Garrett Air / Air Intercooler CAC (14.00in x 4.50in x 22.10in) - 1275 HP

Garrett performance intercoolers and intercooler cores work in conjunction with the turbocharger as part of the total induction system. When air is compressed in the turbocharger, it heats up considerably. Hot air is less dense and therefore cannot produce as much energy because less can be fed into the engine's cylinders. The intercooler's role is to remove heat from the charge air, making it denser. Denser charge air equates to more air and fuel reaching the engine, which translates to increased horsepower.

Garrett intercooler cores feature a bar and plate, horizontal flow design. Charge air from the turbo flows within enclosed passages in one direction, while separate cooling passages flow cooler ambient air in a perpendicular cross-flow pattern to the charge air. In bar and plate designs, the passages consist of plates on the top and bottom with fins in between. The passages are enclosed by bars on either side, depending on whether it is a charge air passage or an ambient air/cooling passage. Passages are stacked alternately until the desired stack height is reached. On the sides of the stacked cores, a thicker side plate is added to the final passage to provide structural integrity, protect the more delicate fins, and offer a surface for welding on end tanks if desired.

The intercooler removes heat from the charge air through conduction and convection. Conduction is the transfer of heat to materials that are in direct contact with each other, while convection is the transfer of heat from one place to another by the movement of air. The bars, plates, and fins alternate direction and flow, all contributing to extracting heat from the charge air. The charge air fins transfer heat from the charge air to the plates, and the ambient air fins transfer heat from the plates as the ambient air cools them. This process repeats as long as the car is moving or until the core becomes heat-soaked.