Intercooler time…again……thoughts on Wagner and do88 bog packs
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 2,923
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I saw nowhere where this was asking about race applications, but for most, I'd still buy the best I can get.
The Marstons are def next level, but is the $$$ worth the ROI for most, prob not.
And I'll argue that plastic still has no place on a performance intercooler, but we're beating a dead horse as we've been down this road before. Plastic sure is a little more resistant to heat soak, but, again, it doesn't shed as fast as metal does.
For most, the gt2rs stuff should work, but for the job to do it, I'd not ever want to think twice about leaking end tanks due to being plastic and crimped, and JB welding my intercoolers on a Porsche seems a little silly.
The Marstons are def next level, but is the $$$ worth the ROI for most, prob not.
And I'll argue that plastic still has no place on a performance intercooler, but we're beating a dead horse as we've been down this road before. Plastic sure is a little more resistant to heat soak, but, again, it doesn't shed as fast as metal does.
For most, the gt2rs stuff should work, but for the job to do it, I'd not ever want to think twice about leaking end tanks due to being plastic and crimped, and JB welding my intercoolers on a Porsche seems a little silly.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 2,921
Likes: 450
From: New Jersey
I saw nowhere where this was asking about race applications, but for most, I'd still buy the best I can get.
The Marstons are def next level, but is the $$$ worth the ROI for most, prob not.
And I'll argue that plastic still has no place on a performance intercooler, but we're beating a dead horse as we've been down this road before. Plastic sure is a little more resistant to heat soak, but, again, it doesn't shed as fast as metal does.
For most, the gt2rs stuff should work, but for the job to do it, I'd not ever want to think twice about leaking end tanks due to being plastic and crimped, and JB welding my intercoolers on a Porsche seems a little silly.
The Marstons are def next level, but is the $$$ worth the ROI for most, prob not.
And I'll argue that plastic still has no place on a performance intercooler, but we're beating a dead horse as we've been down this road before. Plastic sure is a little more resistant to heat soak, but, again, it doesn't shed as fast as metal does.
For most, the gt2rs stuff should work, but for the job to do it, I'd not ever want to think twice about leaking end tanks due to being plastic and crimped, and JB welding my intercoolers on a Porsche seems a little silly.
If it works, it works.other users have here don multiple seasons of hard track driving @ 600 whp on the GT2RS interccoolers. Most of us will never take thse cars to that level of punishment.
Race Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 4,619
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I get your sentiment, but the two are not really analogous. What other option is there for the coolant lines?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,177
Likes: 500
From: Bellevue, WA
I knew there was a K16 record that I missed taking
rats.
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 832
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From: South
Well….Black Friday sale was too good to pass up so went with the Wagner big coolers and shrouds direct from factory. Shipping was fast, packaged superbly, quality is top notch and the paint or thermal coating is thick. Install was pretty straight forward. Removed the rear bumper , wheels, wheel loners , tail lights and the airbox. You remove the old coolers as an entire unit and dismount them from the factory metal harness. Carbon fiber ducts are a work of art and fit perfectly. Only pain was getting the new hoses lined up and mounted ( limited room and they provide much bigger boost hoses ( all new clamps and hardware to mount coolers is included ). Cf shrouds had double sided tape. Took me a couple trikes to line it up perfectly and they fit just right. I took lots of pics and captured fin density etc as others have asked. All installed and will wrap it up on the morning taking my time with the bumper..will,post pics in a few posts
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,156
Likes: 2,866
Well….Black Friday sale was too good to pass up so went with the Wagner big coolers and shrouds direct from factory. Shipping was fast, packaged superbly, quality is top notch and the paint or thermal coating is thick. Install was pretty straight forward. Removed the rear bumper , wheels, wheel loners , tail lights and the airbox. You remove the old coolers as an entire unit and dismount them from the factory metal harness. Carbon fiber ducts are a work of art and fit perfectly. Only pain was getting the new hoses lined up and mounted ( limited room and they provide much bigger boost hoses ( all new clamps and hardware to mount coolers is included ). Cf shrouds had double sided tape. Took me a couple trikes to line it up perfectly and they fit just right. I took lots of pics and captured fin density etc as others have asked. All installed and will wrap it up on the morning taking my time with the bumper..will,post pics in a few posts
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 832
Likes: 293
From: South
Well….just buttoned her up and took her for a solid run. Boost comes on much faster and pulls hard to redline. Will be tuning her over the next couple of weeks and will report back.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 832
Likes: 293
From: South
Each. They are heavy but fit perfectly ( almost better than stock with the CF shrouds. They did a great job building a true drop in kit. Took out the old assembly whole then just swapped frames. Took a nice run in my usual go fast spot and where I usually hit 75 at the run this time I was at 98 in same time. Boost comes on super fast. Can’t wait to see how this feels with new turbos and tune. Currently running k24 on stock tune.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 445
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From: Coral Gables, FL
I’ve done the coolers on previous cars and now time to do them on my x50. I know the 997.2 coolers from denso are best bang for buck and trimming the shrouds and what that entails. The do88 big packs and Wagner versions with the shrouds etc are appealing. Anyone here running either of these two and thoughts? Anyone have coolers they are looking to get rid of? Thx
I recommend them. By Beast is a 2004 X50 with GIAC Tune and supposedly according to GIAC specs, is putting out 545 HP. Scrh1 has driven it. :-)
Next step, I may be looking at larger turbos and refresh WG's.
PS: Have nice set of X50 Intercoolers cleaned up that would go nice on a non-X50. Would be a great upgrade. Make an offer.
Last edited by maxrod; Jan 27, 2025 at 10:10 PM.