Ok. Im going to give my accounts. Its not going to be popular, But it is what it is. Ive tested dozens of different intercoolers now.
Surface area to ambient is of the upmost importance. A thicker core is absolutely not better. It does increase flow and reduce pressure loss. But this is couteracted by further drag and transfer of heat, the further from direct ambient flow the less efficient "as you have qouted".
Mark,
have you done direct comparisons with say a 24x12x3 core vs a 24x12x4 core and measured air charge temps at inlet and outlet?
without measuring outlet temps this ^^^^ reads as a blanket statement.
Everything we do modifying cars has compromises. IMO run the largest core you can package successfully in the space you have with regard to intake piping, manifold etc as a whole package as Tapage has said.
for the sake of some very basic comparisons of dimensions (I know this is far from the whole picture)
a 24x12x3" core dimensions
volume =864cubic inches
frontal area =288sq inches
cross sectional area = 36sq inches
a 18x12x4" core dimensions
Volume = 864cubic inches
frontal area = 216sq inches
Cross sectional area = 48sq inches
the first should have more ambientair pass through it, the second has a larger cross sectional area for Intake charge air to pass through.
both have the same surface area along the length and width of the individual cores for heat transfer to occur.
If you compare a 24x12x3" core vs a 24x12x4" core, then you have almost 30% more surface are along the individual cores for heat transfer to occur.
I appreciate that as ambient air passes the the back of a 4" core, it will be hotter as it approaches the back of the core, but by the same token, as intake charge air approaches the outlet, it has had more opportunity to shed heat and is getting progressively cooler.
I find it hard to see there would be no benefit from running a thicker core. It would be interesting to see some real data on which is most effective.
No doubt there is +ve and -ve with both.