Garrett vs Vibrant intercooler
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
Garrett vs Vibrant intercooler Looking for real world experience with both, I'll take opinions too. Cores will be 24x12x3 (vibrant)$299 or 24x10x4.5 (Garrett) $520. Engine is a 5.3 with twin 5862's and will able to run on pump/ pump+meth/ or ethanol. Road race /auto x /street car. 15lbs of boost max. Thanks in advance
Last edited by Bearden4242; Jun 29, 2018 at 11:02 AM. Reason: Typo
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
That's the kind of input I was looking for. Thank you. I understand that Garrett coolers are in a league of their own but with the alcohol cooling of the charge is it as big of a deal. Those are core prices without end tanks. Both are dimension of two coolers welded togather. I agree on the Garrett price.
Last edited by Bearden4242; Jun 29, 2018 at 12:06 PM. Reason: Typo
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
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Depends on the efficiency map of the turbo, I guess. But the Garrett will keep temps close to ambient without meth if properly sized for the application. The added benefit of the meth is further charge cooling and more octane. So you can run more timing. And timing is power. It also reduces EGT temps. So, there's no real downside to a cooler charge temp. It's a relatively cheap upgrade in the grand scheme of a build with some real benefits.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
Thank you Jake fusion, I'm leaning toward the the Garrett, but wanted to get some opinions/thoughts of others. I found a thread in a ford fusion forum where a dude ran a test on both cores in similar size and harvested some interesting data from it. Slightly higher post cooler temps with the Garrett but relatively 0 pressure loss and was there for able to run less boost. Garrett core 0-60 and 0-100 were consistently .2-.3 tenths faster than the vibrant.
I'll provide the link for anyone interested
http://www.fusionsportforums.com/forum/377-engine-technical-discussion/13465-garrett-vs-vibrant-intercooler-core.html#/topics/13465
I'll provide the link for anyone interested
http://www.fusionsportforums.com/forum/377-engine-technical-discussion/13465-garrett-vs-vibrant-intercooler-core.html#/topics/13465
Interesting stuff. The Garrett doesn't have nearly the pressure drop a lot of the cheaper intercoolers have. So not only is it denser in fin count when you look at it, it's not hurting flow.
And I just read what I posted earlier. The reduction to EGT temps is a result of additional timing.
And I just read what I posted earlier. The reduction to EGT temps is a result of additional timing.
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 59
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Hmmm lower exhaust temps from more timing? I dont doubt you but ignition before tdc makes me think of higher cylinder pressure/heat... but I'm all for lower egt's
Last edited by Bearden4242; Jun 29, 2018 at 05:25 PM. Reason: Typo
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I had one made with a 12x24x4.5 Garrett core by Goertz. Truly a beautiful piece. LJMS makes one as well with the same core. I took James the one that came with my Huron kit a Garrett core plus he added the bosses in the same place so it would mount easy. It’s an inch per side wider if I remember right so it will work better.
He makes them with vibrant and bell cores. There is a company in San Antonio NCC I believe that makes great stuff with bell cores. I went all out on mine because good bad ugly or wonderful. This combo is done after this round. If it makes 700 or 850 once it’s dialed in. That’s it, so I decided not to be wondering about if I had gone vibrant if x or bell if y. Spent enough to squelch any a2w temptation either!
Honestly if you can swing it now, buy the one from LJMS and cry until it shows up. James was semi local to me or I would have done that no doubt.
He makes them with vibrant and bell cores. There is a company in San Antonio NCC I believe that makes great stuff with bell cores. I went all out on mine because good bad ugly or wonderful. This combo is done after this round. If it makes 700 or 850 once it’s dialed in. That’s it, so I decided not to be wondering about if I had gone vibrant if x or bell if y. Spent enough to squelch any a2w temptation either!
Honestly if you can swing it now, buy the one from LJMS and cry until it shows up. James was semi local to me or I would have done that no doubt.
Last edited by 007FJ; Jun 29, 2018 at 06:53 PM.
Some others are One Guys Garage, Shearer, and Chiseled Performance... they use Garrett.
OGG and Shearer make F-Body specific ones that bolt in. I think Shearer has a 3" Garrett core he welds together to make a 6" monster behemoth.
NCC in SA... my fabricator learned under him. NCC makes good stuff, too. And they use Bell cores.
One thing Shearer told me a while back... Bell is like right there with Garrett but you need about 10-15% more core to equal the same thermal efficiency. So the 6" Bell is about as good as the 4.5" Garrett. At that point, the Bell is heavier and more expensive.
OGG and Shearer make F-Body specific ones that bolt in. I think Shearer has a 3" Garrett core he welds together to make a 6" monster behemoth.
NCC in SA... my fabricator learned under him. NCC makes good stuff, too. And they use Bell cores.
One thing Shearer told me a while back... Bell is like right there with Garrett but you need about 10-15% more core to equal the same thermal efficiency. So the 6" Bell is about as good as the 4.5" Garrett. At that point, the Bell is heavier and more expensive.
James goertz racing mostly on Facebook now due to so many people leaving the good forums. I really hate the book of nosy and spying but all of my hobbies non gun related have diminished drastically as people go to nosy book. I monitor and search it through an account my daughter made for the wife but it really is sad to see the bs on FB. Thankfully the forced induction section on here is alive and well
They are the most conservative according to the reading I did on yellow bullet per shearer and chiseled. That bell mention earlier in the thread is quoted pretty much from there. That is not to say that a bell or vibrant won’t make you happy. I went from 4.5 twins to a Cx type fmic and decided I was going all the way with the turbo conversion within reason of course. I have a brand new one from Huron that came with my kit even but decided I would sell it and not even try it with the new setup.
Chiseled actually has better pricing on the Bell and Garrett stuff from what I've seen.
And yes, if you thought advice was on the forums was terrible in response to stupid, repetitive questions, allow me to introduce you to the book of face...
And yes, if you thought advice was on the forums was terrible in response to stupid, repetitive questions, allow me to introduce you to the book of face...