Opinions on Intercooler

[JDM EUNOS]

I believe you should paint the whole thing black. It would definetly give it the sleeper look, you could even get a special black coating put on it that helps disipate heat. They used that on my girlfriends intercooler pipes on her MX-6.

[Chas]

Black pearl intercoolers are the hottest sh*

[Tybalt]

I agree that you dont need a big intercooler for you application, but I would go with a longer not taller intercooler that spans the length of the bumper, this way you loose barely any pressure and gain a little HP and dont need to worry about painting the end tanks. My point of view might be different cause I live in Phoenix AZ though where it is currently over 100 degrees so cooling is a huge factor.

[miata619drifter]

ripper, on eclipses this intercooler is a sidemount.

people use all kinds of intercoolers on miatas: saab, top mounts from FC rx-7s, eclipse sidemounts. just because an intercooler was originally mounted in a certain place doesnt mean it has to be mounted there. the ideal mounting place is where the intercooler can get the best airflow.

as for the long intercooler idea, i would do that if money was not an issue. i wanted to do this on a budget.

this is actually my second turbo miata. i'll find some pics of the intercooler on the first one when money was not an object (when my brother and RPM helped out money wise).

[miata619drifter]

here's a pic of the intercooler on my first turbo miata (it burned up a few years ago)

here's the link to the story on that car:

http://www.drifting.com/forums/showt...5&pagenumber=3

[miata619drifter]

my first miata was a drag car

it had a spearco intercooler which would be my intercooler of choice today if i had the money and wanted to cut some holes in the body.

my brother put money into that first car so it was his right to sell off the spearco which probably made him about 500 bucks.

[miata619drifter]

heres a pic of some stuff i dug up that came off my first turbo miata

an MSD DIS-2 ignition (with 2-stage rev limiter)
GReddy Profec-B boost controller
GReddy turbo timer

i doubt this stuff still works but i keep them as a reminder that fire is bad

[zack]

i agree the cooler is cool for what you need but i to would hide that cause the woman will think it's just a little oil cooler which is what i thought

[hachiroku-fc3s]

As is, I would paint it black to hide it. I agree with you that you should pick parts for the application, which is clearly what you did, props, but I would have offset the intercooler to one side. I think it looks too much like a chipmunk grille on a car already carrying a less-than-favorable opinion. Ive had 3 miatas, love em, but their are things you can do to make it better. Is that a carbon fiber front bumper? Or just painted black at the bottom? or carbon laid over the bottom of the factory bumper? any way, it helps, looks nice. Go black.

[Misthael]

There's a company that makes paint specifically for painting intercoolers black. Let me find the article real quick...

EDIT: Found the article. THe paint is Stealth Coat from Swain Technologies and it increases the thermal efficiency of IC and piping, and it's flat black. I'd go with that. It also increases efficiency on intake piping. I got this out of the latest Sport Compact Car - Sleepy Speed: 25 tips to help you fly fast under the radar. I love SCC. So much better than SS. Good luck. You have a sexy car.

[mranlet]

I know it's the right I/C for the job, but after looking at so many 18"x9"x36" Intercoolers for so long, this tiny little one looks so freakin funny

I would tell you to get some air ducts so you don't have spill-over and use all of the surface as efficiently as possible.

-MR

[Glenn]

As you wish, Master.

[miata619drifter]

wow how did you do that?! it doesnt look like a cheap Microsoft Paint black out! it actually looks spray painted on the passenger-side end tank.

photoshop or something? (i'm not familiar with the features of photoshop)

[Glenn]

Yep Photoshop 7. If anybody wants any photochopping done on any of there cars, my services are always availiable. I enjoy doing so of course my service is free

I can do basically any mod imaginable to a car.. body kits, neons, rims, headlight changes, clear lenses, car resprays... anything you can think of i can prolly do Hybrid cars are always fun... for example a R34 front end on an FD looks interesting..

[CarlsbadDrift]

ugh? intercooler on the red miata? im not seeing one...

my intercooler is 3X that size and it came stock on my car.