Description
Upgrade the charge-air cooling system on your 2017+ Ford F-150 or Ford F-150 Raptor equipped with the 2.7L or 3.5L EcoBoost engine with the AMS Performance High Mount Intercooler. Designed to relocate the intercooler from the factory low-mounted position in the front bumper to the upper grille area, this high-mount intercooler frees up valuable lower-front-end space for winches, frame-cut bumpers, Baja bumpers, and prerunner-style builds while providing significantly greater core volume than the OEM intercooler.
The AMS High Mount Intercooler features a 24 x 14 x 3.5-inch bar-and-plate core measuring 1176 cubic inches, compared with approximately 552 cubic inches for the factory unit, providing 113% more core volume. The core uses custom AMS-spec fin and tube geometry and is supported by CAD-designed cast aluminum end tanks with 3-inch inlet and outlet ports for optimized airflow and compatibility with custom intercooler piping.
A cast outlet tube incorporates an integrated blow-off valve mounting provision that is compatible with the factory blow-off valve or a Turbosmart VeePort. The intercooler also features a drain plug positioned at the low point of the intercooler system for convenient servicing and removal of accumulated oil mist and condensation.
For demanding off-road applications, the intercooler is supported by a massive 1-inch 304 stainless steel gusseted lower support bar designed to withstand the impacts and loads associated with off-road driving. Two mounting pins with rubber grommets help isolate the intercooler from impact energy, while a 304 stainless steel upper support bracket locates the core and limits movement.
The AMS Performance High Mount Intercooler connects to the factory intercooler piping and is designed specifically for 2017+ Ford F-150 and F-150 Raptor models equipped with the 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost engines. This version features a silver uncoated finish with the AMS logo, allowing the intercooler to remain visible through the grille.
Key Features
- 113% more core volume than the OEM intercooler
- 24 x 14 x 3.5-inch intercooler core
- 1176 cubic inches of core volume compared with 552 cubic inches for the factory unit
- Custom AMS-spec bar-and-plate fin and tube geometry
- High-mount design relocates the intercooler behind the upper grille
- Frees the lower front bumper area for a winch or frame-cut off-road bumper
- Massive gusseted 1-inch 304 stainless steel lower support bar
- 304 stainless steel upper support bracket
- CAD-designed cast aluminum end tanks
- 3-inch cast inlet and outlet ports
- Cast outlet tube with integrated blow-off valve mount
- Compatible with the factory blow-off valve or Turbosmart VeePort
- Drain plug positioned at the low point of the intercooler system
- Retains factory intercooler piping fitment
- Silver uncoated finish
- AMS logo finish
- Designed for demanding off-road use
Engineered High-Mount Design
The factory intercooler on the Ford F-150 and F-150 Raptor is mounted low in the front bumper, occupying the same area required by many aftermarket winches and frame-cut Baja or prerunner-style bumpers. The AMS Performance High Mount Intercooler relocates the intercooler behind the upper grille, freeing the lower front-end area for these modifications.
Relocating the intercooler also provides room for a substantially larger core. The 24 x 14 x 3.5-inch core provides 1176 cubic inches of volume, compared with approximately 552 cubic inches for the factory intercooler. The high-mount configuration positions the larger intercooler directly behind the upper grille where airflow is available while allowing the lower bumper area to remain available for off-road equipment.
CAD-Designed Airflow and Construction
The AMS Engineering Team modeled the front end of the truck in CAD to account for charge pipe locations, existing vehicle hardware, and available clearances. The intercooler's end tanks are cast aluminum rather than fabricated from folded sheet metal, allowing the internal airflow path to be properly managed into and out of the intercooler core.
Both end tanks feature 3-inch ports, providing substantial airflow capacity and an ideal foundation for custom intercooler piping. As delivered, the intercooler connects to the factory intercooler piping. The 3-inch inlet and outlet ports also provide a suitable connection size for future custom charge-air piping.
A drain plug is positioned at the low point of the intercooler system in the cold-side outlet tube, allowing accumulated oil mist and condensation to be drained during servicing.
Heavy-Duty Off-Road Mounting
The AMS High Mount Intercooler is designed to withstand the additional loads associated with mounting a large intercooler high in the front of an off-road truck. The lower support structure uses 1-inch 304 stainless steel tubing with stainless steel gusseting along the underside, providing a rigid mounting structure designed to resist flex and bending loads.
The intercooler core is mounted using two mounting pins isolated by rubber grommets to help damp impact energy before it reaches the intercooler end tanks. A 304 stainless steel upper support bracket locates the core and limits movement while the lower support structure carries the primary load.
Data-Driven On-Vehicle Testing
The AMS SnailWorks Engineering Team uses real-world testing to validate intercooler performance against established baselines. The company's research and development Ford F-150 Raptor is equipped with a MoTeC dash data logger and a 19-sensor array for monitoring critical engine and turbocharger parameters during dyno testing and on-road validation.
Testing of the AMS High Mount Intercooler evaluates charge-air temperature at the intercooler inlet and outlet as well as pressure drop across the core. Testing is conducted against the OEM intercooler and leading high-mount intercooler kits, with the same calibration maintained between runs so the intercooler remains the primary variable being evaluated.
Product Notes
- Connects to the factory intercooler piping only.
- Not compatible with AMS Performance aftermarket intercooler pipes or other aftermarket intercooler pipes.
- A dedicated AMS intercooler pipe set for the High Mount Intercooler is in development and is expected in Q1 2027.
- Installation requires removal of the upper front grille shutters.
- Installation requires trimming of the surrounding duct material.
Vehicle Fitment
- 2017+ Ford F-150 — 2.7L EcoBoost
- 2017+ Ford F-150 — 3.5L EcoBoost
- 2017+ Ford F-150 Raptor — 2.7L EcoBoost
- 2017+ Ford F-150 Raptor — 3.5L EcoBoost
Finish: Silver Uncoated
Logo: AMS Logo
Core Type: Bar and Plate
Core Dimensions: 24 x 14 x 3.5 inches
Core Volume: 1176 cubic inches
Inlet/Outlet Size: 3 inches
End Tank Material: Cast Aluminum
Support Material: 304 Stainless Steel
Mounting: Rubber-Isolated Mounting Pins
Blow-Off Valve Compatibility: OEM Valve or Turbosmart VeePort
Piping Compatibility: Factory Intercooler Piping Only
Installation: Upper Front Grille Shutters Must Be Removed; Surrounding Duct Material Requires Trimming
