Local scrap yard has a BIG bar and plate intercooler, probably 4" core and 24" x 36". It's tweaked very little and the tanks are cracked where the mounting bolts were. I imagine it was in a wreck, but still very useable with minimal welding. I know it wouldn't fit where the stocker is. Would it be bad to mount it all the way up front? Worth the hassle if I could pick it up cheap?

 

I would not waste my time trying to make it fit. Your stock intercooler is capable of making big power.

 

Your stock cooler is only effective up to about 350hp. You can never have too much intercooler, and a upgrade is never a bad idea.

I'd personally bite the bullet and install a Spearco or Cool Twist. You can do much better than stock.

 

Your saying you can only 350hp out of a stock intercooler.

 

Is it a bad idea to mount the intercooler in front of everything else?

 

yeah i'm with mih there are a lot of guys way over that on a stock intercooler i'm about to go to about 450-500 hp on mine

 

I have seen more than that on stock intercooler alogn with high boost numbers also.

 

I was dynoing over 500hp on my 02 with a stock intercooler. I could hit 90psi boost on a hard run. I had an air temp probe mounted in the aluminum intake tube and on a hard run down the road the intercooler was cooling the intake air, when hooked to a sled or on a dyno where there was no air flow it didn't do much.

 

HOHN is one of the smarter members on here (IMO). What he is say is the stocker is not as good as cooling at higher HP than an afermarket. He knows how much power has been made with the stocker, BUT he don't need me talking for him.

 

bueler? bueler?

 

GFB I say if it is not cracked or leaking air, leave it a lone. Lots of people are at 500+ hp on the stock intercoolers. Just because someone has a lot of posts under there belt doesn’t mean they know every thing......... Just my opinion.

 

I wouldn't change it out either, I'm just say that Hohn has his reasones why he posted what he did. he will come on here and post a 3 paragraph essay on the subject, with graphs, charts, and data to back it up. But in the end, he's runnin a stocker also.

 

I made 638hp with the stock intercooler. However, I will say that one size doesn't fit all in this case. It alot depends on how you use your truck to say if it's worth it or not. For me drag racing does a aftermarket intercooler help alot? No. If you tow heavy, would it? I would say yes.

Having said that...The stock intercoolers do have a tendency to develop leaks at high boost. Of course what do you expect when you run 70psi of boost on something that was designed to handle 20?

Paul

 

Yep. Seen it many times. I don't argue with Justin Hohn.

 

There's gotta be a point of diminishing returns though. These trucks rely on compressing the diesel to fire. Warmer air makes it easier to ignite the fuel, but at what point is warm air too warm?

Not saying anyone is right or wrong, and I think we all know larger intercooler's are generally better. Often they have less pressure drop, better cooling capabilities, etc..but what's the ideal temperature of the air going in the motor?