7.3 intercooler options
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
I think where you're getting confused is that there is an early 99 (e99) and then the 99-03 style. The early 99 Super Duty trucks had an intercooler and used the same turbo as our trucks do and have the smaller (2") manifolds. Mid way through the year they switched to the turbo used on the 00-03 7.3's and started using the newer style spider and 3" manifolds. The e99 spider is what you need since it will bolt up to your turbo. The newer one is designed to bolt up to the SD turbo which is a GTP38 and has a bigger outlet on the compressor than your turbo does.
If you go with the Riffraff billet intakes you can run 3" lines for your IC setup, but you will have to make your own intake spider since what you will need would be a hybrid of the old and new designs so it will fit the OBS turbo and the SD intake plenums. It can be done, it would just take some extra work, that's all.
If you go with the Riffraff billet intakes you can run 3" lines for your IC setup, but you will have to make your own intake spider since what you will need would be a hybrid of the old and new designs so it will fit the OBS turbo and the SD intake plenums. It can be done, it would just take some extra work, that's all.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 15
From: Mt.Angel
^^ WHS, thats what i was trying to say in my first post but he put it way better.Early 99 spyders are 2" on all the ports like ours, late 99 to 03 are 3" on all the ports, no mix of the two. I would run the 3" SD plenums, and they could just be stock ones that are $80 a pair instead of 300 for the billet ones. There was a post on psn or psa with the differences in cfm's between 2" and 3" and it was a huge change.
Here's Chris's email smokin-69@msn.com, just email him what setup you're running and he will build you a set of pipes and make sure to tell him its for an obs. Here's a post on psn with pics of his pipes OBS 7.3 IC Pics - PowerStrokeNation : Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum to showyou the quality. And idk if he could make you a spider that will fit 3" plenums and 2" outlet on the compressor, but it doesnt hurt to ask or you could build your own.
Here's Chris's email smokin-69@msn.com, just email him what setup you're running and he will build you a set of pipes and make sure to tell him its for an obs. Here's a post on psn with pics of his pipes OBS 7.3 IC Pics - PowerStrokeNation : Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum to showyou the quality. And idk if he could make you a spider that will fit 3" plenums and 2" outlet on the compressor, but it doesnt hurt to ask or you could build your own.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,797
Likes: 10
I think where you're getting confused is that there is an early 99 (e99) and then the 99-03 style. The early 99 Super Duty trucks had an intercooler and used the same turbo as our trucks do and have the smaller (2") manifolds. Mid way through the year they switched to the turbo used on the 00-03 7.3's and started using the newer style spider and 3" manifolds. The e99 spider is what you need since it will bolt up to your turbo. The newer one is designed to bolt up to the SD turbo which is a GTP38 and has a bigger outlet on the compressor than your turbo does.
If you go with the Riffraff billet intakes you can run 3" lines for your IC setup, but you will have to make your own intake spider since what you will need would be a hybrid of the old and new designs so it will fit the OBS turbo and the SD intake plenums. It can be done, it would just take some extra work, that's all.
If you go with the Riffraff billet intakes you can run 3" lines for your IC setup, but you will have to make your own intake spider since what you will need would be a hybrid of the old and new designs so it will fit the OBS turbo and the SD intake plenums. It can be done, it would just take some extra work, that's all.
^^ WHS, thats what i was trying to say in my first post but he put it way better.Early 99 spyders are 2" on all the ports like ours, late 99 to 03 are 3" on all the ports, no mix of the two. I would run the 3" SD plenums, and they could just be stock ones that are $80 a pair instead of 300 for the billet ones. There was a post on psn or psa with the differences in cfm's between 2" and 3" and it was a huge change.
Here's Chris's email smokin-69@msn.com, just email him what setup you're running and he will build you a set of pipes and make sure to tell him its for an obs. Here's a post on psn with pics of his pipes OBS 7.3 IC Pics - PowerStrokeNation : Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum to showyou the quality. And idk if he could make you a spider that will fit 3" plenums and 2" outlet on the compressor, but it doesnt hurt to ask or you could build your own.
Here's Chris's email smokin-69@msn.com, just email him what setup you're running and he will build you a set of pipes and make sure to tell him its for an obs. Here's a post on psn with pics of his pipes OBS 7.3 IC Pics - PowerStrokeNation : Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum to showyou the quality. And idk if he could make you a spider that will fit 3" plenums and 2" outlet on the compressor, but it doesnt hurt to ask or you could build your own.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Pugetopolis
I'd be interested to read more on this, too. I have a whole SD setup for the 3", but when I found the e99 spyder I did that to just get an IC installed and done. Towing is soooo much better with Stage 1s and an IC. Night and day difference.
The SD setup means DS manifold, up-pipes, turbo w/pedestal, spyder and plenums.
The SD setup means DS manifold, up-pipes, turbo w/pedestal, spyder and plenums.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,135
Likes: 46
From: Columbus, Oh
This should give you an idea about making a spyder/pipes if you want to go that route
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...r-install.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...r-install.html
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 15,505
Likes: 18
From: Livoina,La
I'd be interested to read more on this, too. I have a whole SD setup for the 3", but when I found the e99 spyder I did that to just get an IC installed and done. Towing is soooo much better with Stage 1s and an IC. Night and day difference.
The SD setup means DS manifold, up-pipes, turbo w/pedestal, spyder and plenums.
The SD setup means DS manifold, up-pipes, turbo w/pedestal, spyder and plenums.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 15
From: Mt.Angel
Ok here's a link to psa where the plenums were compared to each other. Theres also a link on that post that shows where they were flow tested at.
Stock 2"=241 cfm
SD 3"= 538 cfm
SD Intakes vs. OBS Intakes - PowerStrokeArmy
Stock 2"=241 cfm
SD 3"= 538 cfm
SD Intakes vs. OBS Intakes - PowerStrokeArmy
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Pugetopolis
Ok here's a link to psa where the plenums were compared to each other. Theres also a link on that post that shows where they were flow tested at.
Stock 2"=241 cfm
SD 3"= 538 cfm
SD Intakes vs. OBS Intakes - PowerStrokeArmy
Stock 2"=241 cfm
SD 3"= 538 cfm
SD Intakes vs. OBS Intakes - PowerStrokeArmy
This would possibly send you down the path of doing a port/flow on the heads. Except that it's freakin super expensive for very little gain.
The way I understand it is that the 7.3 heads cannot be entirely ported as it's very difficult or impossible to get the tools to every nook and cranny you need to machine. So, you end up with single digit performance increases at best for large lumps of money.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,623
Likes: 0
From: Rockford IL
So running an e99 spyder is just convenient cuz you can stay with the stock plenums and put an intercooler on it without having to change the turbo.
If you want to run SD plenums for more air movement you have to run the bigger turbo as well?
If you want to run SD plenums for more air movement you have to run the bigger turbo as well?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Pugetopolis
The e99 works right in without too much fuss, yes. But I'll bet there are boots/couplers to be had that will marry the SD plenums to an e99 spyder.
It would be nice to know what the stock heads actually flow. And is it any different than the SD heads?
FOREIGN GURU
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,655
Likes: 7
From: Celaya, Gto. MX
^^ WHS, thats what i was trying to say in my first post but he put it way better.Early 99 spyders are 2" on all the ports like ours, late 99 to 03 are 3" on all the ports, no mix of the two. I would run the 3" SD plenums, and they could just be stock ones that are $80 a pair instead of 300 for the billet ones. There was a post on psn or psa with the differences in cfm's between 2" and 3" and it was a huge change.
Here's Chris's email smokin-69@msn.com, just email him what setup you're running and he will build you a set of pipes and make sure to tell him its for an obs. Here's a post on psn with pics of his pipes OBS 7.3 IC Pics - PowerStrokeNation : Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum to showyou the quality. And idk if he could make you a spider that will fit 3" plenums and 2" outlet on the compressor, but it doesnt hurt to ask or you could build your own.
Here's Chris's email smokin-69@msn.com, just email him what setup you're running and he will build you a set of pipes and make sure to tell him its for an obs. Here's a post on psn with pics of his pipes OBS 7.3 IC Pics - PowerStrokeNation : Ford Powerstroke Diesel Forum to showyou the quality. And idk if he could make you a spider that will fit 3" plenums and 2" outlet on the compressor, but it doesnt hurt to ask or you could build your own.
Yes that goes to the plennum are 2 3/8" and that goes to the pipes are 3" and I think also to the turbo outlet is 3" but Im not sure.
2 3/8" OD. Maybe your are right in the ID 2" IDK.
