Is an intercooler upgrade worth it?

[lifesnotfair]

I know for a fact this will make me sound like what I actually am: a noob. But I don't mind. Please be gentle with your answers people

I've had my 1JZ for about a year now in my 88. I love it. I've daily driven it ever since... I bought the 1JZ motor used with I-dont-know how many miles, maybe 90,000 ... I've put in less than 10 though, I don't do long trips. It works like a charm. But I've slacked off BIG TIME with the car, for example, I kept using the old, dirty HKS filter it came with, and have never changed it. (any1 has one for sale btw?). I saw that 935 has them for sale in the webpage, and I also saw they had this: https://935motorsports.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1410
A "budget" intercooler. The dimensions seem wrong, but I think it's just that he wrote 13 where it should be 3.

So I was wondering.. will changing the stock intercooler add any HP to the car? I have the stock intercooler, and I don't even have a boost controller, I run everything stock. I do have Tanabe exhaust, but I don't know about the downpipe. Is that worth changing as well?

I'm not looking to invest a lot, but was wondering, if I decided to spend a couple of hundred bucks into the car, and would like to at least notice an increase in HP... remember it's stock so it's not a rocket right now, even a 50hp increase will be "felt" by me I guess... what would be a good thing to do?

I'm sorry I'm such a noob. I don't know exactly why, but I've heard that when using a bigger/better intercooler, the car boosts more for some reason? I guess that'd add some HP but it would be due to the car going over the stock 9.5psi or so. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[AF1JZ]

Yes it is worth it. Any aftermarket one is better than stock.

 

[OneJArpus]

Anything aftermarket that will help cooling, intake, or exhaust is definitly worth it. I have an 88 Turbo i am swaping a 1J into, i went with a FMIC & Hard pipes, i got my for a little over 400 check out www.driftmotion.com

 

[lifesnotfair]

Yes, but can someone please explain WHY it is better? And why would the boost automatically be higher?

 

[starscream5000]

I kept using the old, dirty HKS filter it came with, and have never changed it.

You should be able to clean that out and let it dry...

So I was wondering.. will changing the stock intercooler add any HP to the car?

Most definitely .

I do have Tanabe exhaust, but I don't know about the downpipe. Is that worth changing as well?

That should really wake up this car. Make sure you get the 3" Y-pipe too. Downpipe: http://store.driftmotion.com/productdetails.php?sid=1463b52bb6ea06&product_id_int=351 Y-Pipe: https://935motorsports.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=79_14_144&products_id=1018

I'm not looking to invest a lot, but was wondering, if I decided to spend a couple of hundred bucks into the car, and would like to at least notice an increase in HP... remember it's stock so it's not a rocket right now, even a 50hp increase will be "felt" by me I guess... what would be a good thing to do?

It's going to be near impossible to spend a couple hundred in it and get a good noticable increase in HP. Intake and exhaust are the best ways to go for starters. Let it breath in good, and exhale well. Those links should get you there on the exhaust, a 3" testpipe will top things off if you don't have to worry about emissions. and a IC hardpipe kit will top things off on that side, you should look at either 935 or driftmotion for the best bang for the buck.

I'm sorry I'm such a noob. I don't know exactly why, but I've heard that when using a bigger/better intercooler, the car boosts more for some reason? I guess that'd add some HP but it would be due to the car going over the stock 9.5psi or so. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Less resistance to flow, the turbos can cram more air into the engine .

 

[starscream5000]

I'm sorry, the link I posted for the 1JZ Y-Pipe also includes a 3" down pipe with it, that would be the first combo I would buy for your car. And at only 300.00, it's probably going to be the biggest gain for the money spent on your car so far. BE WARNED: I've heard from several people with experience on this that putting this one is a royal bitch!

 

[lifesnotfair]

Wow, thanks.

I thought this little mods would make a noticeable difference. I mean, a 30hp gain is already like 10% over what I have right now? That can't be unnoticed. It's not like I drag race or anything, heh. Just wanted a bit more power.

It says in that 935 page that each pipe is for each turbo? So I'd need to buy two of this y-pipe/downpipe combo??

 

[lifesnotfair]

So my mechanics will charge me more then, because I wont do it myself! I wish I had the skills.... but it's not so hard that they could screw something up, is it? Heh.

BTW, emissions is not a problem in my country, not at all.

 

[starscream5000]

Wow, thanks.

No prob .

It says in that 935 page that each pipe is for each turbo? So I'd need to buy two of this y-pipe/downpipe combo??

NO, just one. If you look at the picture you can see where each turbo bolts up to the downpipe.

So my mechanics will charge me more then, because I wont do it myself! I wish I had the skills.... but it's not so hard that they could screw something up, is it? Heh.

BTW, emissions is not a problem in my country, not at all.

Trust me, this is not beyond your skill to do, it's just time consuming and you are working in tight confines. If you can turn a wrench and take off a bolt, you can do this . Some of the 1JZ guys no here can give you some tips on the easiest ways to put these on. If you take it to your mechanic, you will probably be paying the price of the down pipe/Y-Pipe combo all over again in just labor costs!

3" test pipe 3/4 the way down the page. You can probably get these cheaper somewheres else (ebay maybe) they all do the same thing, just make sure it is full 3" and SS if you can get that: http://www.bicperformance.com/products.htm

 

[Ric]

I'm sorry, but you'll only see a HP gain on a hot day and if you turn your boost up. Even then, you might see 3-5whp tops. On the highway, you'll have zero gain over stock. The biggest gain you'll see is only on the dyno, because a bigger cooler in such a hot stationary enviroment is just more efficient.

 

[Van Diesel]

biggest gain will be to get rid of the catalytic converter and get a 3" straight pipe. Next change your air filter. Turn the boost up with an MBC. Those 3 will be cheap and net the most HP.

 

[starscream5000]

The best thing an intercooler does is cool the intake charge, preventing you from detonating. A good intercooler will allow you to up the boost more because the intake charge is cooler than with the stocker, just make sure you have enough fuel to compensate .

 

[lifesnotfair]

What do you mean with "enough fuel"? An aftermarket fuel pump, or good fuel? Because if very good fuel is needed, I'm screwed, fuel in here stinks. The say it's 95 octane or so, but that's a lie. If I were to boost beyond stock, mechanics have recommended that I use a bit of racing fuel at least, to compensante and not detonate. I just remember these things I'm told, but I have no idea what "detonation" means in terms of the engine being damaged... Yep, truly stinks.

I have all the wrenches but I don't have a "hole" to get under my car, and I imagine lifting it 1-2 feet off the ground isn't gonna be enough to work on these complicated thing? Damn, sucks.

To the guy who says I'll only see a 5hp gain: thanks for the reply.

BTW, I had heard that cleaning these filters wasn't any good. But I guess if I dry it for long enough it would be ok? Maybe under the sun? We have good sunlight here in the caribbean

I love my car, it's been my daily driver for 1.5 years and it never makes me visit the mechanics, the swap was done beautifully, although not everything is how it should be. For example, it has 2 electric fans... not the hydrofan thing. And the electrician said he couldn't find a thermostat, so they're direct, they are on when I turn the key switch. However, I have never seen the temperature of the car get even halfways through the meter.

 

[starscream5000]

Going forward on the Intercooler kit: The biggest power gain you will see off of it WITHOUT raising boost is the elmination of the restrictive stock piping from the 1JZ (I'm sure it's not nearly as bad as the stock 7M piping). Also there should be lots less restriction in the aftermarket IC over the stock one due to a better design in the core of the IC and it's endtanks.

You should be fine with raising boost, just don't go wild with it. Fellow 1JZ ppl on here will be able to tell you what a good threshold will be when raising the boost to with your mods without needing extra fuel support.

If you are not comfortable with the filter you have, I recommend getting a cone filter like an AEM dryflow that does not have oil in the filter element. These filters can be cleaned an used just like when they were new for the entire life of your vehicle, and they aren't that expensive either .

If your fuel is 95 octane, then I'd say you are safe. The least amount of octane you can typically get in the US is 91. High octane fuel does not increase power, it just resistists detonation better than a lower octane fuel.

Detonation is when the air's charge temps get too hot and/or the air/fuel mixture becomes too lean, causing the fuel to ignite prematurely or detonate. This is very destructive and will kill your engine quickly. This is just a rough description, there are others on here who can elaborate better than me on this.

Get a jack and some jack stands and you should have no problem taking that stuff off, don't be scared to get you hands dirty, you'll have fun in the end!

 

[Ric]

I have a alot of stock twin dyno time under my belt, let me give you a list of best bangs for the buck:

MBC
FREEEEEEE flowing exhaust
16-18 psi boost


Other then that, the next step would be Cams, and SAFC2 to correct the fuel mixture from the cam install. You can throw a FMIC in the mix, but it's not a power "adder", its a air cooler. You don't get more HP from installing a bigger water radiator for your engine, but you do help keep it cool and safe. Same idea.

If your seaching for cheap performance, don't waste your $$ on one, because you won't notice the difference in speed.

Stock injectors and fuel pump is plenty good for stock turbos at any boost level. My 310whp was with stock SMIC, plastic pipes, and surface temp of the intercoooler was 190* F with a probe in a 120 degree garage in July here in Florida.

 

[starscream5000]

Ric, how long do a good set of stock twins last with that kind of boost? It's to my understanding that the turbos like to start smoking based on some peoples experiences with their 1JZ's.

 

[tissimo]

I have a alot of stock twin dyno time under my belt, let me give you a list of best bangs for the buck:

MBC
FREEEEEEE flowing exhaust
16-18 psi boost


Other then that, the next step would be Cams, and SAFC2 to correct the fuel mixture from the cam install. You can throw a FMIC in the mix, but it's not a power "adder", its a air cooler. You don't get more HP from installing a bigger water radiator for your engine, but you do help keep it cool and safe. Same idea.

If your seaching for cheap performance, don't waste your $$ on one, because you won't notice the difference in speed.

Stock injectors and fuel pump is plenty good for stock turbos at any boost level. My 310whp was with stock SMIC, plastic pipes, and surface temp of the intercoooler was 190* F with a probe in a 120 degree garage in July here in Florida.

you might not get hp on the dyno but going down the track will add hp at the top end from the added cooling ability over the stock cooler..

if your aits were less you would of had more power.. simple as that..

 

[Ric]

Sitting in the dyno room in that much heat, yeah a bigger cooler would have helped for numbers for damn sure.

I used my twins for a year @ 18psi, sold them, and the new owner now a year later as far as i know, still uses them without issues.

I had another 1JZ SC that my wife and I drove for a year straight as a daily driver for work. Ran beautiful. I sold it, and within a week the new owner who was a kid and beat on it, blew them up in a week. I didnt understand that, they didnt even let out 1 PPM of smoke or any signs of being bad, and I would give it a nice WOT run every chance I got when merging onto the highway.

 

[lifesnotfair]

Mine smoke a bit when I rev hard. Should I change both turbos or can I rebuild them for less $$ ?? Only when I rev hard though, it seems.

 

[starscream5000]

You're just taking a gamble by getting someone else's turbos. MDC offers a rebuild for the twins, but hold on to your wallet. If they are boosting fine, keep using them, but beware they may be on their way out. Have you checked the shaft play?