Forced Induction Interchiller Impressions

[97ChameleonTA]

Sorry for the long wait, I know some of you have been waiting quite a while for me to finally get my act together and get this thing finished. Well, the wait is over.

Okay, so before I begin, I want to explain why I decided to go this route. My car is a 2013 ZL1 convertible (read heavy) automatic with just bolt-ons at the moment. The usual suspects for mods as listed in my sig. The car has run multiple passes in the 10’s but I’ve been wanting more before going to internal mods.

As we all know, these superchargers put out A LOT of hot air as you spin them faster. I was seeing IAT2 temps in the 165F to 175F range at the end of a quarter mile run. And even worse, it took forever with the car sitting to get the temps back down so I could make another pass. It wasn’t uncommon for me to have to let the car sit for an hour and a half between runs. I don’t know about you, but I absolutely hate not being able to get as many runs in as possible on test-n-tune nights.

That’s when I started looking into other cooling options. I already have the Roto-Fab reservoir and the Ron Davis H/X so I started researching ice boxes, fan and pump mods, etc. All of that seemed like a lot of work for minimal gains or gains that only last as long as the ice. I then started looking at interchillers. I know there are a few different vendors that sell them but only two that make kits specific to ZL1’s. I was aware of the wait time for one of the vendors so that’s when I decided to work with Forced Induction.

I reached out to Kirk (GenF-GTS) when he offered a deal to work with them on a kit for our car. After a pleasant, informative conversation and a few measurements we were on our way. The kit arrived very quickly considering the distance and with everything necessary for the install.

With the AC evacuated I had the nose off the car in no time. Then ‘life happens’, I got the flu that didn’t want to go away and then work backing up with me out delayed me even further. I finally got it installed and it fits like a glove. It went in without issue, the instructions are very clear and detailed with pictures of everything and Kirk was prompt and available for any questions I had. The hardest part was cutting the section out of the crash bar for mounting. If I had to take a guess, there was probably a total of 8 hours in the entire install. And that is working alone. With some assistance it can be done even faster.

I was further delayed by the Thanksgiving holiday with family in town and not being able to get the AC recharged for the same reason. But now that it’s completely finished, I’m suffering from a severe case of Perma-Grin. The wife thinks I’m crazy because all I talk about is what the difference is between IAT1 and IAT2 every time I drive the car. I’m truly amazed that this system works so efficiently. Even in stop and go traffic it’s amazing. With IAT1’s in the high 90’s I’m seeing IAT2’s in the 30’s (pic below was in stop and go traffic)! I can’t stop smiling!

I plan to hit the track this Saturday, weather permitting, and do some comparison runs with the interchiller off, like stock, and the interchiller on. I also plan to hit the dyno very soon and do the same comparison. Between those two, that should fully show the real world benefits of this system. Other than the Forced Induction interchiller, I’ve made no other changes to the car since my previous best so I’m really looking forward to what she does. Results to come, stay tuned…

IAT1 97F IAT2 39F using Dashlogic

[Mydivorcegift]

Off topic...did you use to own a GTO?

[97ChameleonTA]

Yes, a 1970 though.

[owhite3003]

Very nice!!

[Bigtime53]

That is very interesting! That sure did pull down the temps. Please inform us how you did at the track when your done this weekend. I am really curious how much it helps. I am like you I just do not like having to carry a ice chest full of ice to the track [except unless it has some cold beer in it!] only to have it be a temporary cool down. Good luck

[KaBoom1701]

Very cool.

I wonder if going too cold will ever be an issue.....

[GenF-GTS]

Great work 97ChameleonTA it was a pleasure doing this system for you.
I couldn't be any happier with the way it has turned out and the temps you are seeing are exactly what we get over here with our cars.

Those condensation pictures are great, we have put them up on our facebook.

Originally Posted by KaBoom1701

Very cool.

I wonder if going too cold will ever be an issue.....

Not really possible GM has done testing in -40F driving around with IAT2's in the 20-30F range is simply equal to driving in very cold weather.

Generally with the LSA blower the IAT2 will sit 14-18F above the ambient temp so when you are getting IAT2 temps that are 39F this is equal to driving in 21F ambient temp.

[BattleScarredSoldier]

Sounds great!! I have two questions. One, with everyone installing 160 degree thermostats, and our engines performing optimally at a certain temperature range, will the combination of the 160 thermostat and the interchiller work adversely? Second question, how does the system work with the A/C on? I believe I read that because of the the added A/C coolant (forgot the technical name for it), it actually makes your A/C blow colder. Do you have to shut the A/C off in order for the interchiller to properly work? I have a couple of friends with Mustangs who have been going this route for years, I'd love to see the benefits of it on our cars.

[GenF-GTS]

Originally Posted by BattleScarredSoldier

Sounds great!! I have two questions. One, with everyone installing 160 degree thermostats, and our engines performing optimally at a certain temperature range, will the combination of the 160 thermostat and the interchiller work adversely? Second question, how does the system work with the A/C on? I believe I read that because of the the added A/C coolant (forgot the technical name for it), it actually makes your A/C blow colder. Do you have to shut the A/C off in order for the interchiller to properly work? I have a couple of friends with Mustangs who have been going this route for years, I'd love to see the benefits of it on our cars.

The interchiller is cooling your intercooler fluid this has no effect on engine coolant for the actual engine block which is what your 160 thermostat is for.

With the AC gas known as R134a the system is recharged to the point where neither the chiller or cabin evaporator suffer.

the R134a is split 50/50 between your cabin and the chiller, when the competition solenoid is installed you have ON/OFF control of the solenoid can dedicate all of the R134a to just the chiller only which results in even colder temps and in addition allows you to use the system on a drag track, since you are not allowed to leak condensation on the track which would normally happen if you used your AC....the condensation would form on the cabin evaporator and drip, with the solenoid this wont happen.

Your cabin evaporator has a temperature cut out of 37.4F when the evaporator reaches this point the AC compressor will go into a cycle mode turning on and off based on temp, you inside the cabin never even notice this happening. Whilst this is happening the chiller is also being cycled on and off, thus the temp for IAT2 will sit around 55-59F it never really goes below or above this amount in any climate.

Cabin AC is unaffected as said before the system charge is enough that you will never suffer or feel hot, if anything it reaches min evaporator temps faster.

I've been in 105.8F and was completely comfortable my IAT2 was 60F with the it split 50/50 cabin/chiller when i went chiller only i got it down to 51F but soon turned the cabin back on as it was hot, but i just wanted to see how low i could get it in such a hot temp.

[winterboy8]

Any concerns with the condensation on the S/C lid over time? I know there shouldn't be any mechanical issues with it (or maybe there will), but what about aesthetic issues? Do you plan to wipe off your lid every time you pull into your garage? If you don't, can pooling of this eventually have any ill effects on the surrounding wiring and/or parts? I really like this and living in FL, I think this would be a better investment than a new h/x.

[GenF-GTS]

Originally Posted by winterboy8

Any concerns with the condensation on the S/C lid over time? I know there shouldn't be any mechanical issues with it (or maybe there will), but what about aesthetic issues? Do you plan to wipe off your lid every time you pull into your garage? If you don't, can pooling of this eventually have any ill effects on the surrounding wiring and/or parts? I really like this and living in FL, I think this would be a better investment than a new h/x.

Within 30min of turning your car off the IAT2 reaches 167F, the outside temp of the metal surface of the blower is even higher from surrounding engine bay heat.....water evaporates quite fast and easy, it's only there like that when the humidity is high enough and the car/chiller is running.

There are no effects on the wiring etc it doesn't come in contact with any wires. It only sits on the cold part of the blower where the intercooler core is.

[ZL1Kid_AL]

So this uses the A/C control as the activation switch for the interchiller? or is the chiller always on regardless?
I like the 50/50 design. Very nice to get cooling in the cabin and for the fluid at the same time

[KaBoom1701]

Thanks for the reply.

I think you send me a PM before but what does this system cost?

[2NASSTY]

Awesome write up and results Marty!! I've been waiting to see this Man. Was tempted to get a Custom ice tank in the trunk. Not now!!

Gotta get through the holidays and tax season to pull the trigger, but you got me SOLD Buddy.

Great job of GEN F-GTS of making this available to us! Thank you