Road course intercooler options

[EfiniRX7]

I'll post this here also. I have been doing quite a bit of reading on this forum and vendor sites. First off Im not new to the turbo game. I have had many turbo rotary car, and other turbo 4 import vehicles. Im familiar with companies that provide parts to the import crowd, not so much with the stuff Im seeing for my mustang.

Now for my goal. Im looking for the best road course intercooler upgrade. I guess my problem is Im not trying to upgrade power at the moment. I want to instal an oil cooler, intercooler, and radiator while leaving the power stock along with tune/ exhaust. Im seeing many large cores meant for big power/ drag racing. Im just concerned running such large intercoolers may be a negative on an otherwise stock engine performance wise (lag/etc), but still need the cooling. I have used PWR in the past and liked them quite a bit, but they don't offer anything for our cars. I don't really think a smaller stock size aftermarket unit would work well based on dyno heat soak complaints.

I plan on using a C&R radiator, and probably making a custom Setrab oil cooler set-up. No one seems to offer any bolt in oil coolers other than mishimoto. I guess my actual question is if people are resorting to the giant core, big power intercoolers on otherwise stock cars for road course duty? Im concerned with taking away corner exit performance and adding lag with an intercooler like the MAP race intercooler.

I am familiar with my options in terms of brand names, Im curious about road course performance with brands like MAP, Full Race, etc.

Sponsored

 

[Plimmer]

I'm running a turbo 5.0 and think the most critical thing to make it work is cooling. Road course generates a ton more heat than any other kind of track use, so go big on everything.

I would be very surprised to hear that a large vs small intercooler creates additional lag. The amount of air being moved is huge, so doubt a bigger cooler will require more air to compress. For me the harder thing is feeding in power on corner exit as the turbo's spool up.

I have a custom bell intercooler, and unfortunately i also noticed the extra weight in the nose of the car.

 

[F0J]

Some of the info in this thread might be useful:

http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75153

 

[Earlj]

I'm running a turbo 5.0 and think the most critical thing to make it work is cooling. Road course generates a ton more heat than any other kind of track use, so go big on everything.

I would be very surprised to hear that a large vs small intercooler creates additional lag. The amount of air being moved is huge, so doubt a bigger cooler will require more air to compress. For me the harder thing is feeding in power on corner exit as the turbo's spool up.

I have a custom bell intercooler, and unfortunately i also noticed the extra weight in the nose of the car.

What are you running for boost pressure? I just got my TT kit installed and at 7.8 psi i can see that there will be traction issues on corner exit.

Sure would hate to brake them loose at the top of the sses at the Glen.

I am thinking of putting in a 4 lb spring. I can still get to 8 psi with that i think.

 

[Plimmer]

What are you running for boost pressure? I just got my TT kit installed and at 7.8 psi i can see that there will be traction issues on corner exit.

Sure would hate to brake them loose at the top of the sses at the Glen.

I am thinking of putting in a 4 lb spring. I can still get to 8 psi with that i think.

For road course I'm spring only at around 6.5 psi to 6.8 psi. It works in 3rd with care, but 2nd is no good.

 

[ddozier]

May be going a bit off topic here but I have an idea for dealing with the boost issue on a road course. I did not do this on my last turbo car but it was something I wanted to do just did not have the time to dig into the idea. This can be implemented on any car with an electronic boost controller controlling boost.

So some electronic boost controllers allow gear based boost control, they have a 0-5vdc input and you program the boost controller that each gear is a know voltage, You need to build a switch ring that would go around the shifter with a series of micro switches wired together with a resistor at each switch to vary the voltage for each gear. You can program the controller to give you any boost level based on what gear you are in.

After seeing how this worked it occurred to me that there are several aftermarket boost controller that can look at the 0-5vdc input and change the boost setting automatically. I think the best method of controlling boost for a track car would be steering angle. If you add a steering sensor that outputs a 0-5vdc signal or you can figure out how to get the data or voltage from the one already in the car you could program the boost level you wanted based on how the steering wheel is positioned. Wheel strait MAX boost, wheel at 15* half boost, wheel at 45* 1/4 boost. This method would allow for low boost in the turns to transition to max boost once the wheels are pointed straight ahead.

Dave

 

[Earlj]

May be going a bit off topic here but I have an idea for dealing with the boost issue on a road course. I did not do this on my last turbo car but it was something I wanted to do just did not have the time to dig into the idea. This can be implemented on any car with an electronic boost controller controlling boost.

So some electronic boost controllers allow gear based boost control, they have a 0-5vdc input and you program the boost controller that each gear is a know voltage, You need to build a switch ring that would go around the shifter with a series of micro switches wired together with a resistor at each switch to vary the voltage for each gear. You can program the controller to give you any boost level based on what gear you are in.

After seeing how this worked it occurred to me that there are several aftermarket boost controller that can look at the 0-5vdc input and change the boost setting automatically. I think the best method of controlling boost for a track car would be steering angle. If you add a steering sensor that outputs a 0-5vdc signal or you can figure out how to get the data or voltage from the one already in the car you could program the boost level you wanted based on how the steering wheel is positioned. Wheel strait MAX boost, wheel at 15* half boost, wheel at 45* 1/4 boost. This method would allow for low boost in the turns to transition to max boost once the wheels are pointed straight ahead.

Dave

I thought you could not get lower boost psi than the springs you have in the waste gates and that max boost is roughly double spring pressure.

Having said that it does not seem to be an exact science. I have 5.8 lb springs in my gates but get 7.5 max boost without the controllor hooked up.

I think things like back pressure, hose lengths, and where you pick up the boost signal have an effect.

Sorry for getting off topic here.

 

[EfiniRX7]

All very helpful information, thanks. I usually stick to n/a cars for road race duty. My race only car is n/a and runs NASA ST2. I just remember problems I had in the past with trying to keep a turbo car cool on a road course. I want to try and make my mustang last, or last as long as it can. Nothing is guaranteed with track driving.

Sponsored