I was thinking of putting a forge strut brace onto me scoob. Has anyone fitted one before? Power engineering intercooler shield good idea or not?
Spoke to the mechanic in T&C aberdeen about a atmospheric dump valve. The reply I got was it would only annoy you whooshing at every gear change, any comments?

 

I was talking to Bob Rawle (BRD) the other week as I was thinking about an intercooler shield, apparantly they are probably not worth it as they actually restrict airflow to the cooler....

 

Ok thanks for that M8. Another cosmetic part then. Whats the best way to straighten bent cooliong fins, as I have a few bent ones. I didn't realise bees could so much damage!

 

Again talking to Bob, when he was mapping my car, he was well against using the shield, comprimises air flow etc, I was a bit gutted cos i thought it would be a benefit to fit one...

The best way to straighten up the fins is to use a small wooden kebab stylee skewer and just spend a little time to straighten them up, can take a while tho depending on the amount of fins that are bent, i usually check mine every fortnight and straighten accordingly, btw don't spray a pressure hose (jet wash) under ur scoop that will mash up most of your fins, they are very delicate.

 

Ok, thanks once again!
Is it easier to do with the intercooler in place or should i remove it?

 

no need to remove it m8, just lift ur bonnet, get your lovely wooden kebab stick, then straighten them up, not a 5 min job tho, like i say can take like ages if loads of ur fins are bent, just take your time making sure they are all straight, it doesnt matter if the 'tops' come off as long as the air passage underneath is clear, but if you can keep the tops on then obvioulsy it looks neater!!

 

me thinks the last question was a bit daft, but never mind. Never thought of manufacturing your own 'scooby stiks'? could be a nice little money earner!

 

lol scooby sticks

let's make some and distribute accordingly

 

what about plain wood, colour coded to car, or the creme de la creme, carbon fibre!

 

carbon ones would be nice, maybe a leather holder to sit in the top binnacle of the car, also how about polished alloy and maybe we could push the boat out and have titanium

 

Yeah - the Wax Wizard sprayed a jet over my top mount - I was well miffed - it took the girly nearly 10 hrs to strighten them all!and even then looked awful

Can confirm that a shield restricts flow

As also there are technical reasons for not fitted a vent to atmosphere dump valve - i.e. engine goes 'bye-bye'

I have front and rear sti front brace - actually noticed a significant difference - especially once the rear one went on - a pain to fit the rear one though! oh and they cost £350 each

[Edited by steve McCulloch - 2/15/2002 11:54:55 AM]

 

Thanks steve, I will avoid an atmospheric dump valve then.

As for a leather holder, what about nomex, the fireproof stuff they make race suits out of?

 

Anyone willing to organise a cocktail stick group buy?
JohnD

 

Actually I am the sole distributor of STI carbon cocktail sticks - pink and black - very good value at £80 each. For a group buy I may go as low as £79.


Trout

 

Damn Trouts undercutting me - I was gonna sell them at £85 (Inc of Vat, of course!)

 

Steve

Placing any obstruction (small or large) over the intercooler will restrict air flow but what evidence is there in this case that a thin wire mesh will have a negitive effect on the operation of the intercooler. Is the % in reduction really that much to worry about.

Do you have direct experience of this, if so surely the reduction in air flow could be compensated by adding a larger STi scoop. Perhaps this is just my way of trying to justify the purchase of the scoop

Cheers.

boultsy.

[Edited by boultsy - 2/16/2002 10:12:17 AM]

 

Yeah !!!! nice try Boultsy, just get the scoop man, only costs about £250 painted. Not a lot left for you to do to it externally now anyway.

 

15% reduction I have heard mentioned a few times

Bigger scoop - what a good... erm IDEA....

No effect on my car as I have a front mount......