Radiator as an intercooler?

Could radiator be used as an intercooler?
as long as the boost was kept below 15lbs?

Any reason why it wouldnt be a good idea?

I would say it wouldn't work because radiators probably wouldn't hold up to that much pressure, and I don't know if air would flow through them as well as water does.

Originally posted by Red_LX:
I would say it wouldn't work because radiators probably wouldn't hold up to that much pressure, and I don't know if air would flow through them as well as water does.

I'm sure the usual 1" inlet / outlet wouldn't be too great for flow, either. Besides, a decent intercooler can be had for $50 or less, thereby eliminating cost as an issue.

Sure it'll work.

You also might try using a radiator cap as a blow off valve, and an EGR as an external wastegate.

I'm just kidding, honestly, the physics/functions seem similar but it'd never work.

Might work, but not very well. A typical IC is an air to air heat exchanger, and a radiator is a water to air heat exchanger. Water and air have WAY different thermodynamic properties, so a radiator is designed way different than a IC.

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Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 20 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 00 Windstar (wifes vehicle)

.. i also don't think a radiator would flow the air NEARLY as well as an actual intercooler..