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: GRS Intercooler testing by Randy Webb


GRSmotorsport
May 17th, 2005, 09:31 PM
Last Friday evening I spoke to Randy Webb who has done his own independent testing on the GRSmotorsport intercooler. For those of you who don’t know of Randy, he’s one of the top mini tuners in the USA based in Corlardo, but also does his own evaluation tests on after market Mini products.

The test results are as follows;

The tests were done at 6000 feet above sea level. Ambient temperature on the day of the tests was 29 degrees.

Boost pressure gauges were used on the inlet & outlet to measure the flow rate, the result was that there was a drop of only 0.5 of a psi. Randy said this was an incredible result, never seen a drop so low, and a credit to my design. Randy checked for any air leaks before these tests were carried out – none were found.

The gain in bhp on the rolling road was 11 bhp. The test on the other after market intercooler, which is bigger, showed only 8 bhp gain. A 15% pulley was used for the tests carried out.

Randy said that using his front mount intercooler only saw a gain in 14 bhp, but is so expensive compared to the GRS.

Some technical information regarding the cores I use;

All cores I buy are vacuum brazed as stated in other threads, why? The cores I use are high performance motorsport cores which dissipate the heat quicker, are stronger, tested to 100psi before they’re sent to me and most importantly they are ISO 9001 approved. The manufacture I buy these cores from has also supplied in the past vacuum brazed cores for the Jordon F1 team, most of the F3000 teams, and manufactured the cores for the Bentley Le Mans team. The manufacture gives me a choice of tubes to choose between, plus the pitch of the vains i.e. how many vains per inch which is very important.

I only know how to design cooling products whether its water systems or intercooler systems, my family has 80 years experience in this field. I’m not a modern engine tuner, I can’t re-map ecu’s, but if you want your A series engine tuned then I’m your man!!, I wouldn't pursue to be any different.

With respects to my workmanship which has been discussed. All my end tanks are made using special blocks, to make sure that all the sizes are correct before my intercoolers are sent out. Quality checks are also done using a special gauge to check the inlet & outlet pipes are correct to my design. A lot of time money and effort has also gone into making the unique diffuser’s which also play an important roll getting air to the intercooler.

To prove the quality of my workmanship, I was offered a job with the Williams F1 team a few years ago, but due to just moving house and the birth of my daughter 6 weeks premature, meant I couldn’t except the offer.I've had many emails and letters from customers and traders all around the world saying how pleased they are with not only my work, but by the way I conduct my business.

I believe enough has now been said about the subject of intercooler’s, I expect that most of the members on this site are probably sick to death of the very unprofessionalisum that’s taken place by a certain individual's over the last few weeks, and now feel its time to stop – and let the members on the forum make there own minds up which intercooler they want to choose. I’ve had loads of pm’s and emails showing me great support!

If any of you have any questions regarding the testing carried out or my intercoolers in general, please let me know and I’ll answer all your questions by pm, as I won’t be answering publicly on this thread, as I feel I’ve had enough....

I’d just like to take this opportunity to wish Roland all the best with GT Tuning and his intercooler, as I know there’s more than enough work for the pair of us…

rasp
May 17th, 2005, 10:58 PM
Congratulations Graham you have earned it!....

obehave
May 18th, 2005, 01:04 AM
When will Randy have some on hand?

roland2003
May 18th, 2005, 09:17 AM
Hi Guys,
Just a quick note, to avoid any confusion with regard to Grahams post; the larger intercooler tested by Randy Webb was NOT the GTT large intercooler. And certainly the test was not carried out using a 16 tube intercooler. I guess it was a 12 tube unit from another manufacturer. I find this post and others by Rasp very misleading to users of this site, as they either say indirectly, or give the impression that the GRS intercooler has been tested against the Gt Tuning product and 'won'. In fact the ONLY tests between the two products
ever done were by myself. This is why I know our intercooler will perform better. I have deliberatly avoided giving this information untill now,as I would prefer RR results,and DragStrip results to speak for themselves.Power & performance is what we all want,rather than a gaggle of guages that tell us 'Brand X 'is better, even though 'Brand Y' is disapearing into the distance! Best Regards Roland Gt Tuning :)

minibee
May 18th, 2005, 11:02 AM
lost in the world of big words :p

Neil

rasp
May 18th, 2005, 02:53 PM
Hi Guys,
Just a quick note, to avoid any confusion with regard to Grahams post; the larger intercooler tested by Randy Webb was NOT the GTT large intercooler. And certainly the test was not carried out using a 16 tube intercooler. I guess it was a 12 tube unit from another manufacturer. I find this post and others by Rasp very misleading to users of this site, as they either say indirectly, or give the impression that the GRS intercooler has been tested against the Gt Tuning product and 'won'. In fact the ONLY tests between the two products
ever done were by myself. This is why I know our intercooler will perform better. I have deliberatly avoided giving this information untill now,as I would prefer RR results,and DragStrip results to speak for themselves.Power & performance is what we all want,rather than a gaggle of guages that tell us 'Brand X 'is better, even though 'Brand Y' is disapearing into the distance! Best Regards Roland Gt Tuning :)

You just cant leave it can you....and there is nothing misleading about my posts just the truth.....Yes results are what we want...specifically independent ones.... wheres yours

MINIAC
May 18th, 2005, 03:35 PM
Why don't you send one of your GTT intercoolers to Randy and have him test it ... then we'll know how it really compares to the others :rolleyes:

Hyper Active
May 18th, 2005, 06:15 PM
Why don't you send one of your GTT intercoolers to Randy and have him test it ... then we'll know how it really compares to the others :rolleyes:


Yep. I second this.

shazam
May 18th, 2005, 08:26 PM
Roland

I didnt take it from Grahams post that he was having a pop at your intercooler. Can't you let this lie- just because the GRS intercooler has been tested and is found to be excellent it doesnt take anything away from yours.

It is quite possible that both intercoolers are good quality.

Calm down dear, its just an intercooler.

S

obehave
May 19th, 2005, 08:18 PM
Graham
You have a PM.
I'm looking to buy.

obehave
May 19th, 2005, 10:34 PM
obehave,

You have a pm...


Thanks Graham. Just ordered from Randy.
This thread made up my mind. Talking to Randy made me feel good about my choice.
I'll let him let the cat out of the bag.......hint ..........hint........wink.........wink :cool:

Could you slip and extra one into his current shipment soonish for me?? ;)

rasp
May 19th, 2005, 10:38 PM
Thanks Graham. Just ordered from Randy.
This thread made up my mind. Talking to Randy made me feel good about my choice.
I'll let him let the cat out of the bag.......hint ..........hint........wink.........wink :cool:

Could you slip and extra one into his current shipment soonish for me?? ;)



(silent) ssssshhhhhhhhh :p
Without letting the cat out of the bag too much though, just what did Randy have to say?

obehave
May 19th, 2005, 10:49 PM
(silent) ssssshhhhhhhhh :p
Without letting the cat out of the bag too much though, just what did Randy have to say?
;)

TonyB
May 19th, 2005, 11:12 PM
Crap, I came over here to escape some of the bickering over on NAM... Oh well.

Randy is quite thorough with his testing, so this is indeed some nice validation. Kudos to GRS!

rasp
May 19th, 2005, 11:24 PM
Crap, I came over here to escape some of the bickering over on NAM... Oh well.

Randy is quite thorough with his testing, so this is indeed some nice validation. Kudos to GRS!

Wow....I am finally getting through then....
I promise to stop the bickering now that Graham is getting some sort of recognition he deserves for the hard work and results he has given us....lick, lick...

MINIAC
May 20th, 2005, 01:59 AM
Randy has posted the review on his website ...

http://www.webbmotorsports.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=643

reynerdiesel
Jan 3rd, 2006, 07:06 PM
Guys
I' m new to the Mini scene, but sounds like you have all been down our path, on which intercooler is the best performer. I can only say that you need to get these bench tested in identical conditions to achieve a true back to back comparison. Last year we benchmarked 3 intercooloers (fitted into a off road racing V10 VW Tourag) against each other, the the findings were interesting, which you could never have predicted from a visual assessment. We also found some unexpected results which showed the stock unit to be far superior at low air face velocities (all speeds below 60 mph based on 10% of face Vel to Road speed). Not only the bench testing but interpretation of the driveline/powertrain operating characterisitics need to be derived against the data to see where the true operating conditions lie. We were testing at 30 psi boost and 200°C inlet temp, well above the conditions seen in petrol cars. The only drawback of this was the expense, the testing cost more than the price of each intercooler. The guys who did this were o the South coast ner Brighton, a company called Young Calibration, can't remember the guys name, but if you mention me, Malc @ Reyner Diesels he promised me a discount for future work.

Brian Cooper S
Jan 3rd, 2006, 09:05 PM
In my opinion, this is a great thread, keep it going please!