Intercooler

[JohnShead]

I'm still working on getting this project done: https://www.thetruckstop.us/forum/threads/new-optimizer-long-block.52433/ Chris said it would be a while and this old thing is more of a hobby for me now than something I need. So while I wait I've been researching some of the other mods I want to do and one is an intercooler. I found this 10 year old thread: https://www.thetruckstop.us/forum/threads/installing-an-affordable-intercooler.43523/ Of course all the links to ebay for parts are dead now so I'm trying to find alternatives, I found an intercooler with the same dimensions as the one in the thread but I don't know what the "installation kit" mentioned in the thread looked like so I'm wondering if it was something like this:


Does anyone know if this kit will work?

 

[MrMarty51]

That looks like some nice stuff.
Probably be enough bends and elbows to make it fit about any year make or model of a wehicle.

 

[Twisted Steel Performance]

Yes the pics are gone but all the parts are still on eBay...

DIY Charge Air Cooler under 400.00$ for all GMT400 trucks & subs

This is a DIY for a charge air cooler install for less than 400.00$ for the GMT400 body style with a Holset turbo, other turbos will be very close to this, slight changes at the turbo may be needed and at the intake depending on what upper intake you use. This will show the install using the...

www.thetruckstop.us

 

[JohnShead]

Hey @bowtiebutler956 if you're still around, does the pipe kit I have pictured above look like the one you used? It seems like there should be enough in there to make it work. What do you think from your experience with this?

 

[Will L.]

For your piping, check this out

Custom build headers

A few of us have made headers at some point. Incredible tedious. Time to look at the lowest cost kit how to make everything fit I have seen yet. Also would work for custom exhaust if they have the sizes available… https://www.centurialinc.com/exhaust-tech/starter-kit

www.thetruckstop.us

 

[Twisted Steel Performance]

Hey @bowtiebutler956 if you're still around, does the pipe kit I have pictured above look like the one you used? It seems like there should be enough in there to make it work. What do you think from your experience with this?

You won't need the 2 - 180's but the rest looks right...

 

[JayTheCPA]

The best path to cooler intake temperature is making sure the intake is actually sucking cooler air.

I installed a K47 box which was Ok, but one of the shop mechanics lost the little piece which connected the box-to-fender gap and the box sucked in air from the engine bay. When I towed and needed WOT, the intake air quickly went to 200*F (probably hotter as the temperature stopped at 200 and I suspected that this was a limitation of the sending unit) and remain confident that air from the bay right next to the turbo was a major contributor to the high temperatures as even at lower power the air was nowhere near ambient.

Point is, before going through the effort of rigging an intercooler to fit, first focus on the source of air. Once the intake is actually pulling air from outside and not the bay, then make a decision of whether an intercooler is worth the trade-off of lag from additional plumbing.

 

[JohnShead]

The best path to cooler intake temperature is making sure the intake is actually sucking cooler air.

I installed a K47 box which was Ok, but one of the shop mechanics lost the little piece which connected the box-to-fender gap and the box sucked in air from the engine bay. When I towed and needed WOT, the intake air quickly went to 200*F (probably hotter as the temperature stopped at 200 and I suspected that this was a limitation of the sending unit) and remain confident that air from the bay right next to the turbo was a major contributor to the high temperatures as even at lower power the air was nowhere near ambient.

Point is, before going through the effort of rigging an intercooler to fit, first focus on the source of air. Once the intake is actually pulling air from outside and not the bay, then make a decision of whether an intercooler is worth the trade-off of lag from additional plumbing.

I plan on doing a battery relocation so I can get the air from behind the headlight. I do also need a better air filter box, mine just has a partition between the filter and the hot turbo and is open at the top, it sort of seals with the hood blanket but not all the way around.

 

[JayTheCPA]

All it takes is a small enough opening to suck in lots of hot air.

Have seen a mod that moved the passenger side battery and pulled air from that location. Remain unconvinced that without a sealed box that only pulls air from the front side of the member, that it is anything but a warm / hot air solution not much different than the current setup.

Sure, we can throw parts into the bay and cut holes for an intercooler just to do it. Although the best bet is to start pulling only cool air and then see what the IAT sender reads.