What's the difference between these two intercoolers?

[Stiletto]

Hi guys,

I will try to ask here. Which intercooler would you choose? The final price is about the same.

High-Performance Intercoolers for Enhanced Automotive Efficiency

Intercoolers - Performance Automotive Products | Vivid Racing

www.vividracing.com

or

AIRTEC Motorsport Intercooler for Kia Stinger GT 3.3 V6

In order to ensure there is no noticeable loss in performance during extended periods of hard driving, we have developed a larger, freer-flowing intercooler that is a direct replacement for the smaller and more restrictive OEM item. AIRTEC Part No: ATINTKIA1

www.airtecmotorsport.com

Neither. They're all the same design, along with Agency Power.

IMR Racing is a better design and uses a brand name core. Next would be Wagner, BMS, Jonny Tig and Maintec.

 

[BC00]

Are you telling that these Agency Power like are not better than OEM and are not worth the money?

 

[Stiletto]

Are you telling that these Agency Power like are not better than OEM and are not worth the money?

OEM is lighter than all aftermarket ICs. Unless you're pushing 450+ whp, the factory IC will handle the air volume.

Now, if you simply want to get a cooler looking FMIC, yeah they're better. Sure, they allow for more volume. But if you really need that much air to be exchanged and cooled, then you are better off spending your money on quality parts and design.

 

[AusStinger]

Hi guys,

I will try to ask here. Which intercooler would you choose? The final price is about the same.

High-Performance Intercoolers for Enhanced Automotive Efficiency

Intercoolers - Performance Automotive Products | Vivid Racing

www.vividracing.com

or

AIRTEC Motorsport Intercooler for Kia Stinger GT 3.3 V6

In order to ensure there is no noticeable loss in performance during extended periods of hard driving, we have developed a larger, freer-flowing intercooler that is a direct replacement for the smaller and more restrictive OEM item. AIRTEC Part No: ATINTKIA1

www.airtecmotorsport.com

I'm pretty sure they're the same. I had the Vivid cooler and I've seen and airtec one and apart from getting replacement brackets with the airtec one, the coolers are the same. Same core, tanks, connections. Also, Airtec has their logo on it and Vivid doesn't. Both cores are not very efficient and double the weight of OEM.

Also, I agree with Stiletto, the OEM cooler is very light and very efficient.
I just did a little mod to my OEM cooler to force more air into it and left it at that.

IMO, the performance gains of an aftermarket I/Cooler are overshadowed by the weight increase at the extreme front of the car which detracts from the handling.

 

[djerickd]

I just did a little mod to my OEM cooler to force more air into it and left it at that.

what did you do to force more air into it??

 

[AusStinger]

what did you do to force more air into it??

Riveted a deflector on the upper forward edge.

 

[djerickd]

oh i might need to do the same i can see how a lot of air is lost over Top of the OEM Ic

 

[AusStinger]

It's a cheap mod that works and you can do it your own way as you like. Different angle, bigger blade etc.

With that said, I've since upgraded to a 3" in/out 90mm thick I/C and AFE pipes, and DAMN!

Having traction issues now

 

[djerickd]

It's a cheap mod that works and you can do it your own way as you like. Different angle, bigger blade etc.

With that said, I've since upgraded to a 3" in/out 90mm thick I/C and AFE pipes, and DAMN!

Having traction issues now

which one did you go with?

 

[Deviate]

oh i might need to do the same i can see how a lot of air is lost over Top of the OEM Ic

Trust @AusStinger bud thats all im gonna say.

 

[AusStinger]

which one did you go with?

I went with a HDi GT2 because of the size, weight, core density and the price ( only $450 AUD ).





Before: OEM with mod.



After: GT2

 

[djerickd]

they polished that up so nicely

 

[AusStinger]

they polished that up so nicely

Just a shame it's all hidden now.
Paired up with the AFe charge pipes it REALLY moves now ( with no ECU / TCU tuning ).

PRE AFE:




WITH AFE:



Charge pipes were a bit of a pain to install but well worth it with the 3" in/out intercooler.

 

[djerickd]

I went with a HDi GT2 because of the size, weight, core density and the price ( only $450 AUD )


After: GT2View attachment 87334

Whats the weight? Online it says 5.4KG! is that TRUE? The price is great also but what did you do for brackets? You can clean that green stuff on the bolts with rubbing alcohol

 

[AusStinger]

Yep it's about that weight. Very light.
As for the brackets, I kept them simple ( but me being me, went a little over board in some regards ).

I got some mild steel 90 degree brackets from the hardware store and cut them to length, drilled holes and painted.

Between the intercooler mounting boss and the bracket I installed nylon washers to absorb some of the vibration ( while staying secure ) and used titanium lockwire bolts ( to avoid corrosion ) with conical spring loaded stainless steel washers and stainless lockwired the bolts so they can't vibrate lose.

I drilled holes in the rear of the steel bumper and installed stainless steel rivnuts with corrosion treatment and fastened the brackets with stainless bolts.

This setup allows for a little bit of flex but is way overkill to handle this little weight.



On the bottom mounts I made up some very light extruded aluminium ( aluminum as you'd spell it ) brackets just to hold the bottom of the cooler in place ( probably not required but meh ). Forgot to take pics.



Took about a day ( taking my time ) and I'm happy with the results.

 

[AusStinger]

Whats the weight? Online it says 5.4KG! is that TRUE? The price is great also but what did you do for brackets? You can clean that green stuff on the bolts with rubbing alcohol

Now you pointed out the green paints stuff I have to clean it off........

 

[Deviate]

Yep it's about that weight. Very light.
As for the brackets, I kept them simple ( but me being me, went a little over board in some regards ).

I got some mild steel 90 degree brackets from the hardware store and cut them to length, drilled holes and painted.

Between the intercooler mounting boss and the bracket I installed nylon washers to absorb some of the vibration ( while staying secure ) and used titanium lockwire bolts ( to avoid corrosion ) with conical spring loaded stainless steel washers and stainless lockwired the bolts so they can't vibrate lose.

I drilled holes in the rear of the steel bumper and installed stainless steel rivnuts with corrosion treatment and fastened the brackets with stainless bolts.

This setup allows for a little bit of flex but is way overkill to handle this little weight.

View attachment 87340

On the bottom mounts I made up some very light extruded aluminium ( aluminum as you'd spell it ) brackets just to hold the bottom of the cooler in place ( probably not required but meh ). Forgot to take pics.

View attachment 87341

Took about a day ( taking my time ) and I'm happy with the what

What! Overboard? Hahahaha!
Looks good man!

 

[AusStinger]

What! Overboard? Hahahaha!
Looks good man!

Only a little........

Cheers

 

[AusStinger]

Just want to share the following.

With the above intercooler and JUST the cold / upper AFE charge pipe, the car went surprisingly well. Picked up the mid to top end and was almost good enough to warrant these mods alone.

I then added the hot / lower charge pipe to the combo and although I really didn't notice much more gain on the first real run, I did manage to blow an intercooler hose off, so there must be a bit more oomph in the boost. Yes, I was running worm drive clamps on the intercooler and lower pipes while waiting for my proper clamps to arrive so that proved a point I guess. (?)

So for anyone looking for a nice improvement ( IMO ), a bigger capacity and flow intercooler paired with the AFE cold / upper charge pipe only is quite rewarding.

Can't wait to get the clamps and see the real differences.

 

[CeeDaRula]

Yep it's about that weight. Very light.
As for the brackets, I kept them simple ( but me being me, went a little over board in some regards ).

I got some mild steel 90 degree brackets from the hardware store and cut them to length, drilled holes and painted.

Between the intercooler mounting boss and the bracket I installed nylon washers to absorb some of the vibration ( while staying secure ) and used titanium lockwire bolts ( to avoid corrosion ) with conical spring loaded stainless steel washers and stainless lockwired the bolts so they can't vibrate lose.

I drilled holes in the rear of the steel bumper and installed stainless steel rivnuts with corrosion treatment and fastened the brackets with stainless bolts.

This setup allows for a little bit of flex but is way overkill to handle this little weight.

View attachment 87340

On the bottom mounts I made up some very light extruded aluminium ( aluminum as you'd spell it ) brackets just to hold the bottom of the cooler in place ( probably not required but meh ). Forgot to take pics.

View attachment 87341

Took about a day ( taking my time ) and I'm happy with the results.

While that intercooler itself is cool, I just didin't want to drill anything and the mishimoto was no drilling, just remove the old cooler and replaced it with all new larger Y pipe and all ducting to original mounting holes. I had more issues putting in the big mouths (cleanly) in then I did putting in the intercooler.