Please forgive me if this is the wrong forum for such, but I'm about to bust!

I just bought a new Banks intercooler kit on Ebay for $662.57! (shipped)

It's short 3 of the plumbing boots, but I'm over it.

Looking forward to adding more fuel.


(for those interested in such, there's a used one for sale HERE).

 

Yeehaw there.


I'm intrested in that one on eBay...

So before the auction ends:

Do intercoolers go "bad" from being used?
How big is the Banks compared to the later stock intercoolers?
What can you get a later-model junkyard model for?

(Ya know, now that BC has one I have to get one...)

 

IMO, our intercoolers can go bad (leak too much) due to the repeated stresses associated with the "ballooning" effects from the boost levels. ~ The more boost pressure, the more exaggerated the effects become. The folks here with massive boost should be able to vouch for that.

From what I can tell, the Banks intercoolers core is thicker than the stock core. Further, while I've still got to measure it, it appears the inlet, outlet, and associated plumbing is larger. In looking at the pictures and descriptions, the Banks kit takes things to 2.5 inches in diameter. (I'm not 100% sure on that though).

I couldn't tell you how much a junkyard would want for one. Give me a couple of weeks, and I'll be able to tell you how much I'll take for a complete stock intercooler system (includes: stock intercooler, associated piping, the inlet manifold thing, and rather new high performance boots and clamps as sold by PDR).

 

PASS!!!!! Never buy a used intercooler. They LEAK! Unless you can get it cheap = less than $150, pass. I bought a used one off a guy locally, looked immaculate, clean, no bents fins, brand new looking. Well it leaks bad. I could only imagine what an ebay cooler would leak like, with 'slightly bent fins', 'fixed to the best of their knowledge' etc. If I were to do it again, I'd go NEW, isn't the Banks kit around $800? Thats if you want it bad enough. Most ebay coolers run about $200, then pay shipping, associated parts to intercool, you're already getting close to a new kit price IMO. Course then you're gonna be looking for a shop to fix the leaker you just bought, so thats more $$, only if you're lucky to have such shop nearby. But this is for us non-intercooled guys. As far as you cool air guys take it for what its worth.

 

So paying less than $150 for a leaking intercooler's makes it OK?

Hmmm . . . . . . .. lemme think about that one for a while.

From what I've learned here, and lurking in other similar forums, those who've payed attention to what those who have hands on experience with such, know and have accepted that most all intercoolers (stock anyway) leak to one degree or another. It's when it's gone past a given percentage of leakage that one should condemn an intercooler. It's well known here that with some simple tests, one can determine rather quickly, if a given intercooler's past being usable. Having one in hand, and not checking it (or coming to an agreement with the seller beforehand) isn't . . . . . . .. well, . . . . never mind.



Let me be the first to say; the working unit currently on my truck, the one I'm fixing to replace with the Banks unit, has two pin holes on the inlet side of the core/header interface. With the upgrades listed in my Sig, I'm able to develop over 35lbs boost (as seen just below the air-horn) with the EGT's approaching 1300*F. I wish I had a dyno printout to show what it's all good for. The numbers I quote are based on a full throttle run from 0 to 75mph.


I reckon I'd be PO'd to if I didn't check mine beforehand.


Regardless, bgilbert drives home a good point that one should make a binding agreement that upon thorough testing, if a given product does not meet generally accepted minimum standards, it can be returned.



Anyhoot, I'm shickeled titless with the Banks deal. And I'll still offer my used unit, with all it's associated plumbing (pending whether or not I need to rob anything for the new units install), to anyone interested for a reasonable price with the understanding that if it doesn't perform as I've indicated, it can be returned for a refund.

The best deal I've found for a new complete kit (without digging really deep) was from These guys for just under $900 (US), shipping not included. With a possible, additional $15 worth of plumbing boots, $662 for a new kit shipped from Washington state to North Carolina is a bargain.

I'll let you know how it turns out.