how to make intercooler/radiators?
 

i been looking on where to buy cores to make my own intercooler and/or radiator. i hate buying parts that are close to the dimensions i need, but just dont fit exactly the way i want them too. so if i were to buy the cores and the aluminum to finish them. everything could fit just perfect...

so where could you buy the cores for these?

and how would one go about making them?

pictures are always a plus!

i know Bell, Apexi, Garrett etc all make IC cores.
get some plate, cut to shape, and then tig weld it all up.
(of course theres a bit more theory and junk to go with it...)

http://www.bellintercoolers.com/pages/AACore.html
http://www.yonaka.com/product_detail...cooler%20Cores

Not sure about radiators though...

well, the theory and junk is what im interested in.

my main reason is. i have in intercooler i would like to cut about 8 inches out of to make it shorter. can this be done?

No you cant. cores have sealing blocks at the end of the intercooler that you weld your end tanks to along with the actual tubes. basicaly you cant just cut it down, i supose you could take some very teadious time and weld material back in between tubes to reseal it but for time and energy buy a different core as your talking about hundreds of inches of welds just to get it ready to put endtanks back on.

youd probably be better selling your larger intercooler and taking the money to buy a smaller core as cores are much cheaper probably come out the same price.

my 2c

and i havent found anywhere for radiator cores but iv bee looking at jegs and summit universal radiators you can usually find one thats just abou right and then mod it to suite.

z

lol, you asked for a core too.
heres a thread that shows a guy CUTTING an intercooler down to his desired shape too.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=vmount


https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...hmentid=155030

damn, thanks for the link jaggermouth!

looks like alls he did was cut it in half and welded the end tanks back on...simple

but what about shortening it the other way? think it would still be the same thing?

Cutting it narrower would make you have to re weld that plate.

You can see the plate hes talking in that photo above under where the end tank is cut back

i see that, but i dont see where its welded. i dont see any actual weld bead there...?

It's because it is an overlap weld, the end tank inlet/outlet covers weld bead is overlapping where I welded the outer support plate to the narrowed core.

Like proz07, shortening isn't advised. virtually all intercooler cores are baked together, so unless you have awesome aluminum brazing skills don't waste your time.

I am also very curious to know where custom radiator cores can be bought.
I am in the market for a 3'x1' radiator core, and i haven't the clue where to find one...

You can order just bare radiators cores, you just need to go to your local radiator repair shop. I actually ordered and made a custom vmic setup on jkstill's car using a custom core. It is 1/2" wider and 1/4" thicker than a Koyo. Thinking of making one for my setup later this year if I need a little more cooling capacity with my planned horsepower bump.

More Photos

And I might add, it all works very well.

you guys have any preference for IC cores? I need a 4" thick x 12" deep....only one I can find is a brand called "Yonaka"
http://www.qualitycustomparts.com/p6...duct_info.html