Frequently
Asked Questions
These
are some of the most frequently asked questions about information on this
website.
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What if
I already own an intercooler from a '87 or '88 thunderbird turbocoupe?
Can I get some kind of discount?
I have always planned of offering a kind of core charge credit for
anyone
who has already obtained a Turbocoupe intercooler. I am planning
on
offering a credit of $100. This is a difficult figure to come
up with since
I bought one from a junkyard for $40 (since the guy thought that it
was a
heater core and I could explain to him what an intercooler is,) but
I have
also paid as much as $125 for one. It doesn't seem too tough to get
one for
about $100, so this is the price that I arrived at.
Do you have any figures
for the horsepower gains or inlet/outlet temps?
No, I have been unable to get any hard numbers yet. There are
a couple of reasons for this. I used to have an intercooler temperature
in and out gauge fitted long ago, but I have lost one of the thermisters
and cannot find a
replacement for it. (Actually almost nobody knows what a thermister
is, but
it is some kind of fast responding thermocouple, the company that made
the guage is no longer in business. It was called Auto Avionics)
I had a great chance at offering my kit to be dynotested on a mustang SVO
that Jim Whelan with Motion Dynamics was going to be testing. After
coordinating with him for more than two months, I ended up going up to
Ft. Worth Texas to buy a Merkur a couple of weeks ago. This turned
out to be the weekend that he finally did his dyno test and I missed his
call. I plan on doing this test the next chance that I get, and I will
publish any numbers, good or bad.
IS the kit complete?
What about written instructions?
This kit is complete. It has more than 35 pieces and
includes the bolts, gaskets, hose clamps, adapters, etc... everything.
The instructions are quite detailed with some photos showing the installation
of the more complicated portions of the system.
How long will it take
to install?
For someone who is familiar with hand tools, this installation
will probably be one of the easiest bolt on modifications that you will
do. The toughest part will be rotating the turbocharger housing to
fit the intercooler. This is actually very easy. You will
loosen the
six bolts on the compressor (cold) side of your turbo. Then the
turbo
will rotate about 60 degrees. You will just rotate it till the
intercooler fits perfectly. Then tighten them up. All of the
rest is no tougher than hose clamps and screws. I will time it when
I install mine, but I am betting 4 hours if you go very very slowly and
carefully.
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What if I have an
'89 XR4Ti? The biggest difference will be the coolant
reservoir. My bottle is a coolant bottle for the 89 Merkur which
costs me right at $60. I will deduct $30 and provide an earlier model
coolant bottle (in this case used) or I can deduct the $60 and you provide
the bottle.
I saw an Eagle Vision
and a BMW in the photos. Why are you fooling around with a Merkur?
If you don't know the answer to this question, then this
car is not for you.
Where are you located
and who are you? I am a mechanical engineer and Merkur
enthusiast. I live in Sugar Land TX and I work in the refinery/petrochem
design business.
When will the systems
be available and what forms of payment do you accept?
I have the systems currently ready to ship. I am currently accepting
orders. At this time I do not have a credit card option available.
Please contact me by e-mail if you are interested in purchasing the AWIC
system.
Will you be at Carlisle in June of 1999?
I will be at Carlisle, but I will be flying in. Regretfully, I will
not have the time to drive my Merkur and the projectmobile will not be
ready by then. However, some of the first purchasers of this system
are planning on attending Carlisle, so an example should be visible at
the show.
While this system
is a for profit venture, rest assured that all proceeds will be plowed
into the projectmobile. Click
here to see it.
Please enjoy your
visit to merkurXR4TI.com
Thank you,
Richard Thompson
(281) 545-1199
