Best Intercooler for Stock Location?

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titanjc

titanjc

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I finally got my CVF intercooler installed last weekend and am very pleased with the results. I didn’t do any before / after data logging, but always run my Cobb AP with the gauges up and monitor Intake air temp, which has been significantly lower than it was stock even after back to back pulls in the hot, muggy Florida air. IAT seems to sit around or just below ambient.

Installation wasn’t too bad. I did mine in my driveway with no jack. Taking out the stock intercooler was a piece of cake. Maneuvering the new setup into place with the fans and bracket was challenging. I ended up having to take the plastic louver surround piece off (easily pops out by removing all tabs around the perimeter), which made things a lot easier. Took about an hour and a half. If I had to do it again I’m pretty confident it would take under an hour.

One tip for those of you installing it - tighten the hell out of the clamps on the elbow from the intercooler to the cold side pipe! I thought I torqued them both down enough, but the second time I hit full boost I popped the tube off the intercooler. Back to the house, tightened it down, try again... then I popped the elbow off the cold side tube to the throttle body! Third time was a charm and no issues since then. You really need to wrench those things down hard.
 

Raptor911

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I assume the oem cold side pipes are plastic correct?

I finally got my CVF intercooler installed last weekend and am very pleased with the results. I didn’t do any before / after data logging, but always run my Cobb AP with the gauges up and monitor Intake air temp, which has been significantly lower than it was stock even after back to back pulls in the hot, muggy Florida air. IAT seems to sit around or just below ambient.

Installation wasn’t too bad. I did mine in my driveway with no jack. Taking out the stock intercooler was a piece of cake. Maneuvering the new setup into place with the fans and bracket was challenging. I ended up having to take the plastic louver surround piece off (easily pops out by removing all tabs around the perimeter), which made things a lot easier. Took about an hour and a half. If I had to do it again I’m pretty confident it would take under an hour.

One tip for those of you installing it - tighten the hell out of the clamps on the elbow from the intercooler to the cold side pipe! I thought I torqued them both down enough, but the second time I hit full boost I popped the tube off the intercooler. Back to the house, tightened it down, try again... then I popped the elbow off the cold side tube to the throttle body! Third time was a charm and no issues since then. You really need to wrench those things down hard.
 

Rddakota

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Got my CVF intercooler installed. Definitely a well built piece. Much larger and heavier than the stock unit is.

A few tips as there are no instructions. There are a couple of good YouTube videos on the install. I will say CFV tech did respond quickly back to a question I emailed them about the shroud.
1. A floor jack is helpful with the install.
2. The shutter shroud does have to be removed.
3. Be sure and get the fans reinstalled prior to raising the IC into position, as the seats for it are above and in front of the IC mounts.

Took me about 3 hours. Would take me about 2 now that I have done it once. 9b0914df8b0069ce06bbff15b0c7bd77.jpgcefde2a9d761652d2eb4247c0f101ca7.jpg3f8edcc8e2d2d8a4efe43748b715faaf.jpgde3d3c5775504e1af276c6312552f3fb.jpgcc18008dd12f9ea6ec1eff5f46f0a3a0.jpg


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Installed on 05/16, you were 1 hour faster than I was on the install. Installing the fan assembly with the IC was a pain! The one thing I have to do is go back and to make sure the wiring for the fan assembly is secured (since it's not pinned to the IC). I thought about trimming the shroud but after assembling the unit, the IC is larger then the louver assembly, so for right now no shroud.
 

dboat

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after reading multiple pages on this thread, it appears, if you want a better IC than OEM, AND you want it to fit in the stock location without any mods, get the CVF, right? I just want to do an upgrade to mine and not worry about having to argue with some dealer about it voiding my warranty. I am thinking this would be the ticket. right?
 

Raptor911

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I would agree with your statement. I installed a CVF 2 weeks ago and I can't believe how dinky the OEM is. It weighs 8.7 pounds and the CVF weighs in at 27.45 pounds.

And for the price with free shipping, the CVF is well worth it.

and use this code for 5% off >> 5FORRAPTORFORUM



after reading multiple pages on this thread, it appears, if you want a better IC than OEM, AND you want it to fit in the stock location without any mods, get the CVF, right? I just want to do an upgrade to mine and not worry about having to argue with some dealer about it voiding my warranty. I am thinking this would be the ticket. right?
 
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