suggestions on intercoolers

[EvA_]

about to purchase a intercooler for my s15, and was just wondering if people on here have had experiences with high end jap intercoolers compared to low brand generic/china brand coolers..

would like to know any differneces (if there is any?) between the 2, and what would be the best choice to go for?

Tempted to fork out for the hks spec S kits, or the greddy kits... but how majorly different/better are they compared to hybrids and even china coolers..

Also, where could i find decent priced jap brand cooler kits locally or even online besides nengun ,greenline, rhdjapan..

any information or help would be greatttttt :wave:

[duste]

The only thing you'd have to watch for with cheap China-spec intercoolers is dodgy welds, the one I bought from JDM-Performance on eBay (JustJap's other store on eBay) is fine with no visible leaks. I got the 600x300x76mm delta fin btw.

If I had the money and wasn't a povo student I'd have gone for at least a Hybrid intercooler, but oh well. If it works it'll do.

[colt75]

jpc have greddy coolers new.
and hyperdrive are also greddy deaaaaler.

id say there wasnt too much difference, just the quality i suppose.
theyd both do the same thing (if your comparing same size)

depends if you like having junk on your car too.

[Deke]

i think it really comes down to how it fits , or which brand fits betters i think the more branded intercoolers spend more time in developing an intercooler that fits better then china but saying that iv installed a geniune hks and a china intercooler to 2 diffrent s13's and they both are pretty much the same but you can tell the hks one is of better quality. at the end of the day it comes down to personal prefrence , iv red that pretty much all intercoolers have some kind of psi drop (1-/+). that justs my opinion and im pretty sure import central did stock new intercoolers im not sure if anymore or even danny at jpc? and also a good thing to invest in is good sylicon joiners and good quality clamps because iv seen jioners burst and clamps fuck up coz they were shitty cheap ones.

[joshg123]

I bought a PWR front mount, basically because of the brand name. But put side by side with a china hybrid... The difference is noticeable (by looking inside) just in weld finish and tank finish

[iluv2moan]

i heard that pwr use china cores for their radiators........ if it has been proven/confirmed - wouldnt be suprised if they do the same for their intercoolers

[duste]

i heard that pwr use china cores for their radiators........ if it has been proven/confirmed - wouldnt be suprised if they do the same for their intercoolers

Don't see why they wouldn't - everything's about money these days and you can imagine the cost/profit difference between China-spec and Australia-spec cores.

[iluv2moan]

offtopic: but i want to know how i can order a pwr radiator from america(thats come from australia) for about 400 dollars cheaper then i can buy from pwr/repco in australia. no wonder we choose to send out money overseas rather then keeping it in the country

[magic1]

get a 33/34 gtr intercooler

[matty12]

i heard that pwr use china cores for their radiators........ if it has been proven/confirmed - wouldnt be suprised if they do the same for their intercoolers

They used to use K & J as they were across the road or next door.I pretty sure they now make there own but not 100% on that though.

[beatle]

if you are doing your own piping and have a tig, go chinese. make sure you pressure test them because me and mates have found 2 out of 4 chinese cores purchased have leaked around poor welds. also their fitting kits are a bit poo.
If your chopping it up and changing the piping and end tanks to suit your own application theres no reason not to go chinese. but if your going to be fitting it off instructions over a weekend in the car hole. go buy a quality unit
IMHO

[joshg123]

i heard that pwr use china cores for their radiators........ if it has been proven/confirmed - wouldnt be suprised if they do the same for their intercoolers

I highly doubt the greddy cheapies, are japanese made either.

With the pricing on the HKS items, id say they are. But i couldnt justify 1.5k just on the cooler on its own when i purchased mine.

[joshg123]

offtopic: but i want to know how i can order a pwr radiator from america(thats come from australia) for about 400 dollars cheaper then i can buy from pwr/repco in australia. no wonder we choose to send out money overseas rather then keeping it in the country

Why can i buy a garrett turbo fro atp in the states 500 bucks cheaper than a garrett retailer in aus?

Same thing

[zeroyon]

i heard that pwr use china cores for their radiators........ if it has been proven/confirmed - wouldnt be suprised if they do the same for their intercoolers

Last time I spoke to pwr(was a while ago) they were very very firm on the fact that they are Australian made and no china.

Also looking at there site, if you scroll down "100 % aus made"
Get ya Lawsuit out if they are using china

linky --> http://www.pwr.com.au/#/view=products/s=rs/

One of the big differences I find between cheap china cores and well made intercoolers is the weight. There was 6kg difference between a china 600x300x76 to a standard gtr cooler. Now think how much end tank a gtr cooler has.

So what rubbish materials are the china cores using to make them so heavy ?

[DCIEVE]

Why can i buy a garrett turbo fro atp in the states 500 bucks cheaper than a garrett retailer in aus?

Same thing

how is that the same lol

[duste]

how is that the same lol

PWR Radiator from America is cheaper than PWR Radiator from Australia?

Garrett Turbo from America is cheaper than Garrett Turbo from Australia?

How is it not the same? What Josh is pointing out is that it is almost always cheaper to buy internationally than from Australia.

[iluv2moan]

pwr = australian company made in australia = more expensive in australia

garrett = american comapany made in usa = cheaper in usa

not same same

[matty12]

but is the US PWR actually made here or just branded PWR America if you know what i mean??

[iluv2moan]

have sent email to find out.

pretty sure when i was looking into pwr radiators (about 3 years ago), there wasnt a pwr usa.

[joshg123]

pwr = australian company made in australia = more expensive in australia

garrett = american comapany made in usa = cheaper in usa

not same same

I thought that garrett were aus company, dont know what pipe i was on when i thought that though as just looked into it.....

Sorry peeps

[Miggy]

get a 33/34 gtr intercooler

Werd, Its been proven time and time again that its a great flowing cooler and very cheap to boot.

I read an article in HPI or ZOOM about china vs brand name coolers a while ago and the brand names did have slightly higher reading on the dyno and the welds where allot better. But not worth it for the price IMO.

[iluv2moan]

but is the US PWR actually made here or just branded PWR America if you know what i mean??

hey matt,

got a reply from pwr usa today. not speaking for every model of radiator, but a mk3 supra one which i could buy from usa cheaper then locally in australia is in fact made locally in australia, shipped over to usa, then shipped back to australia

[matty12]

awesome go Australia!!!!!!!!!

I tell ya PWR doesnt do us any favours,i can buy there stuff for the exact same price that any clown in the auto trade can buy it for.

[iluv2moan]

yep - is why i went koyo

[lysdexia]

my greddy cooler kit in my aristo looks no different than a china kit really.. china coolers are proven to work well, unless you're chasing huge power then why bother spending any more

[DCIEVE]

awesome go Australia!!!!!!!!!

I tell ya PWR doesnt do us any favours,i can buy there stuff for the exact same price that any clown in the auto trade can buy it for.

Not to mention trying to buy from them is a pain in the arse. After trying to deal with pwr and there distributor set-up I went koyo.

[Turbo2.6L]

Look into a Plazmaman cooler. Reasonably priced, AUS made & the results speak for themselves :D

[Saf]

unless you're chasing huge power then why bother spending any more

This is what i do for a living, so ill chime in.

You gain flow and cooling in a good core vs a china core. Like you say unless your chasing big power, but if you gain some in the core, and some in the tanks, and some in good piping, and a larger tb, and a better intake ... all of the sudden, it all amplifies.

Thats the difference between good tuning and great tuning.