Sorry, it’s not my intention to start any trouble on my 2nd post so please forgive me.
I’ve read the various threads on A/A and A/W etc but I don’t recall seeing any specific evidence based opinion on the best (i.e. most efficient) A/A IC out there at the moment. Anybody like comment on this?
Cheers,
Mr Bob
The only way to do real world test is in a lab, not sure who has the kit to do it, I feel it is more about your own preference, the one thing I can say is you will not be dissapointed with any of the setups used by members on this forum and there are good and bad things about all kits.
Saying that Proalloy charge coolers are the best because I own one 
I know of the worst cooler … The standard Lotus one !!! lol
On the US forum they have done a lot of testing on the A/A intercoolers, the outcome being it doesnt get enough air. The most effective solutions involve bypassing the roof restriction and/or extra pickups from the side vents.
Gav
Yep, that’s what I’ve been reading as well. I’m going to work on the roof scoop but won’t be touching the A/A for a while as I’m in warranty. I just want to know the most efficient so that I can start with the best, then extract more with better ventilation, rather than reach a particular A/A IC limitation and have to buy again…
MrBob don’t waste your time, just save your pennys and install a proper A/W chargecooler… You can always add more heatexchangers if you go for more power, this is something you can not do with a A/A…
This is the route I’ve gone
RLS Intercooler and RLS intercooler tubes. Two fans sucking air through the intercooler,a heatsheild under the intercooler and Reverie roof scoop.
Just look at the hole you can cut to get more air in
All that crap and your intake temps under full load are what ?
Frank
If you have nothing construtive to say please do not post.
A forum member had asked a question so I was just sharing the work that I had done, no opinion, no recomendation just passing on my approach
I got the idea for “all that crap” as you put it from a number of your countrymen on the Lotus talk forums.
The RLS intercooler and tubes are manufatured over in the States. If you want to get into the technicalities I suggest you search on the Lotus talk forums as Thomasio has posted a lot of data about inlet temps
Another vote for Proalloy Charge cooler. Specially on a hot day.
Ex77
Hi Frank,
I appreciate your input and your obvious knowledge in this area! I understand that A/W is superior but I have the following reasons for going A/A:
Hope that makes sense?
[quote=Balboa]This is the route I’ve gone
RLS Intercooler and RLS intercooler tubes. Two fans sucking air through the intercooler,a heatsheild under the intercooler and Reverie roof scoop.
Just look at the hole you can cut to get more air in
[/quote]
That looks good! Do you have to keep the fans running all the time or are they on a thermocouple? Also, if the fans are off do they cause restriction issues?
Where did you get your heat shield from? Any pics of it?
The fans are on a switch in the cockpit. I only run the car on track so fans are swicthed on just before I tighten my harnesses and are left on for a good few minutes on retruning to the pits.
In your case as you are using on road an auto switch like a thermocouple would be a good idea but my technical capabilites or thought process did not extend that far.
with regard to the heatsheild think if you search on this forum Boothy has posted some drawings that I worked from. The underside has gold reflective heat sheild brought off e-bay. Next time I have intercooler of will take some pics and post
Jon
All you need to do my friend is speak to Paul at Chris Neils and have their kit including the Forge intercooler, a few dynos now showing just shy of 280bhp, all the parts (aside the cooler) are OEM Lotus so warranty should be ok, obviously you would need to check for sure with Paul.
I am very happy with mine as I know others are too! That Reverie set up looks great 
Balboa, if you are getting your tech input from the fools on Lotus Talk I wish you good luck and best wishes… America is not made up entirely of fools but if you follow their thinkin on Lotus Talk…oh well…
You know I did buy this under powered ill handling Lotus produced by “your” fellow countrymen but with a little American ingenuity it’s been sorted out…
Without knowin what your charge temps are while strokin yourself with useless crap as you add more restriction and turbulance to the airflow you are takin two steps backwards…Every bit of data that was posted is flawed and only there as a sales tool for the gullible…
I wouldn’t want guys to follow someone that gets his tech input from guys that haven’t a clue as to what it is they’re doin… Lotus Talk is just that talk and nothin more…
Well I spoke to Lotus directly about warranty as mine is a 2010 car and I’d like to keep the warranty safe. They told me that:
a) The kit from CN is not official
b) That the car would require an acusump not to affect warranty
I also asked about fitting an up-rated A/A. Their response was that I would have to pay to have the car returned to normal prior to any warranty investigation and then they may not fix under warranty if they consider the non-Lotus part to have caused the issue. All in all I’ll be leaving well along until at least a year old!
Cheers,
Rob
Rob, Changing the intercooler over your self is a 20 min job with simple tools
If they want an accu sump then I would probably fit one and go ahead any way, it can only help.
I think the only things Lotus wouldn’t warranty is the gearbox (too much torque), engine valves (buzzed engine) or melted pistons (too much boost/temp). Considering a new engine is a few � I’d say the warranty isn’t worth the paper its written on if your upping the power to 280bhp.
I guess the only things that typically break is the air-con, toe links and maybe the Lotus Stage 2 Exhaust.
[quote=MrBob] All in all I’ll be leaving well along until at least a year old!
Cheers,
Rob [/quote]
That will give you a little time to save the �2700 needed for 280 Bhp then
�2000 Chris Neils
�600 Forge cooler
�50 scoop from Jamssint
�50 or so for a better airbox (TRD?)
easy innit ?
Ps. another Grand will get you a 4/1 manifold and system from 2bular … that should yield another few horses and you’ll probably see 290+ Bhp…
[quote=jfk][quote=MrBob] All in all I’ll be leaving well along until at least a year old!
Cheers,
Rob [/quote]
That will give you a little time to save the �2700 needed for 280 Bhp then
�2000 Chris Neils
�600 Forge cooler
�50 scoop from Jamssint
�50 or so for a better airbox (TRD?)
easy innit ?
Ps. another Grand will get you a 4/1 manifold and system from 2bular … that should yield another few horses and you’ll probably see 290+ Bhp…
[/quote]
�2k at CN’s? I am pretty sure it should be less than that now