Looking to upgrade my intercooler...here are some of my performance mods..

Stage 3 BC Cams
ARP Head and Main Studs
BC Rods
.30 over JE Pistons
Vortech Supercharger
Vortech Supercharger Upgrade
Vortech 2.87 Pulley
ProEFI EMS
Snow Performance Methanol 75hp (Kicks in at 4psi boost)
ID 1050x Fuel Injectors
AAM Fuel Rails / Return System
Momentum Headers
Fluid Dampr Harmonic Balancer
Aeromotive Fuel Pressure Regulator
NOS Nitrous Intercooler sprayer
Aeromotove Fuel Pump
CJM Return Fuel Correction Kit
Injen True Dual Racetech Exhaust

I was last dyno'ed at 512hp and 480trq before the sc upgrade, methanol, sprayer and a few other little things so I'm not sure what I am at now BUT the shop said if I change the pulley and the intercooler I should be able to hit around 800hp. Might be a bit steep but I realized I am still running the Precision intercooler that is only rated at 350hp lol..so I am trying to research a good intercooler without going too big and killing my power instead.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Or even advice?

Thanks!

 

Math out how many cfm you need for the power you want and size the intercooler based on that. Any reputable manufacturer will have a cfm rating for their IC.

I don't know if you can fit it without chopping stuff out of the way but something like this monster might work out well.

https://www.treadstoneperformance.co...1000hp/p104562

I would first take some VERY accurate measurements to find out exactly what kind of room you have to work with, don't be afraid to call around to some manufacturers to ask for exact product recommendations. Treadstone will reply to inquiries, they have a phone number on their page as well as a contact form you can fill out. I've used both methods to get questions answered in the past. However, if you just ask "what's gonna fit on my car" they aren't going to take you seriously, gotta give them your maximum dimensions. I think that one I listed MIGHT fit.

The bigger question to ask is whether or not you're willing to sacrifice your crash bar in the front. Personally I would keep the crash bar unless this was a track-only vehicle.

Is your AC deleted? Didn't mention that in your build.

 

Also, if you are going to remove the factory crash bar to use something like what I listed you can always have a local shop fab you up a new tubular crash bar that will fit just so you have SOMETHING to protect the front. It might not have the strength of the factory bash bar but it's a lot better than nothing.

Also, I don't think 800whp is even possible with the Vortech kit, I think you'll find another 50-80whp but if you want more you're going to be moving into the turbo realm.

 

You don't think that would be too big? I seen some posts say too big will make you lose power but they were all based off turbo's and turbo lag. SC doesn't have that so I don't know.

I found a chart and it says I'd need 3.00" inlet/outlet for max hp of 840 with max cfm of 1260. I think that would be plenty? Or should I just try to fit like the one you were talking about?

Like I said I am just confused since those posts were about turbo's. Hard to find info on supercharger data.

I'd rather keep the crash bar for sure.

A/C is not deleted..I wanted to retain all factory options but go fast lol

I think I am just going to shoot you PM's from now on when I have a question since you're the only one who answers lol

 

Oh that's a good idea.

Yeah I just got off the phone with Vortech to see what the specs were since they upgraded it I wasn't really sure.

It's max speed is 52000RPM, Max Boost is 22psi (not to the engine, max is about 10psi with my mods), 1150CFM, Max Hp is 775, peak eff is 78%, Inlet 3.5, Outlet 2.75.

So I'd say your right and with a new intercooler I should be pretty close to that max anyway.

 

You hit the nail on the head with that intercooler. Been researching and that one seems to be the perfect one. I am about to go take some measurements and see how she will fit!

Thank you.

 

I have no clue if it will actually fit, I know it won't fit with the bash bar, with some mild trimming it MIGHT fit. I just guessed at the CFM flow of the Vortech and found an intercooler that was close.

The engine is just an air pump, the more air you can move through it the more fuel you can add, fuel = power. PSI of boost is sort of irrelevant, the volume (measured in cubic feet per minute = cfm) of air you can move through the engine is all that matters.

You can make the same POWER on less boost if you have a higher cfm of air flowing through the engine.

Not to say that boost is completely irrelevant, it is a rudementary way to guess how much power an engine will make if you know the psi, the engine, and the rpm. There's a LOT of variables that go into it though, I imagine your psi will probably stay the same since it's likely restricted right now anyways, but you'll make more power on the same psi due to increased flow.

There will be a tiny bit of lag on a bigger intercooler, it does take time to build pressure with a larger volume, but this will be offset by the lower IAT especially when you're running that compressor hard and it's getting a lot hotter, the heat soak should be significantly less but I don't know where your IAT is right now under load. You might look around for an intercooler just slightly smaller? Or you might not since you have meth injection so you can probably use the air.

If you have an increased redline like 7300+ or more I'd say yeah that's probably the flow you want for an intercooler, it's really going to breath at higher rpm.

You also mentioned you have the 2.87 pulley but the tuner recommended a smaller one? I think that's about as far as you want to push that vortech unit and any smaller pulley is going to severely overdrive the compressor.

You didn't specifically mention a plenum spacer or any intake work? Are you using a spacer?

 

Yeah I don't think it is going to fit without any modifications to the car but I'm for sure going to do it. Hopefully by next week I'll have one here.

While I was on the phone with Vortech I asked why most people say they are pushing 15psi with the 2.87 pulley and I am around 8-10..I cant remember. But he asked me all my engine mods and he explained that's why. I didn't know that..but glad I do now lol. Makes me feel better.

But yeah the guy at the tune shop kept telling me to run a smaller pulley and I kept telling him for 1 I think that is the smallest pulley..plus it's already not designed for it you have to shave it and on top of the I would be over exceeding the vortech RPM limit if there was a smaller pulley. So I'm not even looking in to any of that. Technically I was already over the Vortech RPM's with the 2.87 but now with the upgrade I'm safe again lol.

I actually do not have a plenum spacer. Should I get one? I had originally planned on it during the build and then I guess I just forgot all about it. Stock intake..I just polished it.

 

Plenum spacer changes the way the air flows through the plenum, even boosted it's an increase in power. More volume and smoother flow = more air into the combustion chamber = more potential power. People get hung up on the "more volume = less boost" and think that means less power, that's not how it works. It might not affect PEAK boost but gains in the middle are still gains, don't get hung up on only looking at peak whp.

Many people will say not to use it because it adds another gasket to potentially leak but at the boost level you're getting it's a non-issue as long as everything is properly torqued. If you were 20+ then yeah I would probably not use it but mostly because you would definitely be using a different plenum if you have that much invested into the motor.

However you should seriously consider going with an aftermarket plenum. There's some good options out there, i.e. not Kinetix plastic, they're spendy but you will see gains boosted. Look up comparison results from the Kinetix Velocity, the 6500rpm+ top end doesn't drop off like the stock+spacer setup does, definitely more top end than the stock plenum. However you're not going to have the midrange that Tony's MREV2+spacer combo puts out.

All depends on where you need/want the power.

 

Yeah I always thought that but anytime your around boosted owners it's always "How much boost you running?" and the crowd is always like holy ****..dudes running 30psi..he's gonna own everyone, you know what I mean? So you grow up around that and you just think MORE BOOST haha. When my car hit the dyno it was 512hp and 480trq..so the trq is staying pretty close. Then we did the meth, sc upgrade and what not so idk what it's at now. Meth kicks in at 4psi and is 75 shot.

I was researching the spacers all night yesterday. The Motordyne 5/16 has the best dyno sheets by far, specially on boost. So I will go with that probably. Maybe the Mrev.

The Kinetix I used to like, they're garbage though. Horrible reviews and dyno's. Everything I seen people actually lost power. Welds break etc.

I used to want the Cosworth. Tried getting one for the longest time, managed to find a couple on Craigslist but they were in Texas or too far and they wouldn't ship. So I gave up on that years ago.