One big ass intercooler? Nope.... just two heat exchangers!

[HULK]

To even start this thread, I gotta send a big thanks out to Motor and ekaz for there help with this project.... couldnt have done it without the help of you two fellas!



Moving on to the project... I remember seeing Ralph's car (MOL SRT8) way back when he first added these two heat exchangers on his Magnum. I saw it and instantly fell in love with the look. Then I found out the added benefits (i.e. maintaining near exact ambient intake air temperatures at all times) and liked it even more.

I was able to pick up a second heat exchanger not too long ago and Ive had it sitting around for some time now just waiting for a good time to do it. So we got down to business this past Saturday afternoon and started taking the car apart. We initially had to be sure that there was enough room to actually mount the unit. There appeared to be more than enough, but we gave it a trial attempt just to be sure. Sure enough, she fits like a glove in between the Grip front end and the power steering (?) cooling line that is attached to the radiator.

I didnt have any brackets to mount this unit, so Motor got down to business and fabricated some of his own from spair metal that ekaz had laying around. Considering we didnt have a CNC machine at our disposal, Id say everything came out just great. So we bolted everything down, re-arranged the lines and added the jumper hose from exchanger 1 to exchangers 2, and that was all she wrote.

Without further wait, here are the pics:








We ran the jumper hose behind the bumper (slightly different than Ralph's setup) and we made it a bit longer than it would need to be just to ensure that the hose wouldnt kink from too extreme of a bend.



Finished pictures.... LOVE the way it looks when it's all said and done!



While I had the front wheels off, I decided to drop the front coilovers a bit more so it matches the back better.... Whenever we get a nicer day around here when I have the car out, Ill snap some pictures of that and give some more finished pictures of hwo the car looks all put back together from a further distance.

Overall, very happy with the outcome. I was a little disappointed to discover that the EVIC didnt show intake temperatures though. I could have sworn I remembered both seeing that in there before and reading about it here.... I guess I was wrong. Either way, I know things will be running cooler and this cheap and easy mod will only benefit things in the long run.... and it looks wicked!

Questions and feedback are welcome.

-Pat

[MOL SRT-8]

Glad you got it to fit. Looks good

[Mighty Noid]

good job Pat...

but I would have painted them black so that they wouldn't stand out that much ....

[HULK]

Glad you got it to fit. Looks good

Thanks for the inspiration and offered help, Ralph! Turns out, it was as easy as you said ti would be, lol.

good job Pat...

but I would have painted them black so that they wouldn't stand out that much ....

Well, that's just the thing Albert.... Ive often though about having them pc'd black, but then I thought they would be nearly impossible to notice. Here, they are still subtle, yet unmistakeable to someone who knows what's up. I kinda like them in this finish for now, but who knows.... maybe down the road that will change. Modding is a never-ending habit!

-Pat

[MattRobertson]

OK, help me fill in a big knowledge gap here. How do these work? They look like fluid coolers but you're using them to equalize air temps?

[HULK]

OK, help me fill in a big knowledge gap here. How do these work? They look like fluid coolers but you're using them to equalize air temps?

Yes, with the Vortech kits, they use an aftercooler (air/water cooling, versus an intercooler). And I know you probably already know this Matt, but just clarifying it for other people who might not know.

By running two of these bad boys, I now have two exchangers cooling down air, and thus more coolant running through the system, so it goes through a cooling cycle longer than normal. That way, when it reaches the aftercooler to cool the charge down, it's nowhere near as hot as it would be normally..... or at least that is my understanding of it!

-Pat

[MattRobertson]

No I was serious. I had no idea how this worked. But I think I may have made a bonehead move here. You are supercharged? I still don't know how it works, but I know intercoolers and heat exchangers are used in forced induction.

[Hillbilly]

Nice idea on the liscence plate. Have not seen that before. Good way to keep 5-O off your back!

[Johnparts]

Matt , he has the first production Vortech supercharger kit that ever left the Vortech plant.

[lou1355]

I was as lost as Matt until I got the piece about the Vortech and the aftercooler.

So, let me see if I understand:

You've got a Vortech Supercharger that uses an air to water aftercooler. The heat exchangers lower the water/coolant temp in the aftercooler, which gives you a cooler IAT. Here is my question: what is the source of the water or coolant in the aftercooler? Is it the main engine coolant or is it an independent coolant circuit.

I'm asking because I'm not sure, but I am sure that running engine coolant through an aftercooler wouldn't be too cool unless I'm missing a big piece of the puzzle.

Right?

[imahemi]

looks cool Pat!!!!

and a LOWER front... ekkkk

[Hemi31]

I was as lost as Matt until I got the piece about the Vortech and the aftercooler.

So, let me see if I understand:

You've got a Vortech Supercharger that uses an air to water aftercooler. The heat exchangers lower the water/coolant temp in the aftercooler, which gives you a cooler IAT. Here is my question: what is the source of the water or coolant in the aftercooler? Is it the main engine coolant or is it an independent coolant circuit.

I'm asking because I'm not sure, but I am sure that running engine coolant through an aftercooler wouldn't be too cool unless I'm missing a big piece of the puzzle.

Right?

It has it's own resevior and circulation pump Lou.

[STREET LIFE R/T]

so you finally did it....looking good... I know you wish that top one was a tad bit taller..

[Motor]

so you finally did it....looking good... I know you wish that top one was a tad bit taller..

ohhh shush...stop telling him that or else i'm gonna have some work to do:|

[lou1355]

It has it's own resevior and circulation pump Lou.

That's the piece I was missing.

Now for another dumbass question.

Has the whole world already thought of a dry ice charged cool can for these aftercooler coolant circuits?