Heater Core for IC Heat Exchanger

Anyone here using heater cores instead of intercoolers for FMHE in their SSIC setup? Have you had much success?

interesting idea? do they make heater cores that can handle the volume necessary for a s/c?

oh, not sure I knew there was a volume requirement. Good question. I was even thinking about stacking 2 of them, but am also aware I'd need cores with very little restriction, bends, etc.

Whats the average volume requirement to cool sufficiently? Do you happen to know?

nope. but i do know that the openings of the average intercooler are alot larger than your average heatercore.

Whats the typical FMHE in/outlets 3/4"? A heater core is 5/8". So about 1/8" difference. I think a Cadillac heater core has the 3/4 fittings.

no kiddin? well then...give it a shot. arnt heater cores pretty small though?

They vary. Caddy Fleetwood is around 10.12 x 5.62 x 2 in (for just one). Run 2 of these and it appears to me that it would work, and your only looking at about $40.

I don't have a ton of experience with ICing but when we installed a SSIC onto Manuels car with a full size (zzp stage 2) front heat exchanger, the front mount still got uncomfortably hot to the touch pretty quick as the car warmed up. For that reason, I'd say bigger the better on the front mount pretty much no matter what.

The SSIC core runs 1/2-5/8 hoses so that's right about in typical heater core territory. You wouldn't be running big 3/4 hoses on a SSIC.

turtleman wrote:

when we installed a SSIC onto Manuels car with a full size (zzp stage 2) front heat exchanger, the front mount still got uncomfortably hot to the touch pretty quick as the car warmed up.

Thanks man. So you are saying that during just the idle/warm up, the intake air was hot enough to warm the water in the intercooler to the point where the actual intercooler was hot to the touch? WOW, I figured maybe it would get a little warm under heavy boost driving, but not from just the warm up. Thats crazy!