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  1. Old Dog, New Tricks - Intercooler R&D, Post 1: A Core Review

    Old Dog, New Tricks - Intercooler R&D, Post 1: A Core Review

    Everything about Ford's Super Duty Powerstroke brand screams, well, Super Duty. It has done so since they were first put in the Econoline Vans in the mid "90's. Our 2011 is equipped with the 6.7L turbodiesel V8 engine, and it's clear Ford has engineers who really took the Super Duty term to heart. There are two batteries, two radiators, two thermostats, two coolant expansion tanks, an engine oil cooler, a transmission oil cooler, an EGR cooler - this truck even has a fuel cooler. Just looking at the engine bay of this monster can be a bit daunting, especially to a guy used to dealing with smaller, beat up, four-cylinder engines. Fortunately, our engineers are well-versed in the nuances of this truck, as we already have many items out on the market for this application including a full charge pipe

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  2. Pipe Down! Mishimoto Fiesta ST Charge Pipe R&D, Part 5: Prototype Testing

    Pipe Down! Mishimoto Fiesta ST Charge Pipe R&D, Part 5: Prototype Testing

    We are nearing the completion of this project. Our engineering team is ready for dyno testing that will verify any power gains made with our larger-diameter intercooler piping. Exactly how much larger is the piping we designed?


    Fiesta ST charge pipe volume comparison hot side

    The Mishimoto hot-side design provided the greater increase in volume between the two, coming in at a 51% increase over the stock pipe.

    Fiesta ST charge pipe volume comparison, cold side
    Fiesta ST charge pipe
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  3. Pipe Down! Mishimoto Fiesta ST Charge Pipe R&D, Part 4: Prototype Test Fit

    Pipe Down! Mishimoto Fiesta ST Charge Pipe R&D, Part 4: Prototype Test Fit

    A few weeks ago we completed our first set of prototype pipes. After a quick evaluation by our team, it was time for a vehicle test fit. Last week we set our Fiesta ST (FIST) up on a lift and began swapping the stock piping for our components.

    First, the hot-side pipe was bolted into place.

    Mishimoto Fiesta ST performance parts installed
    Mishimoto Fiesta ST performance parts installed

    The hot-side pipe slid into place perfectly. Our mounting bracket lined up, and the hardware properly secured the pipe into place.

    The cold-side pipe was a bit more challenging to install, but soon we had it in place as well.

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  4. Pipe Down! Mishimoto Fiesta ST Charge Pipe R&D, Part 3: First Prototype Evaluation

    Pipe Down! Mishimoto Fiesta ST Charge Pipe R&D, Part 3: First Prototype Evaluation

    Good news! Our first prototype intercooler pipe kit is complete. We can now evaluate both fitment and functionality on our Fiesta. Let's take a look at each pipe we created.

    Prototype Cold-Side

    First we have the more complex pipe of the pair, the cold-side.

    Fiesta ST charge pipe prototype
    Fiesta ST charge pipe prototype

    Complexity comes in the way of multiple bends combined with numerous pipe-mounted features. To the right side of the pipe, you can see the flat flange that serves as a mounting point for the factory pressure sensor. This flange is CNC-machined to provide a proper seal.

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  5. Pipe Down. Mishimoto Fiesta ST Charge Pipe R&D, Part 2: Cold-Side Prototype Fabrication

    Pipe Down. Mishimoto Fiesta ST Charge Pipe R&D, Part 2: Cold-Side Prototype Fabrication

    Stock Cold-Side Features

    We had it pretty easy during the design phase of our hot-side intercooler pipe. A simple design with relatively common features, not overly complicated. The cold-side is a different story.

    Stock Fiesta ST charge pipe
    Stock Fiesta ST charge pipe

    As you can see, this pipe features a few complex pieces and also follows an unusual path. On the right side at the top of this image, you can see the end of the pipe that mates to the intercooler coupler and hose. This portion of the pipe also houses a pressure sensor, a mounting bracket, and a vacuum-line port.

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  6. Pipe Down! Mishimoto Fiesta ST Charge Pipe R&D, Part 1: Factory Hot Side and Fabrication

    Pipe Down! Mishimoto Fiesta ST Charge Pipe R&D, Part 1: Factory Hot Side and Fabrication

    We have plans for an absolutely awesome intercooler for the Fiesta ST, so it only makes sense to pair it with an equally robust intercooler pipe setup. The stock piping is adequate at best but certainly deserves some attention, because we need to obtain as much airflow as possible from the Fiesta ST. This first portion of R&D will cover the fabrication of our hot-side pipe.

    Stock Hot-Side

    Before jumping into fabrication, let's first check out the stock hot-side piping assembly!

    Stock Fiesta ST hot-side charge pipe
    Stock Fiesta ST hot-side charge pipe

    What an interesting piece! The coupler on the end of the pipe mates with the turbocharger compressor outlet, which then runs into metal piping 1.5" in

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  7. Drop Intake Temperatures. Drop Track Times. Drop Jaws. The Ultimate Guide For Intercooler Selection!

    Drop Intake Temperatures. Drop Track Times. Drop Jaws. The Ultimate Guide For Intercooler Selection!

    What intercooler should I get? Is this a good intercooler? What horsepower gains will I see with this intercooler? Is a universal intercooler right for me? We all see these questions on Internet message boards, and we even hear them in friendly discussions with fellow car folk. Instead of responding with a face palm, we need your help to educate the masses on how an intercooler works. Knowing what makes a great intercooler great is powerful knowledge that can help you select the best cooler for your project.

    The goal of this article is to explain intercooler systems, designs, features, and testing procedures, so that you can more easily select the intercooler that meets your needs. Don’t be that guy with a massive front-mount intercooler on a completely bone-stock vehicle complaining about boost lag. Check out the guide below to educate yourself, your friends, relatives, maybe even that guy at work claiming his three-fifty will blow the

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