The big Intercooler thread.

[markayash]

I’m coming from the 5.0/5.2 side but wanted to ask a question and hope I don’t get flamed. Ir is difficult to wade through 75 pages of discussion so hopefully there’s a consensus on which ICs are preferred and which ones to avoid? I never ask ”what’s the best” because it’s so subjective.

if there’s a better thread for this answer I haven’t found i yet so I appreciate any links to such info.

My personal opinion is unless your racing look at the cv fab street intercooler.

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[markayash]

My personal opinion is unless your racing look at the cv fab street intercooler.

When I just had the Cobb stage 1 is was very inconsistent, one day feel like a factory stock showdown car ( I wish ) and another day feel like my old Civic..Finally figured out it was getting heat soaked just normal driving and the CV FAB street fixed that.
I am now running a cobb stage 2 91 tune and love the way it drives. I rarely go wide open more then 5 seconds but like how it will respond and go if needed.

 

[ihasnostang]

I’m coming from the 5.0/5.2 side but wanted to ask a question and hope I don’t get flamed. It is difficult to wade through 75 pages of discussion so hopefully there’s a consensus on which ICs are preferred and which ones to avoid? I never ask ”what’s the best” because it’s so subjective.

if there’s a better thread for this answer I haven’t found i yet so I appreciate any links to such info.

Edit: I suppose I should state that I’m not looking to do a monster build or anything like that. Just good streetable upgrades that give better boost response and power increase.

are you trying to take a drop in IC for an ecoboost and make it work on a v8?

 

[Buldawg76]

@Evolvd
You show a GT500 in your profile, this thread is dealing with the ICs for ecoboosts/turbo vehicles.

So as @ihasnostang stated are you trying to use a turbo IC on your GT500 or do you also have an ecoboost as well.

For street/daily drivers the CVFab street is well built and plenty efficient at keeping the charge temps under control. If tracking, then the race IC from CVFab is what you want.

BD

 

[Evolvd]

are you trying to take a drop in IC for an ecoboost and make it work on a v8?

@Evolvd
You show a GT500 in your profile, this thread is dealing with the ICs for ecoboosts/turbo vehicles.

So as @ihasnostang stated are you trying to use a turbo IC on your GT500 or do you also have an ecoboost as well.

For street/daily drivers the CVFab street is well built and plenty efficient at keeping the charge temps under control. If tracking, then the race IC from CVFab is what you want.

BD

I’m picking up a 2017 EB vert next week as a daily. Sorry for not clarifying that earlier.

 

[TeeLew]

I’m coming from the 5.0/5.2 side but wanted to ask a question and hope I don’t get flamed. It is difficult to wade through 75 pages of discussion so hopefully there’s a consensus on which ICs are preferred and which ones to avoid? I never ask ”what’s the best” because it’s so subjective.

if there’s a better thread for this answer I haven’t found i yet so I appreciate any links to such info.

Edit: I suppose I should state that I’m not looking to do a monster build or anything like that. Just good streetable upgrades that give better boost response and power increase.

We're a bit more inviting than the other way around.

You'll end up sizing the intercooler based on the power rating of the engine. There are 2 basic versions of the Eco intercooler. There's a version that sits in the stock location and a version that is quite a bit bigger and covers a lot of the radiator area. My guess is that you'll want that one.

CV Fabrication has inexpensive, but well built intercoolers. The "Race" version is the big one. The down side of these is that the ends are cast AL and relatively heavy. If you wanted to reduce weight, then you have to get a sheet metal fabricated intercooler, and those get pricey.

Vortec makes a air/water intercooler that might be an option as well.

 

[Evolvd]

We're a bit more inviting than the other way around.

You'll end up sizing the intercooler based on the power rating of the engine. There are 2 basic versions of the Eco intercooler. There's a version that sits in the stock location and a version that is quite a bit bigger and covers a lot of the radiator area. My guess is that you'll want that one.

CV Fabrication has inexpensive, but well built intercoolers. The "Race" version is the big one. The down side of these is that the ends are cast AL and relatively heavy. If you wanted to reduce weight, then you have to get a sheet metal fabricated intercooler, and those get pricey.

Vortec makes a air/water intercooler that might be an option as well.

I appreciate the input. I’m just looking to do a mild upgrade. Turbo will remain stock so an IC, piping, turbo back exhaust, and a tune will most likely be as far as I go for engine mods. This will be a daily for me until my daughter is old enough to drive so I just want to give it a little more pep without going full build.

Are the CV piping options good as well? And forgive my ignorance but is the 2.3 MAF or MAP based? Any issues with VTA BOVs?

 

[TeeLew]

I appreciate the input. I’m just looking to do a mild upgrade. Turbo will remain stock so an IC, piping, turbo back exhaust, and a tune will most likely be as far as I go for engine mods. This will be a daily for me until my daughter is old enough to drive so I just want to give it a little more pep without going full build.

Are the CV piping options good as well? And forgive my ignorance but is the 2.3 MAF or MAP based? Any issues with VTA BOVs?

I thought it was for a V8, so disregard what I wrote. CV Fab street version for daily if you don't need to be CARB compliant. Garrett if you need the CARB sticker. They're very similar, but the Garrett is a little fancier and twice the cost.

 

[Evolvd]

I thought it was for a V8, so disregard what I wrote. CV Fab street version for daily if you don't need to be CARB compliant. Garrett if you need the CARB sticker. They're very similar, but the Garrett is a little fancier and twice the cost.

Thanks, I’m in Florida so no emissions here. But I’m also not gonna go catless either lol.

 

[markayash]

My understand from research is the Street version fits the factory charge pipes great. Only suggestion is get new clamps or remove the clips that keep it from moving. They made it a pain to position.
I think the Race version needs a adapter or new charge pipes.

If you want to make it a little more fun for her can also get a Cobb Accessport, the built in stage 1 and 2 tunes make a BIG differences in drivability . Can get then used here sometimes but I found a " open box" on American muscle for $350. They also are good for troubleshooting.
Only downside is you need 91 or 93 octane.

My car with the IC and stage 2 tune is a blast to drive and my last road trip driving 80 to 85 got 29.5 MPG.

 

[Evolvd]

My understand from research is the Street version fits the factory charge pipes great. Only suggestion is get new clamps or remove the clips that keep it from moving. They made it a pain to position.
I think the Race version needs a adapter or new charge pipes.

If you want to make it a little more fun for her can also get a Cobb Accessport, the built in stage 1 and 2 tunes make a BIG differences in drivability . Can get then used here sometimes but I found a " open box" on American muscle for $350. They also are good for troubleshooting.
Only downside is you need 91 or 93 octane.

My car with the IC and stage 2 tune is a blast to drive and my last road trip driving 80 to 85 got 29.5 MPG.

That’s great info, thank you. I assume the Cobb tune adjusts the wastegate opening pressure for more boost which is why you need 91/93?

 

[markayash]

That’s great info, thank you. I assume the Cobb tune adjusts the wastegate opening pressure for more boost which is why you need 91/93?

I think it increases boost and a lot of things like spark advance. I went back to a stock tune wondering how much it really helped and didn't stay that way long. Car feels slow stock
I live in a busy area and may get full throttle for 3 seconds before i hit traffic so I am more interested in how it feels.

 

[TeeLew]

Thanks, I’m in Florida so no emissions here. But I’m also not gonna go catless either lol.

They make a nice catted down pipe, as well. I always run cats. It's just the sticker on the intercooler that matters. (As if an intercooler would hurt emissions.)

 

[TeeLew]

You've got the dough. Forget the Cobb tune and have Ryan Martin do one custom. He's the best answer, by far, that I'm aware of. I've ran his mapping since about 1200 miles on the car (+50k, now). It's better *everywhere* than stock. Even idle.

 

[markayash]

You've got the dough. Forget the Cobb tune and have Ryan Martin do one custom. He's the best answer, by far, that I'm aware of. I've ran his mapping since about 1200 miles on the car (+50k, now). It's better *everywhere* than stock. Even idle.

I debated getting a custom tune but buying a tuner like the Cobb and paying another $500 was too
Much for me.
Honestly the Cobb tunes are pretty nice.

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