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$25.00 stock SMIC mod

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ruba_dubdub

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Ok, I noticed that some people a while back were asking if anyone has tried to put a small fan on the stock IC. I was one of those people. I also read that some people said not to do this because they thought the fan would block the airflow. Well if there's really that much airflow going through the IC, how come they're always heatsoaked? Since I don't have enough to buy a FMIC just yet, I decided to be the guinea pig and try to get the most out of my stock IC.
The parts I used for this mod are:
-Radiator fan from a junkyard scooter....$20.00
-Switch from Autozone..........................$5.00
-Zip ties I had laying around.................$0
-Wiring I had laying around...................$0
(I also had to buy a new set of tires because the junkyard I went to had some screws and nails around the yard and I ran over some of them. My old tires were low on tread anyways. I bought a set of Toyo Proxes FZ4's though. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif GOOD tires!!.......$512.43.....but this isn't part of the mod.
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)

Here's the switch after I drilled the hole. I mounted it on the little panel that comes off from under the climate control switches. I was surprised at how stock-looking this thing looked after I installed it. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
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The fan was kinda hard to figure out how to mount. I didn't want to do anything permanent since this mod is only temporary. I know the zip ties are ghetto but it does the job.
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The panel about to be reinstalled.
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Wiring the switch was easy. One wire to the fan, one wire to ground, and one wire to 12v power.
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The LED doesn't match any stock lighting but where it's mounted it won't matter. The fan is actually turned on in this picture.
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The switch hiding. (yeah my ash tray area is a little dirty. freaking dusty Utah)
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(Before I bothered trying to install the fan, I tested it out when I had the IC out to clean it. I hooked up the fan to the battery, held it against the IC and checked to see how much airflow pulled through it. I was surprised to see that it worked pretty damn well)

To test it out in the car I turned the fan on and held a BBQ lighter in the lower grill opening. Normally the flame will go straight up if there's no wind affecting the flame (duh
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), but the fan pulling the air through the IC makes the flame ALMOST completely horizontal. So as you can see the airflow through the intercooler is pretty good, even from that far away.
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I just finished this so I haven't had a chance to road test it yet. I'll see if I can do some VAG logs this week while I'm at it.
 
#5 ·
Re: $25.00 stock SMIC mod (ruba_dubdub)

Yeah do some WOT runs then start logging when you come to a stop. Do runs with the fan on and then fan off so we can see where the temp starts, and how fast it drops.
That is a great idea.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Re: $25.00 stock SMIC mod (andyA6)

Yeah it should help at stops. I won't use it too much though (except if some rice-a-roni pulls up next to me
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), I don't know how long that little motor will last. And it was a B*TCH to find one like that too!! Hopefully it won't crap out on me.
 
#10 ·
Awesome!
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I was thinking of this the other day while looking at the post about IC mister's and thought to myself a small fan would probably work pretty good. Haven't got around to fiddling with it yet. What kind of scooter did that come off of? Thanks for being the guinea pig.
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Modified by WolfInSheepsClothing at 9:17 PM 7-21-2004
 
#11 ·
Re: $25.00 stock SMIC mod (ruba_dubdub)

Quote, originally posted by ruba_dubdub »
I don't know how long that little motor will last. And it was a B*TCH to find one like that too!! Hopefully it won't crap out on me.

You can get 12VDC fans used to ventilate electronics pretty cheap and they last quite a while. I've seen them as large as 12" square...
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Re: (UncleBens)

Quote, originally posted by UncleBens »
"A" for effort, but you're going to be blocking more airflow to the IC when you're actually moving (when you need it most). Not pushing much air through the IC when you're not on boost. Killed an afternoon tho, right?
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Actually I've had it mounted on there (without the wiring hooked up) for a few days now and the car runs fine still. The blades have so much space between them that the supposed "airflow" that people keep saying there is, isn't blocked. I don't plan on using it while driving, just while I'm stopped like at a light or something. I'll see what my best options are though when I do some logs.
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
Re: $25.00 stock SMIC mod (SoopedUp03GLI)

Quote, originally posted by SoopedUp03GLI »
realy cool. Got to give it up to ZIP_ties I love those things...Just my opinion but when the ic is hot wont it melt the zip-ties.

Just a thought, but if the intercooler ever got so hot that it melts the zip ties (which will NEVER happen), I think I've got bigger problems.
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By the way, you should take a look at the "end tanks" on the stock IC...they're plastic.
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Still working on getting logs still, will try to have them by tomorrow hopefully.
 
#19 ·
Re: $25.00 stock SMIC mod (ruba_dubdub)

Quote, originally posted by ruba_dubdub »
Just a thought, but if the intercooler ever got so hot that it melts the zip ties (which will NEVER happen), I think I've got bigger problems.
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By the way, you should take a look at the "end tanks" on the stock IC...they're plastic.
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Well.... my IC core hit 75 degrees C on the dyno.
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Not hot enough to melt plastic, but hot enough to seriously weaken and stretch the zip ties. You'll never see that in normal driving though so I think you're safe.
Not bashing your mod at all here! Excellent idea and execution.
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
Re: $25.00 stock SMIC mod (SnowGTI2003)

Quote, originally posted by SnowGTI2003 »

Well.... my IC core hit 75 degrees C on the dyno.
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Not hot enough to melt plastic, but hot enough to seriously weaken and stretch the zip ties. You'll never see that in normal driving though so I think you're safe.
Not bashing your mod at all here! Excellent idea and execution.

Nah it's ok. So 75C huh? That is pretty damn hot. Makes me even more glad I put that fan on now.
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Was that on a FMIC or SMIC? I think the zip ties will be fine though. Lots of people have them around the engine bay and even close to the block, and they seem to hold up just fine. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
 
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ruba_dubdub
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