Interesting thread on intercooler.

[Escape Hatch]

I have two questions.

1. Does anyone know the pressure drop between these intercoolerd and their competitors?
2. Why are people swapping out the OEM BOV? Is it a BOV or a DV? In my current vehicle the stock DV out performs every after market option out there and that includes those pushing mid 30 PSI.

 

[Badmothertrucker]

Buddywife:

Noun, plural buddywives [buhd -ee waɪvz].

1. Comrade or chum, potentially of the opposite sex and particularly when speaking in terms of one's own marriage (often used as a term of address)

Now that that's cleared up....

I have no idea how much it would cost, but really it's crazy easy. Like I said in the writeup, i did it without even jacking the teuck up and I put the biggest intercooler available on. Worst part really is getting it up in there. Hence the buddywife recommendation lol.

I absolutely love the pssshhhhhh everyday I drive the truck I smile more now haha. The dealership commented on it yesterday when they did my recall/5k tune up, everyone loves it.

There is not a single more important/impactful mod than an intercooler for these 3.5l imo. Don't sleep on it! You won't get but dyno results but the engine will thank you.

Awesome definition lol!
I think I'm gonna do it along with Livernois tune. Air intake, exhaust, w intercooler and that tune should be pretty awesome combo!

 

[Badmothertrucker]

Why not? It's pretty simple. Mine comes in this week hopefully. Will report back. I got the mishimoto, but I found the new gen on Amazon with the drain, in silver instead of black with the M on the front like the old one.

Just read this, did you install yet? If so how did it go?

 

[Cranbery]

Just read this, did you install yet? If so how did it go?

Tomorrow hopefully, have been swamped. Planning to do the intercooler and rear sway bar if i have time. Will report back!

 

[Badmothertrucker]

Tomorrow hopefully, have been swamped. Planning to do the intercooler and rear sway bar if i have time. Will report back!

Gotcha, hope everything goes smoothly!

 

[Cranbery]

Gotcha, hope everything goes smoothly!

All went well. Wasn't hard as far as difficulty, just alone it's a challenge getting it up and holding it up to bolt it. The new BOV sounds great, and the intercooler looks great. It's significantly larger and heavier than the stock one, and has the drain valve.

Videos:

20220723_150852.mp4

drive.google.com

20220723_150819.mp4

drive.google.com

 

[Badmothertrucker]

All went well. Wasn't hard as far as difficulty, just alone it's a challenge getting it up and holding it up to bolt it. The new BOV sounds great, and the intercooler looks great. It's significantly larger and heavier than the stock one, and has the drain valve.

Great, good to know. I’m thinking the upgraded intercooler might help gain extra hp with the Livernois tune. I’m excited to get that tune going.

 

[Bakes]

Have we identified the biggest intercooler that can be mounted with a relocation kit yet?

 

[Cranbery]

Been wanting to pull off the shutters in front of the intercooler as they seem counterproductive, and i don't like that they won't open until the truck is extra hot. They're closed a majority of the time.

I've read it could cause condensation, but my intercooler has the drain. Should be fine?

Also wondering if they're there for protection from road debris. Anyone take theirs off?

Would also look a lot better :]

 

[808 Tremor]

Been wanting to pull off the shutters in front of the intercooler as they seem counterproductive, and i don't like that they won't open until the truck is extra hot. They're closed a majority of the time.

I've read it could cause condensation, but my intercooler has the drain. Should be fine?

Also wondering if they're there for protection from road debris. Anyone take theirs off?

Would also look a lot better :]

I haven't read too much into this but I was thinking about just removing mine also when I installed the intercooler. They seem to be inefficient from what I read. I was more worried about if I remove them what will happen in terms of throwing something out of whack like codes or throwing off the ECU, I guess depending on how you would disconnect or remove them. Again I did not do a lot of research on this but that was my thinking at the time of Intercooler install. I agree with the drain and should be fine. Protection may be in issue especially if you off road a lot. Wondering if that was one of the reasons Ford run them the way they do? . Hate to damage a new intercooler. I too am curious if anybody did take those shutters off?

 

[Tremor14]

Here's one comment from the F-150 forum on removing the Active Grill Shutters. Rather old but....

It throws a DTC but doesn't illuminate the CEL. Removing the shutters is required for the installation of the intercooler replacements too.

That said, the shutters do benefit you from a fuel economy and a time-to-warmup perspective. You could also consider one of the more minimal grille guards/bumper replacements that allow light mounting.

 

[Dfris]

Here's one comment from the F-150 forum on removing the Active Grill Shutters. Rather old but....

It throws a DTC but doesn't illuminate the CEL. Removing the shutters is required for the installation of the intercooler replacements too.

That said, the shutters do benefit you from a fuel economy and a time-to-warmup perspective. You could also consider one of the more minimal grille guards/bumper replacements that allow light mounting.

This is mostly true. You don't have to remove them completely though. Just the shroud around them. I did a whole write up on page 2 of this thread that covered this too. The few guys I know who have them off, haven't had anything happen yet. The IC is obviously more susceptible to debris damage though after removing them. Just hasn't happened to the people I know.

 

[v8 goat]

Has anyone here installed the Whipple intercooler? My truck should be here in the next few weeks, and I plan to do an IC and probably an intake pretty quickly, so I am doing my research now.

Although it is probably counterintuitive, that's all I plan to do for performance mods. I don't think I will tune the Tremor - despite the fact that I have probably tuned EVERY vehicle I have owned. Interestingly enough, I have tuned a bunch of EB vehicles, but I never did the intercooler. This time around, I am going to try the opposite. I live in Texas where it's hot, and I have a 60 mile commute to work, so the IC seems to be a good idea to keep the truck running efficiently.

Thoughts? And any experience with the Whipple?

EDIT - Because of reputation and availability at the local Summit store, I may consider the COBB as well...

Any insight into either would be appreciated!

 

[Yeti]

Has anyone here installed the Whipple intercooler? My truck should be here in the next few weeks, and I plan to do an IC and probably an intake pretty quickly, so I am doing my research now.

Although it is probably counterintuitive, that's all I plan to do for performance mods. I don't think I will tune the Tremor - despite the fact that I have probably tuned EVERY vehicle I have owned. Interestingly enough, I have tuned a bunch of EB vehicles, but I never did the intercooler. This time around, I am going to try the opposite. I live in Texas where it's hot, and I have a 60 mile commute to work, so the IC seems to be a good idea to keep the truck running efficiently.

Thoughts? And any experience with the Whipple?

EDIT - Because of reputation and availability at the local Summit store, I may consider the COBB as well...

Any insight into either would be appreciated!

Whipple makes a good product. I went with Cobb only because I've used them before and have never been surprised. I'll eventually get a tow and haul tune for mine that focuses on efficiency as a primary goal

 

[Dfris]

Has anyone here installed the Whipple intercooler? My truck should be here in the next few weeks, and I plan to do an IC and probably an intake pretty quickly, so I am doing my research now.

Although it is probably counterintuitive, that's all I plan to do for performance mods. I don't think I will tune the Tremor - despite the fact that I have probably tuned EVERY vehicle I have owned. Interestingly enough, I have tuned a bunch of EB vehicles, but I never did the intercooler. This time around, I am going to try the opposite. I live in Texas where it's hot, and I have a 60 mile commute to work, so the IC seems to be a good idea to keep the truck running efficiently.

Thoughts? And any experience with the Whipple?

EDIT - Because of reputation and availability at the local Summit store, I may consider the COBB as well...

Any insight into either would be appreciated!

If you go with any of the ones I did a comparison of on page 2, i think you will be fine. They all are great options. I went with the CVF and it has been amazing thus far, and more potential cooling based on the info I have found/compared. In Texas, you will need all you can get, especially if towing. Plus it's cheapest. $675 even, shipped, with the current code for Thanksgiving/ Black Friday.

This space has been so competitive through the years its hard to mess up with these brands.

 

[Charky]

FWIW, the CVS V2 also has a drain plug. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the intercoolers in this thread, from what I've seen and read, just replacing the stock unit is a huge benefit.

 

[v8 goat]

Thanks for the feedback. I tend to be a creature of habit, and once I get used to a specific brand, I tend to stick with it. However, as indicated, it does seem like there are a lot of good options. I'm not sure which I'll choose yet - maybe whoever has the best deal this week.

Did any of you do a CAI? It's not typically a mod I would do until I did other supporting mods that made it more of a requirement. Will it be beneficial enough to justify it - knowing it will be installed in combination with the IC?

 

[MLBTremor]

Tomorrow hopefully, have been swamped. Planning to do the intercooler and rear sway bar if i have time. Will report back!

What rear sway bar are you going with Hellwig?

 

[Dfris]

Thanks for the feedback. I tend to be a creature of habit, and once I get used to a specific brand, I tend to stick with it. However, as indicated, it does seem like there are a lot of good options. I'm not sure which I'll choose yet - maybe whoever has the best deal this week.

Did any of you do a CAI? It's not typically a mod I would do until I did other supporting mods that made it more of a requirement. Will it be beneficial enough to justify it - knowing it will be installed in combination with the IC?

I also put in a CAI, while I love the noise and think maybe there is a SMALL gain (by small, I mean next to negligible) ...I wouldn't reccomend it without a steep discount and the understanding it really only gives you the "sounds good" and "looks good" effect. Some say they get a couple mpg, I did not.

Tuning also plays very little into this as the vehicle is smart enough to adjust its air fuel ratio via sensor input/output readings to the ecu and is absolutely not required for a CAI alone. I guess what I'm saying is, bang for your buck, you are better off putting that money elsewhere unless you just want it.

 

[v8 goat]

I also put in a CAI, while I love the noise and think maybe there is a SMALL gain (by small, I mean next to negligible) ...I wouldn't reccomend it without a steep discount and the understanding it really only gives you the "sounds good" and "looks good" effect. Some say they get a couple mpg, I did not.

Tuning also plays very little into this as the vehicle is smart enough to adjust its air fuel ratio via sensor input/output readings to the ecu and is absolutely not required for a CAI alone. I guess what I'm saying is, bang for your buck, you are better off putting that money elsewhere unless you just want it.

Thanks again. I may end up doing it just for the noise - I don't want as much as a BOV supplies, and the CAI and BOV are roughly the same money. I may get a couple HP (especially if I put a sticker on the truck), and I get the noise and the aesthetics of it.