UKGT500 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Excuse me if this has been discussed before but I couldn't find it in the search facility. I have seen an LFP heat exchanger for sale for about half the price of an AFCO or VMP. Couldn't find much info on this though some Cobra guys rate the one for their car. My mind tells me you get what you pay for and there's a reason LFP is $400 and AFCO is $800. I am running the stock Eaton with 2.6" pulley and Brenspeed tune with 123mm JLT intake. I am in the UK and shipping and duty work out pretty expensive hence so these parts will probably end up costing me double what you pay in the US. Also bear in mind I don't drive that hard and our summers aren't especially hot so I wonder if I could get by with the LFP if in itself it offers much better cooling than stock? Malc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKGT500 Posted March 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Just noticed on the AFCO $800 is with dual fans but the price is about half for the heat exchanger only. Is it worth me just getting the heat exchanger and using the stock fan(s)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54First Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 There are no stock fans. If you've got fans, you probably already have an upgraded H/E. Or less likely, someone did their own mod. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKGT500 Posted March 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Thanks Steve, I was getting confused. I think the only fan there is my stock cooling fan. Do you think the heat exchanger alone is of any benefit without the fans? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54First Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Some help, but the fans really do the job. As long as you're going to the trouble, get the fans. I have an AeroForce gauge that I track the after intercooler temperature (IAT2). The fans make a difference. Especially in traffic. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msb64 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 It makes a difference in regards to what climate you live in as well, not sure what it is like where you live. Many of the people in the southern US have fairly high everyday temps to deal with. Where I live, 70F temperatures are mild, 80F is considered hot and 90F and up are extreme. Heat soak is less of an issue for me, even with numerous back to back passes at the local track. I do run a FRPP TVS though, so that probably helps to cut heat generation with increased blower rpms / smaller pulley. One thing I don't like about most HE upgrades, is the idea of adding any extra weight to the front end of the car. That really is more of a drag racing concern though, lighter front end equals better/quicker weight transfer and harder launches. I guess if you really do need the cooling upgrades, the extra weight from more coolant, larger tanks and HE could be offset by tubular K-members, A-arms etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jer Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Most upgraded HEs are larger, and the increased surface area helps to cool. Also keep in mind that some HEs are single-pass, where the pricier units are dual-pass, so it goes under the fans effectively TWICE. More plumbing, more money. Also, build quality is important. Our Shelby HEs are very durable compared to cheaper units, and have a unique heat fin design (look up close) that helps maximize surface area and airflow to cool more fluid per square inch than less-expensive units. Jer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msb64 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Good to know that there are significant differences. Just out of curiousity, do you guys have some numbers on hp losses in something like back to back dyno pulls under hot weather conditions? I would imagine down there it would be quite a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKGT500 Posted March 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Thanks for your replies. I haven't had any issues yet but was thinking about the warmer weather coming up... I guess it's debatable whether I need to upgrade the H/E but I am leaning towards the AFCO... Malc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frydguy79 Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 if your doing a heat exchanger upgrade.. dont buy 1 without fans PERIOD... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueEyedSnake Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 I have an LFP installed in my 2011 along with a 3 x capacity tank and it stays at a solid 118*F while doing a WOT pulls on the highway at 140 MPH. Even at 70 MPH on the highway the intake temperature is the same. Cruising around in town, I logged the temps at 126*F. I do have the 2013 upper and lower grills installed on my car. Of course where you live and how hot it gets matters lot. You can install an intercooler in an hour start to finish, so if you do the LFP and don't like it, just sell it and buy the C and R one. Someone is selling a new C and R intercooler on the other very popular SVT forum. You can always jump on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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