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View Full Version : Powerstroke Intercooler in a 700 series, and it's CHEAP!


the poi
01-14-2004, 10:31 PM
Alright, to start; yes it's "ghetto", but once you look closer at the construction, you can see that it very well may work (and for me at least, at 14 psi, its been working just swell). Additionally, there may be some "better" options, but I figured I'd give this a shot and see how it goes. Credit goes to Capn Bondo for having the original idea.


http://www.pbase.com/image/24986558.jpg

Hey look, it's a little PS intercooler. From its original 30" width, it's been reduced to 25" with little more than common tools, and it fits quite snug in the front rad support of a 700 series (this was done on an 89 760 wagon; so its the later model front-end).


The IC was bought off ebay for 200$ with the two main IC pipes, and for the most part, modifying it and putting it in is pretty damn cheap, unless you have an auto tranny, where an extra step comes in.



The tools:

http://www.pbase.com/image/24986550.jpg
A hammer. Ooo, fancy.
Chisel. (translucent handle not entirely necessary)
Needle-nosed pliers
Hacksaw (you can probably use the one from the last picture instead...)
Degreaser/Cleaner (I'm a fan of Castrol SuperClean)
A clamp (big contact area preferred, may end up using a 2x4 or the like)

http://www.pbase.com/image/24986530.jpg
Screwdrivers for hose clamps
Wrenches/Socket Set
Knife
Duct tape (for auto tranny, but you may need it. Hell everyone needs duct tape)
Glove, nitrile (also for auto tranny
Flat metal file (probably could use sandpaper if necessary)
Finest hacksaw blade you can reasonable get your hands on (I beleive I ended up using a 32TPI blade)
Hacksaw

http://www.pbase.com/image/24986531.jpg
Industro-Weld. It's JBWeld in big tubes. 10$ at Autozone.

http://www.pbase.com/image/24986532.jpg
I spose its not a common tool, but it may be hard to get by without one: Dremel/Rotozip with a spiral-cutting attachment

http://www.pbase.com/image/24986536.jpg
Angle Grinder. Probably don't have one of these, but it'll make cutting and smoothing things a hell of a lot easier. Also, they proove to be quite useful for a bunch of other things, so might as well invest in one. This is a 4in grinder from Home Depot bought at the staggering price of aroun 30$. (It's cheap, but it hasn't exploded/killed me yet, so I think of it as a deal)

Probably be nice to have a sturdy work table as well...


Let's start:

Lop an endtank off, I ended up using the inlet side, althoguh I don't see why it would matter either way.

http://www.pbase.com/image/24986519.jpg
Cut here, "above" the weld, that way you can maintain the endtank (it tapers to the weld on one end) but not have to cut through the significantly thicker part "under" and on the weld)

Now that you have the endtank off, you want to cut the core away from the remaining part of the endtank (which will from here on be referred to as the "cheese-grater").
Fraid I don't have pics of this, so I'll explain the best I can. Cut as close to the cheese-grater as possible, this will reduce the amount of work when widening the CG's slots. Use a hacksaw until you can't get any farther in (the frame will hit the core) then take the blade out and cut by hand.

The core will look all mangled like this:
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986524.jpg

And the CG will look like this: (the cars won't necessarily be behind it)
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986525.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986528.jpg

Now, take out the Dremel, and start cutting away the crimps in the CG slots (so we cna slide the core's tubes in freely)




FOR AUTO TRANNIES!:
If you've tried to fit the IC, you'll see how the aux tranny cooler lines can get in the way. Dunno if the position will interfere for all installations, but for me at least, I figured I had to make some room. Theres a couple choices, but the cheapest for me ended up being new hardlines, custom bent.
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986533.jpg
Cap all the lines you remove with the glove's fingers, dict tape em up.
The line we're going to use is 5/16" "brake line" available at NAPA...maybe other places as well. I used a 72" section. Make sure to save the connectors from the original lines.
Bending the lines in the slightly tight confines, and cutting the lines without bending them, as well as flaring the lines at the ends, means you'll need some special tools.
Oh look, special tools:
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986539.jpg
Pipe bender (10$ at CarQuest)
Tube cutter (I had one, dunno the price of one...)
Tube flaring tool (don't need a "Double-flaring tool") Abot 12$, from Ace hardware

http://www.pbase.com/image/24986537.jpg
This is how I bent my lines; the top line goes above the inlet, the bottom line hugs the "frame-rail." Be careful when bending so you don't crimp the lines; go slow.
***DANGAR***
To save yourself time and money, put the connector on the pipe, and flare the pipe, BEFORE bending the line. Otherwise, you'll end up having to do what I did and fitting the coupling over the short end before the bend and hammering the flare in instead of just pressing it in with the clamp. You may have to do this anyway tho on the first top bend; you might not get the bending tool on right with the coupler on.



Alright, now that we got that problem taken care of...
Time to resize the core. You'll need to just roughly assemble the pieces and make some measurements in the rad support area to determine how much you'll take off. I ended up cutting about 5". The IC fits right into the stock IC location, after removing the rubber rad supports on the bottom. Make you markings, (***remember, leave some core to be able to slip into the CG***) and cut away the core. Go slow so you don't mangle the fins too badly, remove the blade and go by hand when necessary.

Now, get to work fixing those mangled fins, need to get them flat and straight, for obvious reasons...
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986546.jpg

Now, cut away the internal fins so you can get that core to fit into the CG. I used a chisel to shave them off, works dandy!
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986547.jpg

And then comes a really entertaining part. The tubes will probably not match up very well with the CG, meaning you'll have to "make" it work. I could get half the tubes at one time in from either side by lightly tapping the CG on to the core, but I couldn't get them all on at once. The solution: get it halfway on as far as you can go from either side, then, leave it halfway on one side, and pound away on the edge of the CG until it can be aligned and pounded onto the other half:
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986549.jpg


Onto the elaborate and highy technological sealing procedure
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986552.jpg
HAHA! That's rich! No really, not kidding.

http://www.pbase.com/image/24986554.jpg
Clean everything up with the degreaser first, get it REAL clean and contaminant-free. Make sure you get all around the tubes, it's sometimes hard to see on the edges. Once it dries, you can shine a light behind it to check for holes.
This isn't as ghetto as it looks if you notice the amount of surface area the JBWeld is attaching to, and the fact thats its barely holding much weight at all, it's mostly just filling small holes and prevent the tubes from sliding out.

Rough up the edges of the endtank and the CG, use some rough sandpaper, and/or some crosses with the file. Increase surface area, cause we need some strength for the incoming JBWeld to hold. Also be sure to clean this up as best you can, lotsa degreaser.
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986528.jpg

Now, hack down those inlets. Fill the inlet with a plastic bag or something, and cut the top off (i left about an inch) and file smooth. Pull the bag out along with the majority of the filings. Wash it out from the other side with a good deal of water and degreaser.


Now we set up the tubing. (I'm assuming you have the PS IC pipes, with the couplers. Most PS IC's I've seen on eBay come with em...) Get a tube that will fit inside the inlet side hose. I had an extra IC to TB pipe, perfect fit.
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986555.jpg\

Cut off a little of the blue coupler, now we can couple the pipes together
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986561.jpg
Fancy!

Dunno if this work at all with the stock airbox, this is how it ended up fitting with my ricer cone filter setup.
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986561.jpg

Outlet; 2" or so cut off the IC to TB pipe, stock coupler fully on the pipe to up its diameter, and clamp into the PS coupler.
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986560.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/24986564.jpg

Note, however, that the charcoal canister is now somewhere else. In fact, it's pretty much where the A/C compressor used to be, that I no longer have. If you have one, you'll need to stick it somewhere else, out of the way
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986576.jpg


The oil cooler:
Take the side frames off, (gotta disassemble all of it) leave the top and bottom bracket things attached. Cut the part of the top bracket that extends out:
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986571.jpg

On the top, the screw is just a little hook the holds the cooler onto the IC, the bottom is screwed into a sheetmetal bracket.
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986575.jpg

Speaking of sheetmetal brackets:
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986567.jpg
About 7$ from Home Depot.

http://www.pbase.com/image/24986572.jpg
Get some screws to use. I'd recommend metric or just flathead screws, lowers the size of the toolbox you should keep in the car...


Top bracket, pretty straightfoward. That plastic support is pretty thick, so it can hold the weight.
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986566.jpg

Bottom bracket
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986568.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/24986570.jpg



And now, terrify less Swedish cars with this gaping maw:
http://www.pbase.com/image/24987849.jpg


Knock yourself out, kids.

780_Bertone
01-14-2004, 11:13 PM
all i can say is..... :urgod: :hitit:

great job with the setup.

stylngle2003
01-14-2004, 11:40 PM
yeah dude...awesome article...cheap as snot too...gotta love mods like that


Billy

the poi
01-14-2004, 11:48 PM
thanks guys :-)

neurot75
01-15-2004, 01:21 AM
looks good and sounds easy on the pocket, but how do you think the reliability is on that thing? i mean can you take hours long trips every week with that? i mean some serious driving with like 500miles+ a week?, im not saying every week, but say ure gonna drive cross country, or to florida or something, do you think it'll hold up?

the poi
01-15-2004, 01:39 AM
looks good and sounds easy on the pocket, but how do you think the reliability is on that thing? i mean can you take hours long trips every week with that? i mean some serious driving with like 500miles+ a week?, im not saying every week, but say ure gonna drive cross country, or to florida or something, do you think it'll hold up?hard to say. in fact, ive only run it for a relatively short amount of time (about two weeks in total). The cable has another special purpose here: if it does manage to crack, it won't be catastrophic, wil end up being a minor vac leak until I can patch it up... The thing with the JBWeld is that it won't decay or weaken over time (supposedly) so it really should hold up to any past abuse. I've down about 1 minute of 10psi going up a grade... I'll try to beat the hell out of it some more, see if it'll go

neurot75
01-15-2004, 09:34 PM
hope it holds, heheeh. seriously though when i think of mods i also think of their longevity and durability. I tend to drive a lot, on average i can put anywhere from 60-100 miles a day. Ofcourse theres days where i dont really drive, only to school and back or something, but mostly i tend to beat the **** out of it with mileage, so anythign i'd do better hold up.

WeezilUSA
01-15-2004, 09:50 PM
LOL, thats awesome... The funny thing is I'm half way through doing the exact same thing when I saw this posted... Good idea@!

Captain Bondo
01-19-2004, 04:39 PM
I'd get it pressure tested...
Otherwise, good job! 8-)

the poi
01-19-2004, 05:12 PM
I'd get it pressure tested...
Otherwise, good job! 8-)thanks! im gonna get a tire valve stem, hose, and some piping caps and see if i can get it to 15 psi (dont want to break it for boost i wont be running...yet) Made it through the LA meet up and down mullholland drive, so its at least a little more testing...

WeezilUSA
01-20-2004, 03:07 PM
yeah, I'm gonna test mine up to at least 20, before I run it.

TurboCruise
01-24-2004, 11:38 PM
Awsome Intercooler! We would all be lost without a little dab of JB Weld. :badboy:

Rock On.....

the poi
03-10-2004, 11:35 PM
Update on "reliability"

It's been two months, been driving abusively as per usual, and no cracks as of yet. I'll keep trying to break it though, and keep you guys updated.

linuxman51
03-13-2004, 04:07 PM
reviewing this burst of ingenious and thinking out lout.. Did yall perchance straighten out the fins (as best you could) before gluing the end tank back on?
how about vertical fitment? (I know another tbricks member who did this.. ptouch20? had some removed from the bottom of his, perhaps to sit on top of the frame rails, I don't really recall)

WeezilUSA
03-13-2004, 07:53 PM
Yeah he cut his the other way... so it sits on top... which increases pressure drop. This way it's perfect between the frame rails, with just enough vertical room, and less pressure drop than the stock IC... And I have straightened out the fins the best I could with a really small flat file and a flathead screwdriver.

the poi
03-13-2004, 08:11 PM
Now, get to work fixing those mangled fins, need to get them flat and straight, for obvious reasons...
http://www.pbase.com/image/24986546.jpg


SOMEONE didn't read the thread, L-man. :rant:


:-D

also, ya, what weezil said, mine's cut done to fit between the frame rails, ptouch's was cut down to fit on top fo the frame rails...

Magnum TE
03-13-2004, 08:45 PM
I'm next. I'm next.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2464730135&category=33742&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWN%3AIT&rd=1

the poi
03-14-2004, 12:44 AM
I'm next. I'm next.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2464730135&category=33742&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWN%3AIT&rd=1

oooo, nice price too, good luck, and keep us updated

945ti
03-14-2004, 02:53 AM
Just to add:
I measured very carefully for the late 940T with electric fans. You don't have to cut much at all and you can almost use a combo of ford and volvo IC pipes stock, though the outlet pipe might be something that woudl work best with a proper reducer of some sort. It lookes alot easier than the 740 even. IT might need to sit a little farther forward and need the hood catch modded a bit, but it should fit height wise pretty well and be in a great location (a very tiny bit forward of stock). IT will also be a bit tight with the AC from my measurements. Also, there is no oil cooler, and the 940 is designed for the central inlet/outlet, so teh tranny cooler and charcoal canister should not be an issue. Have fun, I will be interested in hearing about how it goes.
Re the bent fins:
I would imagine that the bent fins would have less impact if they were on the output end and create less turbulence. The tubes would loose a little size more gradually at the end, but I can't see how that is a huge issue. Is there any tool that a pro IC or rad shortening person would use that would not mess up the fins?
Nice aritcle. If I didn't have other things to do, and weren't doing maintence and looking for a real turbo for my car, I would do this sooner.

Nemesis
10-30-2004, 01:25 AM
@#$&^%$# DAM!!:rant: :rant: Today I sent in a cash down payment for what I was thinking was a top of the line I/C,,,( ice pack,only good for the 1320)( you pack it with ice) what you have come with is buck for buck,, BETTER!! What hold's me off is the the J.B.W! ,,It is just a little spookie!! For what boost do you think it will hold? 18?,22? The ice pack is good for 40 ( I would not see 1/2 that) but I am locked in, no $$$ back and NO!! I am not telling how $$ It was ,way to lot's!! I will be keeping a eye on this thread to see how bad I f-up!!:oops:

the poi
10-30-2004, 02:15 AM
@#$&^%$# DAM!!:rant: :rant: Today I sent in a cash down payment for what I was thinking was a top of the line I/C,,,( ice pack,only good for the 1320)( you pack it with ice) what you have come with is buck for buck,, BETTER!! What hold's me off is the the J.B.W! ,,It is just a little spookie!! For what boost do you think it will hold? 18?,22? The ice pack is good for 40 ( I would not see 1/2 that) but I am locked in, no $$$ back and NO!! I am not telling how $$ It was ,way to lot's!! I will be keeping a eye on this thread to see how bad I f-up!!:oops:
heh, well, you'll probably get better temps with an ice packed IC but... so far its held just fine into spikes of 23 or so psi. running around at 15 for a few months. No cracks or anything developing yet... seems to be holding up fine!

Felixredwoody
10-30-2004, 04:20 AM
Nice Write up there! And awesome instructions! I wondered how this particular intercooler would fit and just never thought of the all mighty search feature. As I'm now on the search for an intercooler and had already decided the stock one was the last on the list of choices. This just gives me another option to look for. Tim

Unregistered
02-15-2005, 11:58 AM
Just wanted to mention that soldering instead of JB weld would have almost been easier... and not much more expensive. But I LOVE the mod and would like to know more about the performance improvements. Running much over 10 PSI without an intercooler does disasterous things.... I have 3 broken pistons to prove it.

PRVersion
02-17-2005, 08:24 PM
wait, what is this intercooler from? what is this "ps" of which you speak?

the poi
02-17-2005, 08:48 PM
its form a ford powerstroke diesel pickup

The Aspirator
02-17-2005, 09:48 PM
That thing hasn't exploded yet? Sweeeeeeeet. That soldering idea would work really well actually. Torch and some thick solder, it'd probably hold better than the JBweld.

John

the poi
02-17-2005, 11:02 PM
That thing hasn't exploded yet? Sweeeeeeeet. That soldering idea would work really well actually. Torch and some thick solder, it'd probably hold better than the JBweld.

John
heh, surprised me too. holds 20psi like a champ. ill have to test higher pressures....

The Aspirator
02-18-2005, 12:26 AM
Yes. Yes you will...

coldfusion21
02-18-2005, 01:17 PM
yea i got a line on one of these as well. trying to decide the best bet for fitment without hacking away the larger chunk of the front of my car.

The Aspirator
02-18-2005, 01:34 PM
I wonder what's wrong with putting it in the same place as where Poi put his, but on a 240? There must be a reason why Kenny figured it had to go way up front, these things are huge though... Ohh maybe it's because it doesn't clear the battery tray, that sounds familiar. For my car it'll be either a powerstroke or something custom.

Super1800GTR
02-18-2005, 04:19 PM
yea i got a line on one of these as well. trying to decide the best bet for fitment without hacking away the larger chunk of the front of my car.

You can cut a few rows off the top/bottom so it'll sit ontop of the "fram rails".

I was going to cut mine down but I couldn't find a local shop that I would trust to do this mod. No offense to the JB welding... I decided to cut the frame just infornt of the radiator support. It was a tight fit w/ the large euro headlights I'm using but works out well. You'll have to move the battery regardless. If you're doing this mod your car should have the battery in the trunk anyways :).

Rob

Captain Bondo
02-18-2005, 05:19 PM
It has to be further forward on a 240 because you have to notch the front rails in front of where the bumper shocks bolt in. Check out there the big bolt on each framerail that holds each bumper shock in and you'll see what I mean. :)
But I've moved on from the PS. ;-)

the poi
02-18-2005, 08:55 PM
ya, the jbweld thing is a 700 series thing only. for 200's, just notch the frame rails and throw it in there

thelostartof
02-19-2005, 04:06 AM
ya, the jbweld thing is a 700 series thing only. for 200's, just notch the frame rails and throw it in there


but kenny notched the frame rails on his 7series .. so everyones doing it now so

the poi
02-20-2005, 02:24 AM
but kenny notched the frame rails on his 7series .. so everyones doing it now so
dude you can't. to get enough space, youd have to cut the framerails all the way through. your bumper would fall off. unless you propped it up really high or something, but then it wouldnt look good

n xntrx volvo
02-20-2005, 09:12 AM
ya, the jbweld thing is a 700 series thing only. for 200's, just notch the frame rails and throw it in there
just? come over sometime and look at the required notching, in the rails, bumper shocks, and the rad support.

PRVersion
02-21-2005, 03:11 PM
does it matter what year its from, or were they all created basically equal?

The Aspirator
02-21-2005, 03:37 PM
I think some of the eariler ones have plastic endtanks, and are a bit wider. The all metal ones would be a slightly later style.

Captain Bondo
02-22-2005, 02:49 AM
I cut the notches in my with a hack saw, it took me forever but what was becuase i didn't know what I was doing/what to expect (won't say no one had ever done it before but I had not heard of anyone doing it at that time )With a cutoff wheel or sawzall it'd take 10 minutes. I took decent pics of the required carnage. Just cut the damn thing is a 240 not a '69 charger. :-P

Raz
02-26-2009, 03:37 PM
Uhm.

Marco and I put a powerstroke intercooler in a volvo 740... But yea, we cut the frame-rails, off. A bit reinforced, but not really.

Raz
02-26-2009, 03:39 PM
Why can't I delete my own posts?

Fivehundred
03-11-2009, 09:33 AM
Why can't I delete my own posts?

Probably because it'll stop some smartass from remarking "Holy Thread Ressurection Batman":-P