Forced Induction Superchargers | Turbochargers | Intercoolers

Getting more air to my intercooler

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Old Jun 2, 2025 | 12:53 PM
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Default Getting more air to my intercooler

My Formula's front bumper completely encases my intercooler, which obviously isn't good for charge temps. I cut out the space behind my license plate cover, but I usually leave it on when cruising around so my intercooler doesn't get filled with bugs. I'd like to open up the area under my bumper somehow so air can flow upwards into the intercooler, but I'm not sure what would work best. I thought of just cutting some large round holes, but I don't think much air would flow into them. I don't want to ruin the structural integrity of the bumper, so if there was a way to insert a small scoop of some sort and rivet it to the bumper so it keeps it somewhat rigid, that would be ideal. I do NOT want to cut anywhere on the front of the bumper besides what I already did behind the license plate cover. If anyone has ever done anything to improve the air flow, I'd love to hear about it.
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Old Jun 2, 2025 | 01:04 PM
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I did a few things to help get air to the intercooler.

1) Radiator shroud that routes air from the ram air down to the intercooler and radiator.
2) Opened up the front plate area and put on a fine mesh screen for bugs.
3) I run an air damn along the base of the intercooler to created a low pressure area after the intercooler - this actually made a measurable difference on high end IAT. I did it for the radiator flow at highway speed and was pleasantly surprised on what it did to freeway WOT runs.



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Old Jun 2, 2025 | 05:17 PM
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Just a word about window screen airflow , about 50% . Air dams work and you can locate for specific needs . Oh and when you're boosting you're usually at hwy speeds in 2 sec or less
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Old Jun 2, 2025 | 07:53 PM
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I was thinking of making an air dam like the factory one for my radiator, I just was concerned that it might prevent the factory one from being as efficient.
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Old Jun 2, 2025 | 08:56 PM
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I remember cutting my front bumper back in 2003. I eventially came up with a screen.
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Old Jun 3, 2025 | 06:11 AM
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Mine is like that, you can kind of see it in my avatar pic. I just made it so I can reinstall my cover for a stealth look. It definitely helps. Back to back, it drops intake temps by 10 degrees when I have the cover off.
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Old Jun 3, 2025 | 09:39 AM
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What are your IAT's now?
Are you sure you aren't going to go through a bunch of work for just a few degrees of temp drop?
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Old Jun 3, 2025 | 03:44 PM
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The highest I've seen, at the top of 4th on a pass at the track, was 135 degrees. They seem to hover around 106-115 most of the time, though.
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Old Jun 4, 2025 | 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by LS1Formulation
The highest I've seen, at the top of 4th on a pass at the track, was 135 degrees. They seem to hover around 106-115 most of the time, though.
At those temps I wouldn't worry about it, seems to be working very well.
Aren't you running upwards of 20 lbs. of boost?
What IAT sensor are you using also, the factory fast acting ones are anything but fast...
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Old Jun 4, 2025 | 11:59 AM
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So on a related note, Kurt Urban told me a while back that I should (thinking of the right words here), box in the area feeding the intercooler on my '67.

One of my guys involved in my car is Jay Blanchard (Jay Wire Solutions), and he's been doing this on his buddy's Nova.

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Old Jun 6, 2025 | 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted by The ******
At those temps I wouldn't worry about it, seems to be working very well.
Aren't you running upwards of 20 lbs. of boost?
What IAT sensor are you using also, the factory fast acting ones are anything but fast...
I haven't turned up the boost yet, still trying to learn how to tune the thing. 18 PSI is the most I've ran so far. I have a RIFE IAT, so I know it's spot on. The 135 temps were when I was running 18 lbs.
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Old Sep 7, 2025 | 07:08 AM
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I finally did something to add some airflow in a sloppy way. Chopped up and riveted a cold air return to the bottom of my bumper. It's not very noticeable, and I haven't even painted it. My bumper is terribly beat up and needs to get painted anyway, so I figured I'd do this before that gets done. Not sure how well it works, but it's gotta be better than nothing.


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Old Sep 8, 2025 | 12:46 PM
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Very creative!
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Old Sep 11, 2025 | 10:18 PM
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You need a mini lip like the air dam on the back of that hole you got there to try and deflect the air up into the intercooler. The way it is now isn't gonna get you much of anything at all
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Old Sep 12, 2025 | 09:34 AM
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Originally Posted by 91 Z28
You need a mini lip like the air dam on the back of that hole you got there to try and deflect the air up into the intercooler. The way it is now isn't gonna get you much of anything at all
Yeah, you're probably right on that one. It has made a small difference, however. I'd like to make it more efficient, so I may get a piece of aluminum under there to make a lip.
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