angles than the mesh.

[narkosys]

a couple of things:

the FMIC was something i was thinking of getting above and beyond the basics for the kit. much like a good stereo, ISIS and a few other goodies. it has nothing to do with that FFR is including in the kit, as an option or not.

One of the big beefs I have read on the GTM forums is how hot it gets in the engine bay and the tunnel running through the passenger compartment. One of the reasons is that the mesh is a bit too restrictive which is why Shane at VRaptor Speedworks has a slew of after market parts to help with that issue.

If the testing that FFr is putting the 818 through as well as the experience of those before me who have built and run the 818 shows that the engine compartment stays relatively cool I will stick to the TMIC as it's the simplest and most cost effective solution. Otherwise I would like to know what other options are out there as well as the pros and cons of these options. These questions are all a part of doing your homework before putting down any kind of money towards any kit.

P