Want to upgrade ESS regular intercooler

[SnowFox]

Hey all,

So when I ordered my kit I thought I selected the larger IC. But after constantly messing about with option before placing the order I mistakenly didn't order it. At the time it was no big deal, not like I paid for it so I installed the standard and it works fine. However

This winter I wanted to upgrade it. But at the moment I can't spend spend the $1,000 for the actual ESS brand. Does anybody know of any alternatives for a easier price (I can mig weld)

I know cheaping out is frowned upon here lol but..
I'm trying to save a few dollars. A large 130 foot tree recently fell on a house we rent out in Minnesota this summer(the tenants where away thankfully) and cash has been blowing away like dust for repairs and upgrades So yeah I'm trying to save a few bucks where I can.

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[80FoxCoupe]

Hey all,

So when I ordered my kit I thought I selected the larger IC. But after constantly messing about with option before placing the order I mistakenly didn't order it. At the time it was no big deal, not like I paid for it so I installed the standard and it works fine. However

This winter I wanted to upgrade it. But at the moment I can't spend spend the $1,000 for the actual ESS brand. Does anybody know of any alternatives for a easier price (I can mig weld)

I know cheaping out is frowned upon here lol but..
I'm trying to save a few dollars. A large 130 foot tree recently fell on a house we rent out in Minnesota this summer(the tenants where away thankfully) and cash has been blowing away like dust for repairs and upgrades So yeah I'm trying to save a few bucks where I can.

Check out Treadstone units. Bound to be something you can use.

 

[Pistol_91]

I personally wouldn't mig weld an intercooler.

 

[80FoxCoupe]

I personally wouldn't mig weld an intercooler.

You can with a spool gun. But maybe OP was talking about making brackets to mount the new intercooler. And of course making some hard pipe to replace all that cheap silicone hose that come with ess kits.

 

[Brevin]

Hey all,

So when I ordered my kit I thought I selected the larger IC. But after constantly messing about with option before placing the order I mistakenly didn't order it. At the time it was no big deal, not like I paid for it so I installed the standard and it works fine. However

This winter I wanted to upgrade it. But at the moment I can't spend spend the $1,000 for the actual ESS brand. Does anybody know of any alternatives for a easier price (I can mig weld)

I know cheaping out is frowned upon here lol but..
I'm trying to save a few dollars. A large 130 foot tree recently fell on a house we rent out in Minnesota this summer(the tenants where away thankfully) and cash has been blowing away like dust for repairs and upgrades So yeah I'm trying to save a few bucks where I can.

Shoot me a PM and I’ll see if I can help a bit with the ESS IC upgrade. Please don’t listen to anyone that tells you to change the hoses etc.. the best way to go about it is get the ESS intercooler upgrade so you can keep your hoses and brackets and it will all fit like OEM. This is probably still the most cost effective option all said and done.

 

[Pistol_91]

You can with a spool gun. But maybe OP was talking about making brackets to mount the new intercooler. And of course making some hard pipe to replace all that cheap silicone hose that come with ess kits.

I still wouldn't mig weld aluminum piping. Just me personally. It can become a PITA. The silicone hoses that come with the kit are pretty stout.

 

[80FoxCoupe]

I still wouldn't mig weld aluminum piping. Just me personally. It can become a PITA. The silicone hoses that come with the kit are pretty stout.

Nobody would mig aluminum tubing unless they had to. But you could with a spool gun and argon. Normally you would tig aluminum tubing, which is superior to silicone hose.

 

[Wolfys11]

Nobody would mig aluminum tubing unless they had to. But you could with a spool gun and argon. Normally you would tig aluminum tubing, which is superior to silicone hose.

I better not see a single inch of silicone coupling or hose in your intake tract, bro is always hating on the ess silicone

 

[80FoxCoupe]

I better not see a single inch of silicone coupling or hose in your intake tract, bro is always hating on the ess silicone

Couplings is one thing and is necessary 99% of the time. Silicone from blower to throttle body is a cost cutting measure. And that's fine but don't try to sell it as it's better than hard piping. Because it's not. Just call it what it is.

 

[Brevin]

Couplings is one thing and is necessary 99% of the time. Silicone from blower to throttle body is a cost cutting measure. And that's fine but don't try to sell it as it's better than hard piping. Because it's not. Just call it what it is.

You can v-band the entire charge path. Silicone joiners are cost cutting and lazy if you apply your own logic.

100% false, the silicone when custom molded and using high quality 5ply silicone is more expensive than standard hard piping and silicone joints. ESS makes many different kits for many different vehicles and both hard piping and silicone is used depending on application. I know the cost of manufacturing of each.

Incorrect again, not a cost cutting measure, again it would have been cheaper to make a few hard pipes and couple them together. All options were explored during kit development. Very early pre-production kits had hard piping and joiners.

Don’t tell me you know better when you didn’t work in the manufacturing process of the very kit in question. I am a direct source on the matter and you are a random forum member making assumptions from your couch. Conversation over.

 

[80FoxCoupe]

You can v-band the entire charge path. Silicone joiners are cost cutting and lazy if you apply your own logic.

100% false, the silicone when custom molded and using high quality 5ply silicone is more expensive than standard hard piping and silicone joints. ESS makes many different kits for many different vehicles and both hard piping and silicone is used depending on application. I know the cost of manufacturing of each.

Incorrect again, not a cost cutting measure, again it would have been cheaper to make a few hard pipes and couple them together. All options were explored during kit development. Very early pre-production kits had hard piping and joiners.

Don’t tell me you know better when you didn’t work in the manufacturing process of the very kit in question. I am a direct source on the matter and you are a random forum member making assumptions from your couch. Conversation over.

You guys can justify anything LOL. Get some hard pipes on those kits to bump up the quality! I'm sure owners would appreciate billet brackets vs the cast ones that are now used. But I remember you were saying the cast was better than billet so then there is that.

Bottom line, cost cutting measures.... And again that's fine. But don't say it's the best when the parts show otherwise. Fact.

 

[cbrtrx]

You guys can justify anything LOL. Get some hard pipes on those kits to bump up the quality! I'm sure owners would appreciate billet brackets vs the cast ones that are now used. But I remember you were saying the cast was better than billet so then there is that.

Bottom line, cost cutting measures.... And again that's fine. But don't say it's the best when the parts show otherwise. Fact.

Listen don't get Barney upset! He's sensitive like many other ESS owners. Conversation is over! Hahahaha.

 

[Wolfys11]

You guys can justify anything LOL. Get some hard pipes on those kits to bump up the quality! I'm sure owners would appreciate billet brackets vs the cast ones that are now used. But I remember you were saying the cast was better than billet so then there is that.

Bottom line, cost cutting measures.... And again that's fine. But don't say it's the best when the parts show otherwise. Fact.

Cast is better. Billet was like 6 pieces which can have alignment issues and have way more parts, as well as more complicated to put together. No need for a 50000 lb rating on a bracket to hold a pully, a high pressure cast one is absolutely more than enough. Or should we say no cast parts on ur motor, so billet block in your build? crazy how you want the entire kit to be made of the best materials for no justification other than it is better made, even if silicone is already overkill for 20psi max

 

[80FoxCoupe]

Cast is better. Billet was like 6 pieces which can have alignment issues and have way more parts, as well as more complicated to put together. No need for a 50000 lb rating on a bracket to hold a pully, a high pressure cast one is absolutely more than enough. Or should we say no cast parts on ur motor, so billet block in your build? crazy how you want the entire kit to be made of the best materials for no justification other than it is better made, even if silicone is already overkill for 20psi max

It's a budget kit, we can all see that. The parts are just enough to support its design as you mentioned. No need to ask about my build as it has nothing to do with acknowledging the budget pieces that make up the budget kit. Again, I'm ok with it. But it seems like some are not ok with it. Just let it be what it is, a budget kit. Isn't that were they positioned themselves?

Once more, I'm ok with it being a budget kit. I think that's great.

 

[vaeevictiss]

i know its a little bit of a necro but i was curious if anyone came across anyone that sells or can make some custom piping.

I mainly want to replace the silicone tube that runs from the MAF tube to the throttle body. Ive seen a couple builds floating around the web with this and really like how it looks. I hate how the one that comes with the kit has a funky bend in it, almost like a kink. ESS says its fine, and in their defense, it may be and may have no negligible affect on performance, but it does look shitty.

I also don't get how they can call it a budget kit but use silicone if that supposedly costs so much more. I love the kit, it runs great. but improvements could definately be made.

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