Intercooling 80 series Landcruiser

What state are you in?????????

Hi Matthew,
We are in NSW.
Cheers
Ralph C

Ralph,
Just an idea out of left field for you to consider before you go ahead and spend lots of money on an intercooler which may be a virtual waste of money........LPG injection! I reckon that for the money involved (about $2K after the government rebate), this will be 10 times better at getting you more grunt PLUS improved fuel economy.
The exhaust modifications will be worthwhile too in all liklihood, but I don't think it would matter much whether it was s/s or mild from a performance standpoint. If you can get it done with mandrel bends, then it will flow the gases slightly better, but the benefit is negligible for a full 3" system on this size motor......even a mechanically-bent 3" system will flow all the gases your cruiser could produce quite effectively.

A Denco authorised fitter once said to me that he thought intercoolers on a 4x4 were as close to being a waste of space and money as you were ever likley to come across.......leave em for the ricers. You might get a couple of % gain in power (measured on a dyno), but from a seat-o-the-pants perspective I believe you would be disappointed.

Cheers

Roachie

Ralph,
I asked the people who fitted a turbo to my 80 Series (AXT Turbo's) if there was value in fitting an inter cooler to boost low end performance. The answer was they'd do it but it would be a waste of my money as we would not get better performance from it. They recommended fitting 3 inch exhaust system and upping the boost a bit. I'm not all that sure about upping the boost but the exhaust I will go with.

A question to the experts out there though. If that's the opinion of Turbo specialists why do all new turbo diesels have inter coolers?

Toolman

Denco do not do one for the auto. Safari do one for the auto turbo diesel. I was thinking of one but undecided and also have thought about the gas injection for more power and longer and cheaper range and fuel cost.

G'day there Ralph,

Not sure that the inter cooler will provide any improvement in low end boost performance. The three inch exhaust will definitely help, and many people feel that an after market chip will change the fuelling characteristics of your engine to improve off idle response.

I have a different vehicle, but can say the inter cooler helps with inlet temperatures, the exhaust helps with lower (and upper) rev range boost pressure. Mine has mechanical injection so can't comment on chips!

Ross.

Roachie is right, for the money LPG injection is a much better way to go. More power AND more economy.

Let me know if you would like some more info

robert@eco-gas.com.au

http://www.eco-gas.com.au

Ralph,

I have a 91 90 Series GXL 1 HZ with an after market turbo fitted and I have been contemplating this as well.

My mechanic, who also had a 80 Series TD, had one fitted to his motor and said that he got approximately 5% increase in power with a slightly better fuel economy.

My problem is for the money that it will cost to have one fitted is it worth it? - personally I don't think so, I am better off spending the money elsewhere.

BTW he also recommended that if I were to go the inter cooler path to go a air / glycol route as it has a better heat exchange - that was his opinion any way.

Best of luck with your search and let us know what you do.

You could also try www.offroad80s.com as there is a similar discussion there - again with varying opinions.

Karl