Is 2 1/2 inch IC pipe overkill?

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

15 Year Member

Nov 11, 2003

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Northern KY

Sep 11, 2008

#1

• Sep 11, 2008

• #1

Just curious if 2 1/2 inch intercooler pipe is overkill. I ask because it seems so huge! It matches the inlet/outlet of the IC that i'm using. I'm at and probably will stay at 16psi, definitely no more than 20psi max and that's only depending on if the stock fuel pump can keep up. I got some 2 1/2 inch mandrel bends for free so it's tough to pass up. If it's too big, what are some draw backs to being too big?

 

65ShelbyClone

Founding Member

Sep 9, 2000

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Antelope Valley, SoCal

Sep 11, 2008

#2

• Sep 11, 2008

• #2

I'm sure someone will chime in saying that big intercooler pipes will increase lag, but most leave out the fact that the lag increase is a small fraction of a second.

2.5 is pretty good sized, but I wouldn't hesitate to use it on a 2.3T.

 

Red_LX

I’m not much help unless you’re looking for ****!

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Nov 29, 1999

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Morgantown, WV...where couches meet their doom

Sep 12, 2008

#3

• Sep 12, 2008

• #3

Nope, I have all 2 1/2" on mine...mainly because that's one of the best sizes to get adapters for.

3" would be overkill (and hard to fit).

 

Dr_EluSivE

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Apr 24, 2002

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Central Illinois

Sep 12, 2008

#4

• Sep 12, 2008

• #4

I have 2 1/2" pipes on mine. They are a little hard to fit under the hood, but they work great.

Dr.

 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

15 Year Member

Nov 11, 2003

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Sep 12, 2008

#5

• Sep 12, 2008

• #5

^^^ That's more or less how mine is going to be set up, except i'm gonna shorten the straight piece coming off the TB so the pipe isn't sitting over top of the turbo...that'll give me extra hood clearance if i can get that pipe to run parallel with the exhaust manifold. I just don't know yet if i can fit the IC in front of the radiator with the inlet/outlet on top like that...i may have to run it upside down and end up with longer pipes.

 

Red_LX

I’m not much help unless you’re looking for ****!

Founding Member

Nov 29, 1999

5,896

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129

Morgantown, WV...where couches meet their doom

Sep 12, 2008

#6

• Sep 12, 2008

• #6

Mine is like this:


And I don't have any clearance problems at all.

Course, I know that anyway because it runs under the STB, which kinda has to clear.

 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

15 Year Member

Nov 11, 2003

6,945

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Northern KY

Sep 12, 2008

#7

• Sep 12, 2008

• #7

You guys have a lot more room in the front than i do with this Merkur....it's really funny seeing the pics of 2.3 Mustangs because there's a foot of room in front of the engine. With the Merkurs you only have maybe 6 inches before you hit the radiator so it's really tight. Plus the way our radiators install is weird...there are tabs on the sides of the core and it screw up into the bottom of the frame and has supports at the top that attach to the core support...so there's no core cradle like on a Mustang. I need to set the radiator back a few inches to make room for the IC, and then i need to figure out how to mount it.

 

89Stang

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Jul 7, 1999

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Savannah GA

Sep 18, 2008

#8

• Sep 18, 2008

• #8

2.5 IC piping is going on my cordia it will be fine for your use.

 

Turbobob

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Feb 27, 2002

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N.B.,Canada

Oct 16, 2008

#9

• Oct 16, 2008

• #9

Well I might as well throw in a pic of mine. I use 2.25" hot side and 2.5" cold side

just click the pic

 

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mg man

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Jun 24, 2006

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Oct 16, 2008

#10

• Oct 16, 2008

• #10

Haven't been here in awhile. But here is how mine is. 2 1/2" pipe. Image of revised mount - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Here is how front is done.
100_5992.flv - Video - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting