ARC MA71 intercooler experience??

[boxh34d]

I was wondering if anyone has any first hand experience with the stock replacement intercooler for the MZ20 or MA71??
I seem to remember someone using one, but i cant seem to find it, and indeed how much better they are than the stock unit.
Any info appreciated.
cheers.

[EldarO]

you'd be looking for MAtt a.k.a "Whatthe?"

hes selling it i beleive.

Eldar.O.

[lumpy]

I was wondering if anyone has any first hand experience with the stock replacement intercooler for the MZ20 or MA71??
I seem to remember someone using one, but i cant seem to find it, and indeed how much better they are than the stock unit.
Any info appreciated.
cheers.

I've only got 2nd hand experience - A mate of mine had one on his ma70/71. It was pretty good for stock and mildly modded applications (up to about 300 rwkw) , but he has upgraded it now in order to seek some higher numbers. The good thing about it was the "bolt-in" aspect, and it looked to be good quality. The new chinese coolers are undoubtably cheaper than a good 2nd hand ARC one, but factor in mounting and piping etc and they'll probably cost more.

[boxh34d]

Yeah, the bolt in aspect was why i was investigating it. I did not know there was one for sale on here though.
I was really interested to know if people had had 'before and after' type experience. Does not have to be dyno confirmed or anything, but merely did they notice a good difference, was pipework cooler to touch after a run etc.
I have heard some good things about the bolt in's on various other cars such as MR2's GZE'd rolla's, but unsure about the MA70 job, and most of the info had to be at least 4th hand, so i have taken it with a grain of salt.
thanks for the replies so far guys, keep it coming.

[lumpy]

Yeah, the bolt in aspect was why i was investigating it. I did not know there was one for sale on here though.
I was really interested to know if people had had 'before and after' type experience. Does not have to be dyno confirmed or anything, but merely did they notice a good difference, was pipework cooler to touch after a run etc.
I have heard some good things about the bolt in's on various other cars such as MR2's GZE'd rolla's, but unsure about the MA70 job, and most of the info had to be at least 4th hand, so i have taken it with a grain of salt.
thanks for the replies so far guys, keep it coming.

Is there one for sale on here? He sold his a while ago for some reasonable $$. Put it this way - the ARC cooler supported 300 rwkw quite easily on a nicely built 7m with GT35/40 turbo and stock intake manifold. I seriously doubt the std cooler could do that!

[boxh34d]

Well, that is the kind of thing i was wanting to hear.
Although my aim is nowhere near that much power, that is very interesting.

[whatthe?]

Yes, it is mine. I havent actually installed it as yet but from whayt I know of it the advantage is being able to run more than ~14psi boost through it (apparently thats the limit for the stock jobs before they burst). It's slightly thicker as well, but obviously being dimensionally simialr to the stocker it's not hugely different size-wise.

[boxh34d]

Yes, it is mine. I havent actually installed it as yet but from whayt I know of it the advantage is being able to run more than ~14psi boost through it (apparently thats the limit for the stock jobs before they burst). It's slightly thicker as well, but obviously being dimensionally simialr to the stocker it's not hugely different size-wise.

Where you planning on installing, or have you decided to go bigger / better??
I would be very interested to hear of the results.
Just by looking at a picture, the end tanks look a lot less restrictive, and they do appear thicker, so they should cool / flow better, but exactly how much is anyones guess.
Thanks for the reply.

[ReQuieM]

Not really they the same i know, but when i went JZA70 cooler (bigger) to a generic with 3" piping I went from ~stock boost to violent pipe poping and BIG boost spikes. yeah if thats anything to go by then yes the differnce will be noticeable. With stock piping then not sooo good but definatly better. To be honest a IC upgrade is only going to give a slight upgrade in RWKW unless you upgrade/update supporting items as well. IE up the boost. Basically its cooling the mixture so you can crame more air in. if you dont 'tune' it to take advantage of it then theres not much to it. Just a richer mixture. Make sense?

When you do the FMIC upgrade get a cheap manual boost controller (for the cheap option, plenty of better, more expensive controlers) and pump the boost up a touch and you WILL like the results then! Plus you will get better fuel economy (in theory) as you lean it back out to closer to stolch.

[boxh34d]

The general plan was a fresh rebuilt basically stock spec engine, mild polishing of the ports and matching the manifolds ( a mate who builds race bikes would be doing that ), slight increase in boost, good dump pipe, exhaust and then was looking at the ARC cooler option.
Nothing huge but hopefully a handy increase. The main thing i am after is response and a torquey, driveable engine, not a dyno queen.

[floody]

To be honest a IC upgrade is only going to give a slight upgrade in RWKW unless you upgrade/update supporting items as well. IE up the boost. Basically its cooling the mixture so you can crame more air in. if you dont 'tune' it to take advantage of it then theres not much to it. Just a richer mixture. Make sense?

Probably the biggest advantages would be that the much larger core can dissipate heat a lot better - hence maintaining intake temps longer - and that there is normally substantially less flow restriction.

Just remember boost is largely a measure of restriction, so if it flows better and drops less psi across the core you should actually see more power on less boost. The turbo shouldn't have to work as hard for a particular boost level either.

[boxh34d]

Probably the biggest advantages would be that the much larger core can dissipate heat a lot better - hence maintaining intake temps longer - and that there is normally substantially less flow restriction.

Just remember boost is largely a measure of restriction, so if it flows better and drops less psi across the core you should actually see more power on less boost. The turbo shouldn't have to work as hard for a particular boost level either.

This is basically what i have said above, and why i was looking at the upgrade.
By rights, there should also be a handy increase in turbo flow and spool up time as a result of the dump pipe and exhaust also.

Thanks for all the replies so far, it is much appreciated, but does anyone have any experience with this cooler??
I am after some form of quantification of this particular upgrade, as i am well aware of the general rules / theories, but dont have first hand experience with this unit. ( sorry if that comes across as sounding like a smart ass, as its not meant to )