Forced Induction Superchargers | Turbochargers | Intercoolers

routing intercooler plumbing...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 14, 2007 | 11:59 AM
  #1  
Bad30th's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Default routing intercooler plumbing...

I'd like to hear some input on intercooler plumbing.

What materials are you guys using to fab up custom plumbing ? Mild steel or aluminum ? It would seem there are pros and cons to both pipe and silicone conenctors. Pipe is strong but retains some heat (some metals more than others), silicone is structurally weaker but flexible and does not retain much heat. Any consideration to heat soak for materials and routing locations ?

It looks like most people with FMICs are coming up through the rad shroud and into the TB (ala Mighty Mouse). Does the plumbing pick up much heat from running in front of the radiator, or do you try to plumb some distance in between them to isolate it somewhat ?

What kind of differences in IAT will good intecooler plumbing make, both at idle (staging lanes) and through a pass at the track ?

I'm kind of asking due to my new setup for the ATI twin intercoolers, polished stainless 3" mandrel bends and fabbed plenum. While it could be iced down (and n2o purged on the intercoolers), it gets hot air blown directly onto the plumbing by the fans at idle and the IATs creep up quickly on a hot day in traffic (hopefully soon in the staging lane).

Rob (Bad30th)
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2007 | 12:49 PM
  #2  
Country Boy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,034
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, FL
Default

I had polished SS and it went from FM turbo to the pass. side to the FMIC and then from there, up through where the fuse boxes sit (had to take them out of the cradle and spread them apart). theres a big holes under them and then to the TB. Even through my hard runs on 12 psi, my IAT never got much over 10* above ambient.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2007 | 12:49 PM
  #3  
Country Boy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,034
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, FL
Default

I can post pics if it would help..
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2007 | 05:48 PM
  #4  
No Juice's Avatar
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 19
From: Minnesota Corn Fields
Default

Yes, I'd like to see what you did with the fuse boxes. The stock ATI twin intercooler piping goes through that same hole and its a tight fit.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2007 | 05:52 PM
  #5  
Bad30th's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Default

Originally Posted by No Juice
Yes, I'd like to see what you did with the fuse boxes. The stock ATI twin intercooler piping goes through that same hole and its a tight fit.
I unplugged/relocated/re-plugged part of the fuse boxes to make more clearance through that passage. Let me see if I can find a pic...



Here's a pic of my old setup before I replaced the plumbing with stainless. I relocated the piece next to the ABS block, it only has a couple of quick-disconnect wiring plugs and is easily moved. It used to be right over the passage.

Rob (Bad30th)
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2007 | 05:55 PM
  #6  
Country Boy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,034
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, FL
Default





Reply
Old Mar 14, 2007 | 05:59 PM
  #7  
Bad30th's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Default

DAMN that's a nice looking engine compartment Country Boy.

Rob (Bad30th)
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2007 | 06:02 PM
  #8  
Country Boy's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,034
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, FL
Default

You should see it now.. lol Theres nothing left A lot of blood sweat and tears in that pic.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 15, 2007 | 06:38 AM
  #9  
No Juice's Avatar
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 19
From: Minnesota Corn Fields
Default

Originally Posted by Bad30th
I unplugged/relocated/re-plugged part of the fuse boxes to make more clearance through that passage. Let me see if I can find a pic...



Here's a pic of my old setup before I replaced the plumbing with stainless. I relocated the piece next to the ABS block, it only has a couple of quick-disconnect wiring plugs and is easily moved. It used to be right over the passage.

Rob (Bad30th)
That is how mine looks too.
I wish there was a way to move the boxes about 2 inches further away from the radiator. There is room to do, might just have to get creative.

On a side note, Rob did you have to trim the lower ducts (the ones below the turn signals) in the bumper cover to fit the intercoolers? If so what did you use? I have the 4.5" intercoolers but I don't think that is the issue?
Reply
Old Mar 16, 2007 | 05:54 PM
  #10  
No Juice's Avatar
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 19
From: Minnesota Corn Fields
Default

bump, looking for Rob.....
Reply
Old Mar 16, 2007 | 06:32 PM
  #11  
Ping King's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 9
From: PA
Default

im actually taking my stuff off as we speak in order to put it for sale, i can take pictures for you while its off.

I basically did the same thing everyone else did, IC to throttle body pipe is on the drivers side, the turbo discharge goes down the passenger side to the IC
Reply
Old Mar 17, 2007 | 09:43 AM
  #12  
Bad30th's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Default

Originally Posted by No Juice
bump, looking for Rob.....
Oh, sorry.

No, I didn't do any trimming... My driver side turn signal/running lamp does sit a little cockeyed though.

Rob (Bad30th)
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:14 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE