Intersting Idea

[Werksmini]

An intercooler modded into the intake manifold. I thought some of you guys may find it interesting.

[harv]

IC

Cool idea.Looks to me that it would get a lot of heat from the motor. But then again the one in my WRX doesn't.

john

[Werksmini]

Yea I dont know how functional is it but a cool idea none the less. Maybe there is some sort of heat shield under it.

[Dirtsquirt]

I'd bet there was a functional hood scoop above it. Very neat idea, wonder how efficient it is.

-Dan

[clutterbucker]

It looks like the air sensor is before the intercooler. Shouldn't it be after it in order to be effective? You would think the motor would get confused by hot air turning unexpectedly into warm air.

[Sean]

Haven't you guys ever seen the Mazda RX7 TurboII's?

The RX7's with the turbos have the intercooler almost identical to that one - right above the engine. And rotaries create even MORE heat than a normal engine does. These same RX7's also have hoodscoops that lead right into the intercooler.

I've talked to a few guys that hooked up sprayers too, to keep their intercoolers from heating up too much.

Cool stuff. :D

[Habla]

Wrex's have the scoop as well, shooting air down to the top-mounted ic.

[boom-monkey]

I don't think you guys are quite getting this. That's not just an intercooler set on top on the engine. Instead of the intercooler being mounted before the intake manifold, it's actually part of the intake manifold, making a more compact setup. How well it works is beyond me, but a clever idea to say the least.

[cramer]

it works just like a normal IC. air enters the back, get's cooled and then enters the head through the 4 runners.

The down side is poor air flow for the outside air trying to cool it (mounted above the head doesn't allow the air to flow freely through it cutting down on the cooling effect) and of course heat soak from the motor.

The plus side is no intercooler piping, less loss of boost due to length of pipe, quicker boost response and of course, lots of extra room in the engine compartment.

Of course this setup would only work if you have a hood scoop do direct the outside air in and downward.