Its not that the panda cooler is bad. Its not. Its a TR6 treadstone core. More than one factory fitment option we have is based off the same treadstone core ( just with much nicer endtanks ). Its that the intercooler size, IN THIS CAR, is outmatched IN THIS CAR. The ECU in the car, and to some degree, the tune is responsible for this ( with good reason ), but the ecu takes cat/charge air temps very seriously. And this is a fact.... THIS MOTOR REQUIRES BOOST. BOOST MEANS HEAT. I've seen B16 or B18 honda engines make crazy power with big turbos with less than 20psi. But to make good power; the fist requires no less than 20psi AT ALL TIMES. That means boost, which means heat. Heat/CAT/charge air temps the ecu really dials the car back. YOU CAN ADJUST THIS setting in the ecu,, but the factory setting is actually pretty good. If you change it, you may find you can make good power on 70 degree dry days fairly easy. But you may also find that when the temp goes upto 85degrees your tune is now getting knock corrections, which effects your power GREATLY.
There is only one fix. A bigger intercooler with not just more compacity, not just good flowing endtanks or good flowing core, but what matters big time.... Frontal area. We can't go any wider really, so going taller is the only option. DHM is the only option we have at the moment. Russ has never saved me a nickel,'he's never done me a favor (other than build us this option, which is more than enough ), and the last 10 times I've texted him in the last 6months, I've gotten no response. I calk it up to him being crazy busy, but the point is... I have no dog in that race. I'm just trying to give my idea on why, and give my opinion. Even a stock turbo would make the best power with the dhm cooler, although, I agree; its a silly mod on the stock turbo.
If I was buying a cooler, and the direct fits were my only option because.... Well.... Hell, I don't know why. Dhm cooler and crash bad is 100% reversible. But if I had to choose one, I'd pick the CP-E if cost was not an option. If cost was an issue, I'd be looking into that cobb knock-off that is sold on the UK-ebay. Its like $260 shipped and looks to be 100% like a cobb.
My panda gets cooked. My climate is the worst in the country in the summer. I'm always on the borderline of power vs charge temps. E45 goes a long way. But when its 90 degrees outside and your chrage temps are at 125-127 degrees AT SPEED ( no heat soak ), that's higher than the ECU wants to see. It also creates a tuning issue ( its just one more thing to balance ).
People would say, "well, in a perfect world, you wouldn't have to rely on race gas/E40 to make power or to keep the car making constant power no matter the temps". Well... The DHM race cooler IS THAT PERFECT WORLD. And I'd just hate to see even one more person buy a $600 intercooler only to find out later that they should have just through 2 more benji's down and did it correctly, once, the first time. Instead... They sell a $600 IC for $400, then have to add $400 of new money to it. And that's not even counting the re-tune, or the physical labor of installing 2 different coolers.
Did I mention the DHM cooler combo adds almost no weight to the front of the car? These nice mistu, panda type coolers are all good and even fairly priced. But they are not light compared to the stock cooler. The weight saved by replacing the tin foil, yet somehow heavy crash bar is offset by the race cooler. It really is a win win win cooler, if you can afford it.
Levels coolers are very high quality build wise, but I don't think anyone should ever buy one, its just too small. I really wish that dude would build something similar to DHM race cooler.
I admit. I'd like to try the CP-E,'lol. Its a great LOOKING design.
Bamm !!! I haven't rambled on like that for a while !!! Lol
