Guys,

Trying to decide whether I should leave my intercooler open so everyone can see it or keep it somewhat hidden behind the L-Sportline mesh grill??

What do you think?

Jonny

 

I'd be willing to bet you will get more replies that say "show it" but I'm in the camp of hiding it.
I prefer the sleeper look. If I'm sitting at a light, I always check out what's comming up behind me.
An intercooler on a GS is a dead giveaway that you're packing a punch and tips off the other driver what to expect. On my GS430 with the 3.76lsd, I basically look like a GS3 from the front (clear fogs ) and the rear has the Aristo badge in place of the GS430 badge. I have taken out one GS400, several GS300's a few G35's and a couple of BMW 330's all of whom thought I did not have a v-8 under the hood until they heard the sound from my rmm exhaust under wot as I jumped off the line ahead of them.

 

J - you could also do what I did with mine... replace the mesh with something a little less see-through (of course this will also allow slightly less air in but not a noticible issue with mine).

I had the new mesh powdercoated with black chrome color so that blends in even more. You really only notice the intercooler from certain angles, and from others you don't notice it at all.

 

Show it off Jonny, Unless you are in Cali. Those guys have to hide the mods. Cali cops even have a training video (see car chat forum) on what to look for to determine if a car is modified

 

Or you can get your intercooler black anodized or soemthing. Some people paint them here in cali. Currently mine is being blocked by my license plate (i need to do something about that)

 

Dave - do you have any pictures of it?? I am working on something - just don't know how it will look yet

Jonny

 

if you don't want anyone to know about being FI'd, then you could just use side mount intercoolers, like the stock aristo. Not as efficient for cooling but it will do the job. I am not for all the show glitz as well, but since I have an intercooler I want it to have as much access to free air for cooling as possible. Just don't polish the end tanks and don't chrome your piping if you don't want to be noticed as quickly. Either way, if someone is looking, you will be found.

 

Let it sleep. See too many Smiling face Honda with intercoolers showing. Let em see the taillights instead. It's still a Lexus !

 

about painting the intercooler. It was Radiator Paint that was used. Doesnt really affect the cooling at all.

 

Are you serious? Show that thing man. With all the mods on your car, kit, wheels, exhaust and that loud whistle sound I doubt anyone would be surprised. The L-sportline front's openng for the intercooler isn't that huge anyway, so you can still keep a classy look while showing the teeth of your work. I look at it like this. People who are in the know or even not , people overall will look at your car like Wow thats a real nice car and man it moves but if they see the teeth showing its more of a head turner cus they will turn to look every single time to see and hear you go by. Basically its not really a sleeper to me when you have all those mods on your car. A sleeper is a stock car with mayb light smaller wheels growling by. Show it dude...

 

Sorry J, had a post open to this yesterday and guess I didn't hit submit


I ended up getting some mesh at a place (off top of my head) called McNichols who sells metal sheeting, and other metal products. They've got a warehouse in Charlotte and I was able to just pick it up.

These pictures are where I replaced the mesh in the rear l-sportline bumper (best pics of mesh I have).

This is the mesh I got from them and had my bodyshop cut it to fit.


You can see a bit more of it here (powdercoated black chrome)


Couple pics shows how it lightly obsures



Straight on you see the IC just fine

 

Thank you everyone for your input and thanks you Dave for the pics you posted. I will finish up my little project and post a picture of it and then we can start a new poll

Thanks again guys,
jonny

 

I have mine hidden, just because I like the "cleaner" look. Now I have my second reason, its a good one.

 

hmm part of me says show it off, part me of me says hide it.. but... i guess show it off!!! it'll add to the appearance of your car and give it that "don't F with me" persona haha

 

I totally agree with DASHOCKER. Sleepers are best here in Cali, where the cops run rampant and so do Civics and Integras that always think theyre fast n all.