'lo folks...

What'* involved in installing an intercooler? Is it a reasonably straight-forward bolt-on application, or is it a nightmare? I'm thinking about picking one up this spring.

Also, how small of a pulley can you go with on an intercooler setup?

Thanks!!

=Mandible=


2000 SSEi bone stock

I think the biggest problem is the Fuel rail. It has to be extended, as the SC is sitting higher. A 3.25" pulley would be in the realm of possibility for an intercooled setup, assuming you've done an intake and exhaust.

As for the setup, it is fairly simple. There is nothing that is hard to do, there is just a lot of little things you have to do, so you have to set aside a lot of time to do it in. The hardest part is remembering how to put it back together. Since there are no intercoolers designed specifically for the bonneville you will have to do a few things custom, and figure out how to take the front facia off the car yourself. (it has to come off to put the radiator in)

As for the pulley size, with an otherwise stock engine you should be able to run a 3.1" pulley or so, and with the normal intake, exhaust, plugs, t-stat, and those things you should be able to run a 3.0" pulley no problem. With more mods such as headers, rockers/cam, and things like that you can drop the pulley size even more.

Shawn

this mod is over a year out for me but why would you have to remove the front facia? The rad doesnt look any bigger than a trans cooler, couldnt a bracket be made up to hold it in place? The front facia would be a real pain to remove?

With an IC, you can run very small pulleys like dbtk2 said. However, with all that extra boost getting thrown in the engine, and with other mods, you are going to be making some serious HP. You might wanna plan this out carefully, because you could easily destroy your transmission having so much power.

A performance trans costs over a few grand, so it'* not something easy to come by.

Thanks for the replies. Removing the front facia would indeed be a pain in the arse. I don't have any problems with just about any mechanical work, but when it comes to body work that'* where I get a bit leery of my abilities.

How much HP can the stock transmission handle?

It can handle quite a bit, but once you are going over 300, I'd be careful with it.

I am not 100% sure about the Bonnevilles, but on the GP'* you have to remove the front facia to get the intercooler radiator in there (espeically the stage 2). The Stage 2 intercooler is almost as large as the radiator on the GP, so to get it in front of the radiator, the front facia and bumper need to come off. It is very simple to do. There are like 10 bolts, and then you have to unplug the fog lights (the headlights come unbolted seperately), and it comes right off. Then to put it back on you just plug in the fog lights, bolt it on, and put the headlights back in. It is simple and doesn't take too long, it just sounds complicated.


The stock transmission can handle LOTS of power. Just not for very long. The stock transmission is only rated to handle what the engine is rated at stock. (and the engine is underrated) So if you do any mods it will be horrible for the tranny. The tranny in our GTP lasted ~7,000 miles with close to 400hp, but a lot of those miles were at the dragstrip or it being driven hard on the street. If you just drive the car normal so the tranny doens't have to handle that extra power often, it may last a long time. I definately have to agree with others though, if you are going to put on an intercooler, or any other major mods like that, you better have the cash for a new tranny lying around, because you're probably going to need it.

Sawn

Is there not a cooling issue since you are putting the IC rad in front of the engine rad?

I just wonder how well the engine would fare in stop-and-go traffic on a 90-degree day.

My old T-bird had issues with cooling... very frustrating.

Thanks,

-J.

There is no cooling issue, the radiators in these cars work very well. We have an intercooler and 160 degree thermostat in the GTP and it never runs over about 175 degrees, even in 100 degree temps, but it will usually run about 165 or so. And when we turn the fans on, it will cool right down. Cooling is definately not an issue. There is already another radiator in front of your engine radiator IIRC anyways.

Shawn