Which Came First? The UCA Or The Intercooler Pipes?

[Dr. Zaius]

So I have a few items piling up in my garage that are waiting to be installed on my Ranger.

Many of you have already installed some of these so I wanted to get a rough idea on installation times.

I wanted to kind of place quick items at the top of the list and get those done before tackling the bigger all-day items.

Which would you do first?

The list and my (likely very optimistic) guess at install times, ordered in what I think would be shortest to longest.

ACC relocation bracket: 1 hour?

CVF Intercooler pipes: 2 hours?

Icon upper control arms: 2 hours?

Mishimoto transmission pan and filters/fluid: 3 hours?

LED headlight assemblies: 4 hours?

589 Hidden winch mount and winch: 6 hours?

I also have a roof rack on the way but I know that's an all day affair.

Any tips or tricks for any of the above would be greatly appreciated!

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[RangerPNW]

Are you doing just intercooler piping and no intercooler?

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Are you doing just intercooler piping and no intercooler?

Just the pipes.

I don't run it hard enough to heat soak the stock intercooler so I decided I didn't really need an aftermarket unit.

 

[RangerPNW]

Just the pipes.

I don't run it hard enough to heat soak the stock intercooler so I decided I didn't really need an aftermarket unit.

I mean i think every Ranger could benefit, especially during the summer months when the factory one heat soaks just going down the road... but thats my two cents. If you find a good deal on one, i'd snag it anyways since you've gotta pull the front end apart for the headlights so you'd have prime access to knock out the intercooler too.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

I have yet to experience heat soak, but I'll do a bit more research.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

So I have a few items piling up in my garage that are waiting to be installed on my Ranger.

Many of you have already installed some of these so I wanted to get a rough idea on installation times.

I wanted to kind of place quick items at the top of the list and get those done before tackling the bigger all-day items.

Which would you do first?

The list and my (likely very optimistic) guess at install times, ordered in what I think would be shortest to longest.

ACC relocation bracket: 1 hour?

CVF Intercooler pipes: 2 hours?

Icon upper control arms: 2 hours?

Mishimoto transmission pan and filters/fluid: 3 hours?

LED headlight assemblies: 4 hours?

589 Hidden winch mount and winch: 6 hours?

I also have a roof rack on the way but I know that's an all day affair.

Any tips or tricks for any of the above would be greatly appreciated!

1. 589 Hidden winch mount and winch: 6 hours?
2. Mishimoto transmission pan and filters/fluid: 3 hours?
3. LED headlight assemblies: 4 hours?
4. CVF Intercooler pipes: 2 hours?
5. ACC relocation bracket: 1 hour?
6. Icon upper control arms: 2 hours?

I always say start with the hardest job and work your way down...

 

[LT Dangle]

I cant speak to the others but, the intercooler pipes should be way quicker than that. I think it took me maybe an hour the first time, probably 30ish minutes the second time. super simple.

 

[gwhalin]

I would cluster these for sure (having done many of them).

The winch is going to have your entire front end apart, so good time to do intercooler, ACC bracket (needed for winch anyhow) and headlights.

Those times are honestly pretty optimistic. Winch took me couple days (not all day, but probably 8-10 hours total) as not only needed to tear everything apart, but also needed to clock it, run wiring in a sane manner, and also put in a power disconnect wired to one of my aux switches to make sure the leads running to the winch were not hot unless I was using. Also, just ran into few things where I was missing either hardware or a tool I needed.

UCAs are pretty quick and easy. Probably could do them both in under an hour assuming prior experience with front suspension on our trucks. One bit of guidance I would give on any UCA with a poly bushing is to get Forumla 5 poly bushing grease. Only thing to quiet the squeaking permanently on my truck. All other grease would work for maybe a month or two and then obnoxious squeaking.

Transmission pan/refill took me way longer than it should have, but that was prior to having a dipstick, so I was draining, filling and making sure my levels were correct lying on my back burning myself on my cat.

 

[ppfd]

What is heat soak?
And how do you know if you have it?

I have the pipes laying in a closet I've never put on yet.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

What is heat soak?
And how do you know if you have it?

I have the pipes laying in a closet I've never put on yet.

I asked Grok and it explained it better than I could.

Intercooler heat soak happens when an intercooler—a device used in turbocharged or supercharged engines to cool the compressed air before it enters the engine—absorbs too much heat from its surroundings or the engine itself. Normally, the intercooler cools the hot, compressed air from the turbo or supercharger, making it denser and improving combustion efficiency. But when it gets "soaked" with heat, usually during low-airflow situations like idling or slow driving after hard use, it can't shed that heat fast enough. The result? The air going into the engine stays warmer than ideal, reducing power output and efficiency.
Think of it like a radiator that’s been sitting in the sun too long—it stops cooling as well until fresh air flows through it again. High ambient temps, poor intercooler placement (like too close to the engine), or a design that doesn’t dissipate heat effectively can make it worse. Once you get moving and airflow picks up, the intercooler usually recovers, assuming it’s not undersized or clogged.
Basically, as the turbo compresses the air it heats up. The job of the intercooler is to bring that hot air temperature back down before going into the engine as the cooler air is denser and provides more power.

When the intercooler is heat soaked, it can no longer shed the excess heat and your power drops off since you're now pushing hot air into the engine.

I've had my truck for 5 years and I haven't experienced it yet, but I rarely tow.

YMMV.

Hoping to get my charge pipes installed today.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Charge pipes installed.

About 1.5 hours going slow and taking my time to make sure I get no leaks.

The pipes at the very least LOOK much better than the factory pipes.

Still haven't yet had a chance to see if it adds any throttle response or turbo whoosh noise.

 

[Dereku]

Pipes take an hour to 90 minutes tops. Do em first. More fun factor. Little more sound and a little more go.

I dont like waiting, box shows up I install. Did a turbo once with welding gloves the second I got home from work because I seen the box on my porch. Patience is not my virtue.

 

[LawnMM]

Hope the UCAs on this truck are easier than the last vehicle I did, what a pain in the ass and nowhere near two hours.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

Hope the UCAs on this truck are easier than the last vehicle I did, what a pain in the ass and nowhere near two hours.

They're pretty easy.

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