What is the point of a hump style coupler? I did a search and google and here and nothing really came up. What kind of advatages does it have? Is it specifically used for a certain turbo ap?

 

I assume its purpose is to allow some degree of misalignment between pipes, somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

 

It allows for engine movement. The intercooler is mounted rigid and the engine moves when under load.

Jack

 

Ahhh thank you.

 

Yep, what he said. Thats why there is usually some distance between the intercooler pipes connected by a coupler. Otherwise, youd be WOT and the engine would just twist that FMIC right off the chassis

I recommend www.thermalflex.com for your humping needs... lol

 

Strange then why do a lot of people use regular couplers?

 

It all depends on the motor mounting, torque generated by the motor, chassis flex, etc.

Standard couplers work fine if the intercooler lines up right.

 

In many cases plain ones still work. If you have a hard pipe with couplers at each end there's some wiggle room. In the stock system the purpose of the accordian rubber upper and lower intercooler pipes is to allow things to move without being stressed as the engine torques in its mounts.

People who often blow couplers off aren't losing them from pressure, they're losing them because the pipes gradually free themselves by contantly being pulled back and forth from the engine. Hump hoses fix that.

 

They might have a good product, but their website is the worst piece of **** i've ever seen. You can't find out ANYTHING about their product line other than they appear to have one.

 

Actually, I don't believe ThermalFlex sells automotive products anymore (which is why you can't see them anymore on the sight). IIRC, HighTempSilicone was their manufacturer and they are now flying solo.

 

Thermal Flex still does make some automotive stuff. Im not too familiar as to thier direction in the industry at this point as they changed ownerships or soemthing in the recent years. The website sucks becuase they develop products for distributers, not for individual basis.

But, you can still find thier 3 ply silicone radiator hoses for our cars (upper and Lower), all the couplers you could need and some great heater hoses as well.

 

Yes, they are still around, however they have had issues with some of their products in the past:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/anyone-else-get-screwed-thermal-flex-307552/

Having said that, a local friend of mine has tried about every coupler out there for the last 7-8 years and he keeps recommending ones from Hose Techniques above others.

 

The only way I could keep my pipes together was with hump connectors. THey work awesome.

 

I got some hump hoses here: http://www.hightempsilicone.com/c=Eh...amidhumphoses/

Used them on my PFS IC to connect to a pipe that connects to my GReddy elbow.

 

yes the humps are sexy

 

I start with Thermal Flex silicone couplers, vacuum hose, and heater hose and have gradually been switching to Hose Techniques. The HT stuff is much better quality. Biggest problem with the TF was hose ends spliting and it kinks sooner on sharp bends vs. HT hose. I'm working vacuum lines now and the HT hose will open up on larger nipples much easier w/o splitting. Wish HT made a small diameter heater hose.

Jack

 

I used ATP turbo silicone couplers and was very satisfied with their product. They were also priced cheaper then most of their competitors:

http://atpturbo.com/

 

Hump hoses are also nice when connecting IC piping because you know exactly when your in the middle of the coupler at the pipe's optimal location.