Anyone Have An RJC FMIC?

[~JM~]

Yes, that large of an intercooler on a stock car is a waste of time and money unless you are upgrading. Your lag will be quite extensive especially with a stock or small turbo. Many on here with years of input have earned the right to smart ass status. Some newer members think it is a right, right off the bat and leave a bad taste to many members. Spending thousands having someone else build your car by far does not make you an expert, something some should keep in mind.

I'm in the process of upgrading all the supporting systems while leaving the core (engine/turbo) stock for now. I have upgraded the intake breathing capabilities & now need to focus on the exhaust. I have all the exhaust pieces, 3" downpipe, Pypes exhaust system, etc. The exhaust is a job that I will need to farm out, while swapping the IC was a job that I could handle on my own.

Being a smart ass is BS & doesn't help anyone.

Some guys have the ability to write checks for the work they want done & there is nothing wrong with that. Those guys are needed in this industry or there wouldn't be any performance shops.

Now can we get back to increasing the knowledge base on Intercoolers & the results that can be expected.

~JM~

 

[Race Jace]

any questions you have is worth asking. that is how we all learn. dont worry.

most of the time when you are upgrading to a larger intercooler you upgrade the turbo charger also. There is not a significant increase in lag with the stock turbo. maybe a slight amount but it is very hard to tell. There is a significant more amount of air between the turbo and the TB though so when you let off the gas the sound you hear increases because of the added volume of air trying to escape. Now when you upgrade the turbo even to one of the smallest upgrades such as a TE-44 turbo your stock intercooler becomes a restriction. The larger the turbo the more the intercooler lessens performance due to restriction. in these cases you could actually see an increase in throttle response and spool up because of the drastic reduction in restriction with the larger intercooler.

Now as for pressure drop. there is a few variables that affect that. your goal is of course is to have the least amount of pressure drop and still cool the air. How much air you are trying to flow across it also affects the drop. so it is a hard thing to rate. you can do comparisions but a hard thing to put a number on. Some intercoolers cores we tested seemed to reduce inlet temps better than the core we have now but they would have a significant amount of pressure drop due to the core being more restrictive. So far this is the best core we have found.
We are testing a new style core right now that will be a little lighter due to its design but will flow a lot more air across it to the other heat exchangers. this will make it more street friendly take weight off the nose of the car. if we get the same performance out of this new core as we have with the core we have been using it will be a win win. weight and efficiency of the core does affect its performance so we are anxious to do testing.
just waiting for it to warm up and quit snowing to complete the testing.

 

[TurboTGuy]

I believe there has been a misunderstanding.

In re-reading my original posts I can see that I didn't word them clearly enough, but I never once claimed to be an expert.

I thought my comment “I’m likely more niave than you about TR’s” should have said enough.

That said, here's a little background on me.

I owned an '86 GN that I purchased new at Peter Epstein Buick in Palm Springs, CA in November ’86.That car was my pride and joy.

It was stolen in '96, and never recovered. That was a sad day for me, a sad day indeed.

So I spent 16 years saving and squirreling away little bits of money in hopes of someday owning another Turbo Buick.

In those 16 years I was able to save a tidy little sum of cash. I worked my ass off for that money.

When my mother passed away in December 2009, I inherited a little more.

When I saw the little White T Lou had for sale, it reminded me of a car I took a pass on in '87, blue interior, bench seat, column shifter and all. Turns out it was the same car.

It was time to make a move. When I met Lou and told him my vision of the car he just nodded, smiled and said "Sure, I can do that."

Little did I know who I was dealing with........

So yes, I'm dumping some money into the car, 16 years worth. I'm putting some hopes and dreams in there too, just for good measure. I don’t see why that’s a problem.

In addition, I have many other things busying up my life so I chose to have a pro build my car.

Again, I don’t see why that’s a problem.

I hope this clears up any misunderstanding, as I do not wish to participate in a war of words with people I have never met and would probably get along just fine with if I was to meet them, just as I have with the many other people I have met that love these little cars.

Perhaps that opportunity will present itself in the not to distant future, I look forward to it.

Until that time comes I guess all we have is bench racing and the (hopefully) good natured teasing that goes with it, something some should keep in mind.

I hope all of you who feel you have “earned” the right to be a smart ass and would never put anyone on this board off, will accept my apology.

Guy

 

[~JM~]

A white "T" with blue interior is about my favorite color scheme & was at the top of my list when I was looking for my car. I ended up with a black & tan instead.

Sorry to hear of the theft of your first TR. I am so paranoid of leaving mine somewhere out of my sight due to the crime rate where I live.

What all are you having done to your new car?

~JM~

 

[Boston GN]

Do you, or anyone else, have an external oil cooler? If so, where'd you mount that after the FM install?

 

[~JM~]

If the aftermarket oil cooler is very slim, it could fit between the IC-325 FMIC & the A/C condensor. It would be a tight fit though. You'd probably be better off with one of those coolers that have their own thermostatically controlled fan that you could mount in any position.

~JM~

 

[TurboTGuy]

Thx JM,

It's been done since Labor Day.

I had a bit of a shaky start but we got it all squared away with the endless and generous help and patience of Lou Czarnota, RJ Reynolds and a few other very, very knowledgable guys. (You know who you are! Thanks guys.)

She's got a Czarnota built Stroker 109, billet caps, PTE 6765 (old tech exhaust turbine) Champion irons machined by Lou's guy, 3in DP, adjustable waste gate and FP regulator, Comp rollrer cam, Morel roller rockers, JE pistons and a ton of Lou's magic.

Big FMIC and big aluminum radiator, dual Spal fans.

Lou's Trans guy built the trans and converter, Razor's Alky, TT chips, race and pump gas versions, HR Parts sway bar and control arms, scanmaster, WBAF, powerlogger, and much, much more.

It's been 10.58 @ 127, but it doesn't have a roll bar and they know me at the track now so it's going to be hard to sneak another pass like that by.

I don't wanna be the guy who gets the track officials to start watching the other other TR guys closely, if you know what I mean.........She's got a bunch more in her.

This car is a dream to own and drive. Having one stolen, on the other hand, SUCKS!

 

[~JM~]

...This car is a dream to own and drive...

It sounds like it. You AZ guys have it made with your year round driving season.

~JM~

 

[TurboTGuy]

It sounds like it. You AZ guys have it made with your year round driving season.

~JM~

That is a major plus but when its 110* at 9PM on a Saturday night in July it's hard to get motivated to go racin', but yes, you're right.

We can if we want to and that's definately a good thing.

 

[krom]

I have the little cooler and I like it. Spool was no different than the Thunderfab stock location it replaced.

 

[~JM~]

I have the little cooler and I like it. Spool was no different than the Thunderfab stock location it replaced.

That's good to hear. Where you able to increase your boost levels any while still running on pump gas?

Thanks
~JM~

 

[V6RACER]

Great intercoolers. I've installed several on customer's cars in the past. Had two from RJC that the threaded mounts were off by 1". Luckily I was able to cut off and re-weld. Overall it's a great core into the low nines.

 

[krom]

That's good to hear. Where you able to increase your boost levels any while still running on pump gas?

Thanks
~JM~

I was 25lbs before and after on 109 unleaded. If I was a street only car I would probably get a nice Precision SLIC, but mine also sees the track so the front mount cools better during those long third gear pulls.

 

[~JM~]

...If I was a street only car I would probably get a nice Precision SLIC....

That was my original plan, but my car has been lowered 2-3" & I was concerned that a streched SLIC would not have enough ground clearance.

~JM~

 

[~JM~]

Well we had a break in the weather & I was able to drive my car for a couple of hours. It runs great! No sign of any turbo lag or slow to respond. If anything its snappier response than before. Coolant temps stayed in the mid 160 range throughout the drive. So far everything looks good.

~JM~

 

[nonova0074]

I was dead set on getting a pte slic, but after reading this I am going the ic-325 route. I really think Jason is going to be getting most of my tax $. I am torn I dont know what to do for an exhaust I have wanted the 4in single but have a lead on a 3in dual atr. I am upgrading to 60's and adding a power plate. The turbo upgrade will come next year a 6262 and a stall. What do you guys think?

 

[6togo]

How is the ground clearance being you car is down a few inch's?
Chris

 

[~JM~]

It doesn't hang down any further than the plastic air-dam in front.

~JM~

 

[~JM~]

...I am torn I dont know what to do for an exhaust I have wanted the 4in single but have a lead on a 3in dual atr...

Does the 4" exhaust go up & over the axle? I have read on a couple of occasions that its very difficult to get 3" pipes bent around the axle & clear everything under a G-Body. I would think that a 4" pipe would be even worse, plus I think it would be loud. I decided to go with the Pypes 2.5" duals cat back system. I was able to examine a GN up on a lift with the Pypes system & it fit real nice. High & tight with plenty of clearance all around, plus it sounded real nice. Whatever you decide, please post up your results.

Thanks
~JM~

 

[TurboTGuy]

Here's my Pypes 2.5 setup.

I love it!

Great sound and no drone inside the car.