New intercooler for my vortech
02-18-2008, 09:56 PM
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New intercooler for my vortech
Was tired of the small and whimpy looking intercooler that the Vortech kit comes with...so I upgraded it to this beast...
It's 31" x 12" x 4"
And since installing it, I have had no pressure drop at all. It actually went up from 11 to around 13 at redline. I'm assuming the increase is due to the cold weather in Pa right now. Hopefully though it'll do its job right and come the hot summer time I'll stay around 11psi at all times...we'll see...
It's 31" x 12" x 4"
And since installing it, I have had no pressure drop at all. It actually went up from 11 to around 13 at redline. I'm assuming the increase is due to the cold weather in Pa right now. Hopefully though it'll do its job right and come the hot summer time I'll stay around 11psi at all times...we'll see...
02-19-2008, 03:22 AM
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Very nice, but I don't think that core is 31" wide (core measurement doesnt include the end tanks). Mine is a 28" wide intercooler core and looks much wider. I'd guess it's more like 21-23" wide as it looks about the same as the Turbonetics ST kit core.
Either way, it still looks a lot bigger and better than the normal Vortech intercooler, and I'm sure it's nice and efficient.
The reason your boost pressure went up is because it's a tube and fin type intercooler as opposed to a bar and plate type intercooler. Tube and fin usually have less pressure drop but a bar and plate intercooler is more efficient at cooling the intake charge.
Either way, it still looks a lot bigger and better than the normal Vortech intercooler, and I'm sure it's nice and efficient.
The reason your boost pressure went up is because it's a tube and fin type intercooler as opposed to a bar and plate type intercooler. Tube and fin usually have less pressure drop but a bar and plate intercooler is more efficient at cooling the intake charge.
02-19-2008, 06:26 AM
#5
^^ how can you tell from the pic that its a tube and fin and not bar and plate? Thought you had to look inside the inlet to tell the difference??
to the OP, did you have to get custom piping for it as well?
to the OP, did you have to get custom piping for it as well?
Last edited by str8dum1; 02-19-2008 at 06:30 AM.
02-19-2008, 06:31 AM
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I had to have the two pipes that run to the intercooler cut shorter and have a new lip rolled onto them, and the OEM brace is no longer there either. Taurran your right about the core length being a little shorter than 31 since that is including the endtanks, but your wrong about it being tube and fin. It is infact a bar and plate core.
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02-19-2008, 06:39 AM
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Originally Posted by jtgli
I had to have the two pipes that run to the intercooler cut shorter and have a new lip rolled onto them, and the OEM brace is no longer there either. Taurran your right about the core length being a little shorter than 31 since that is including the endtanks, but your wrong about it being tube and fin. It is infact a bar and plate core.
I actually assumed that it was tube/fin as it didn't appear to be a name brand core that I could identify. My bad. But, if you're getting less pressure drop with a different bar and plate style core then it may mean it is less dense.
02-19-2008, 07:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Cux350z
looks good. The stock vortech IC is tiny!
02-19-2008, 08:27 AM
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Thanks for the compliments guys. It deff looks alot meaner now. I'm hoping I can get to 460whp now with the addtion of a fuel return and headers along with this intercooler.
Last edited by jtgli; 02-19-2008 at 08:53 AM.
02-19-2008, 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by taurran
You're right. Every time I see one it looks weird as it's so narrow. The OP's new intercooler is a huge visual improvement.
Stock is a spearco, same one they use in the turbonetics kit? Or just a similar design. Mine IC came with a turbonetics sticker i believe.
02-19-2008, 01:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Cux350z
Stock is a spearco, same one they use in the turbonetics kit? Or just a similar design. Mine IC came with a turbonetics sticker i believe.
02-21-2008, 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by taurran
It's a Spearco Intercooler, but quite a bit narrower than the one included in the Turbonetics kit.
wonder if itd be worth upgrading to the Turbonetics one?
02-21-2008, 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Cux350z
wonder if itd be worth upgrading to the Turbonetics one?
I'd like to get the core dimensions of the vortech intercooler, then we could vaguely determine its max efficiency.
The turbonetics ST intercooler should flow for roughly 550whp on a single turbo Z.
Obviously if you just wanted something for looks, you could go with a large cheaper off brand intercooler although it may cool less efficient. Then agian, a tube/fin style intercooler might help if you're trying to squeeze higher boost pressure out of a centrifugal blower.