jtmny1999

need to fing a intercooler for my 280zx but the one i can one find its in motorsport but it caused alot i need a cheaper one any of u guys have any place were I can find good cheap intercooler
Am running boost controller 9-10 pounds w/o intercooler



THANKS

ScottOmatic'83

Im no expert but id look for some intercoolers in your local junkyard, heard of people using isuzu intercoolers and other random intercoolers used on crappy cars. They may not be able run at the boost you are looking for, so its best to do get some info on what some of these intercoolers can do, but they will be alot cheaper than gettings something from MSA or a speedshop/whatever.

ratedZ

MKIV Supra IC's are pretty good and the 944 Porche IC's as great also. I'm using an Isuzu NPR IC. Works very well and can support high HP's....just stay away from IC's made for 4 bangers and once that have plastic end tanks...ie, volvo IC's.

jtmny1999

thanks am going to look around too see were i can get a good deal were can i fing piping for my IC To fit my z???????

ratedZ

Spearco's are definitly good IC's...they just cost $$$ As for the piping, there is no bolt on piping for the ZX. Again, unless you have the $$$ to burn then you can spend that on the kit that Motorsport sells...that's a bolt on. But if you don't mind getting creative, then you can get mandrel bents and fit them yourself. I used 6 2.25" mandrel bent pipes. 2 45degree bends and 4 95degree bends. Got them from Alex Costa of Precision Engines for a little over a $100.00. Don't have his info anymore but you can go over to zcar.com and do a search about piping...his name WILL pop up. Good luck.

jtmny1999

thanks now am thinking of putting a isuzu ic like ur car am looking for it now have any measurments ect let me know
thanks

Lockjaw

I bought a spearco 2-221 intercooler and have a total of 5 90 degree bends in my entire intercooler plumbing. I fabbed it myself using 2.5 in mandrel bends, and if you want to struggle, use 2.5, 2.25 would probably be easier to work with.

I also had to run a 3 inch pipe out on the same side for the Ford Cobra MAF the JWT set-up runs, so as you can imagine, it is cramped.

Here is a pic before I painted it, and plumbed in the BOV and that hose for the AIC.

Lockjaw

Here is a front shot without the hood or the 3 inch line for the maf.

The car is not beautiful, but it is the test bed until I find a nice one, break down and paint it, or get a 240-280Z.

Here is also a personal opionion on intercoolers. It is better to get one like the one I have if you have a turbo under a T-series, since the pressure drop from intercoolers with long passages is hugher then ones with short passages like mine.

Yes the longer passages are more efficient, but you run the risk of putting your turbo out of its efficiency range by having to raise the boost to compensate for the pressure drop. Better to have a slightly less efficient core with low pressure drop when running a hybrid or smaller turbo.

Also, a stock intercooler from just about any car is not designed to cool air for a hot Z engine that is turbo charged. Some may work ok, but you would be wise to spend the money and get a good cooler to start with.

This one is 18.48x6x3.5 with 2.5 inlets and outlets. It flows 1050 cfm at 1.5 psi pressure drop.

Lockjaw

Here's one with the MAF in place. Hard to see because of the upper intercooler pipe, but you get the idea of how tight a squeeze it is.

Lockjaw

Here is the final product. You can see the BOV fitment is tight too.

Lockjaw

Yes I have a 60mm TB from an 89 240SX, which I believe is the easiest to use.

I had a hole already cut there from the previous owner, and I think he used a sawzall. I just used a carbide cutter on my grinder and opened it up some more. I went from small, like 2 inch pipes to 2.5, and the intercooler used the same sized inlets, so this is a big increase in flow for me.

It is a very tight squeeze, and I actually had to cut the bottom mounting bracket off the radiator to make it work.

I also had to grind some metal off the bumper shock on that side of the engine, but I took off just enough to get the pipe in there, but it is tight enough to keep that line from blowing off under boost.

I tried not to bludgeon anything, but if I would have had a plasma cutter, I could have done a nicer job. Much nicer actually.

blue76zcar

Has anyone had expireance with the porsche intercoolers, also how efficient and how much boost can a stock l28et handle with this ic

Lockjaw

I think 12 psi is the generally agreed upon max amount of boost with the stock turbo and fuel system, with an intercooler added.

if memory serves, HKS said if you used their exhaust, air filter and intercooler on a stock 280ZXT and raised the boost to 11 psi, it was good for 245hp. I guess that is pretty good, a 65hp bump. Not sure if they had anything else in there, other then their pressure relief valve since the stock one opens at like 7 psi or something.

Lockjaw

I have 420cc injectors running on a 4 bar fuel map, works with the JWT ecu. Supposed to provide fuel for 26 psi with my current turbo. I guess one of these days we will see huh?