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87 intercooler

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buickpower

polytetrafluoroethylene
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
1,079
Has anyone done an intercooler conversion with a stock 86-87 style using an electric fan? Someone must have? The only reason I ask is that you can get them used for reasonably cheap, less than a powerstroke i think, and without all the additional volume. They dont look like they could be made into a front mount without extreme modification though right? I just saw one on ebay and it got the wheels turning again... it would be a heck of alot cheaper than a spearco kit if it could be done...
 
is it possible to do with the stock intake? kinda like the spearco does it ?
 
Welcome to my world! I'm doing this as we speak. My intake is being massaged somewhat (gutting the interior and opening up the ports) and then I am going to try using a stock GN intercooler (with modified necks) and run the piping from the turbo, to the big-neck intercooler (in the stock location), then back up to the intake manifold. I have spare parts, stainless piping, and access to machining and welding equipment, so I consider myself lucky, I can cut up my spares all I want and still go back to stock if it totally sucks. But, a stock big neck should post some decent gains for a hotair car, especially when used with a TA33C and modified intake, so I can't imagine it sucking at all. I'm going to be taking pictures when I get everything mounted. Will be using the Ramchargers dual electric fan and factory intercooler shroud with a "garbage can" scoop. I think it'll be great, less piping than the Spearco, using proven parts, and I don't need to relocate anything aside from reclocking the turbo.
 
sounds like a great project, i am seriously considering doing this as well. let us know how it turns out when you get done, i am anxious to hear. there should be less lag due to less piping and intercooler volume than the powerstroke. With a combo like yours and mine, i think there could be significant gains.
 
Yeah, I don't mind the fabrication involved. My dad is a welder for 35 years now, and he's recruited a tool and die grinder, cleaner/sandblaster, machinist, and flow tester form his work to help with the design of the intake. We'll do the brackets and mounting and hard work ourselves, and then we have a piping guy willing to do some bends for us *on the side*. So once you get around the extensive fabrication and tuning, it's really not all that bad. I'm more than happy to share my findings with you guys.
 
hey all
i did that mod back when i was in high school (about 10 years ago) all the vendors that i asked for some advice laughed at me and told me that im getting into a mess and it cant be done and it will never run right and crap like that

here is what i did

i got a 87 turbo reclocked it and installed that
put a factory 87 intercooler and shroud in the factory place
but i did have both necks cut and straight pipes welded onto it so that i can just have some pipes made and hooking them all up will be easy

here is what i learned

eveything worked very well but as soon as i started the car and it idled fine but was flowing too much air while i got on the throttle even a little bit

got a bigger fuel pump and an adj regulator reset the tps and iac and the freaking thing flew!!!

i did have an adapter made for the turbo to throttle body so that it can be clocked back to stock position since the 87 turbo had to be reclocked

i have a factory 87 turbo that is all rebuilt with the 84 ex wheel that i want to sell just slap on the 84 ex houding and brackets and youre good to go

good luck with your converison
ask me if i can help i will
take care
slawek
 
boosted1, i figured someone had already done it, your replies are encouraging. thanks everybody for your input.
Mike
 
I've actually seen someone do this a few years ago back when I was in minneapolis. The only thing is he mounted the stock 87 intercooler upside down and mounted in front of the rad. He cut the stock necks off like the turbomotion kit, and ran the piping. Suprisingly enough there was no lag and the car pulled hard, and he only had an 84 hotair turbo to push all that air. It shouldn't be hard to do at all, and you do get impressive gains. I do not have an intercooler scoop right now, as mine broke, and i still pull good and hard without it!
 
Originally posted by buickpower
sounds like a great project, i am seriously considering doing this as well. let us know how it turns out when you get done, i am anxious to hear. there should be less lag due to less piping and intercooler volume than the powerstroke. With a combo like yours and mine, i think there could be significant gains.

I've said this so many times. There is 0 extra lag from the piping/volume of the intercooler. I've gone from hotair to Spearco to Ford with no difference whatsoever in spool. I even had the stock turbo with the Spearco for a while.
 
Originally posted by cool 84
I've said this so many times. There is 0 extra lag from the piping/volume of the intercooler. I've gone from hotair to Spearco to Ford with no difference whatsoever in spool. I even had the stock turbo with the Spearco for a while.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to try this first (front mount) before I spend more on a shroud and on replacing the chin spoiler and whatnot. I know you've had experience with no lag, I think I'm going to start off with it big-neck FMIC-style as well as ported intake and go from there. Should post some impressive gains, especially at the track. No cooling problems with the powerstroke IC? I have a Ford parts guy... Hmm...
 
That's one of the best things about the Ford unit is no cooling problems. It's so big the tanks don't block the radiator and since it's thin it lets plenty air through. My coolant temps dropped signifigantly going from the smaller Spearco unit to the Ford unit. As long as I was moving 40mph or so I could shut the fan off and it would stay cool in the summer. With the Spearco I had to keep the fan on even if I was going 70mph down the freeway.
 
i too thought about trying to rig up a 86-87 intercooler setup., with the electric fan setup,
but that seems like a pain in the ass.


Im contemplating , purchasing the Spearco kit,
im just Iffy about the Lag issues.
but im sure as long as the car is tuned and running properly, it should be too much of an issue (keeps fingers crossed)

i know alot of fellas complain bout idle issues, but half the guys didnt have their car running properly before they even installed the kit.

i Just wish i could find more INput about this kit before i purchase it.

not too many people post about their conversion process.
 
Originally posted by fireberd350
Cool 84, when you gonna post them pics u promised me many months ago?

I just got internet access on the computer finally. I have one complete shot of the motor but I can't find any of the other pics. I'm getting everything together right now because my longblock is done so I'll take pictures as I go. One question, how do I get the pictures on here? Or should I send them through e-mail?
 
Anybody ever seen/done a comparison of a Spearco and a stock '87 I/C? I've got both but there doesn't appear to be much difference in fin area. Is the Spearco more efficient?
 
Spearco intercooler

The only advantage may be that the Spearco is in front of the radiator and gets cooler air to the fins. I believe that the stock intercooler is a little larger in capacity and tube diameter, which would give more volume.
 
Whichever I use, it'll be a FMIC in my application. Think the factory one will flow more/ support more HP?

Ever seen any specs on the two for a side by side comparison?
 
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