The 2017+ Ford F-150 and F-150 Raptor offer a strong foundation for performance-oriented street, towing, and off-road builds, particularly with the 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost engines. As these trucks are modified for higher performance and increasingly demanding environments, improving charge-air cooling can become an important part of the overall build.

The AMS Performance High Mount Intercooler provides a substantial redesign of the factory intercooler layout. Instead of remaining in the factory low-mounted position inside the front bumper, the AMS system relocates the intercooler to the upper grille area.

This relocation serves two purposes. First, it creates considerably more space in the lower front end for equipment such as winches, frame-cut bumpers, Baja bumpers, and prerunner-style components. Second, the new location accommodates a significantly larger intercooler core, with 1176 cubic inches of core volume compared with approximately 552 cubic inches for the factory unit.

Available through Extreme Power House (XPH) in four different configurations, the AMS High Mount Intercooler combines a large bar-and-plate core with cast aluminum end tanks, 3-inch inlet and outlet ports, heavy-duty stainless-steel mounting hardware, and provisions for either the factory blow-off valve or a Turbosmart VeePort.

The four configurations are mechanically based on the same AMS High Mount Intercooler design, with the primary differences being finish and AMS logo configuration.

A High-Mount Solution for the EcoBoost F-150 Platform

The factory intercooler occupies valuable space low in the front bumper area. That location can become restrictive for owners building trucks around off-road hardware, especially when a front bumper, winch, or other equipment requires additional room.

AMS addresses this limitation by moving the intercooler behind the upper grille.

The high-mount layout opens up the lower portion of the front end while providing room for a much larger charge-air cooler.

The result is a system designed not simply as a larger replacement intercooler, but as a solution for a different type of F-150 build.

For trucks being prepared for:

• Off-road driving
• Baja-style builds
• Prerunner configurations
• Winch-equipped applications
• Frame-cut bumper setups
• High-performance street builds
• Demanding EcoBoost applications

the high-mount layout can provide both packaging and charge-air cooling advantages.

113% More Core Volume Than the Factory Intercooler

At the center of the AMS system is a 24 x 14 x 3.5-inch bar-and-plate intercooler core.

The total core volume is 1176 cubic inches, compared with approximately 552 cubic inches for the factory intercooler.

That represents 113% more core volume than the OEM intercooler.

The larger core provides AMS with substantially more internal volume for charge-air cooling while fitting within the high-mounted location behind the grille.

The core also uses custom AMS-spec fin and tube geometry, developed as part of the company's intercooler design.

Core volume alone does not determine intercooler performance, but the combination of increased size, fin and tube geometry, airflow management, and end-tank design provides the foundation for the AMS system's charge-air cooling strategy.

Cast Aluminum End Tanks and 3-Inch Ports

The intercooler uses CAD-designed cast aluminum end tanks rather than simple fabricated sheet-metal end tanks.

Casting allows the internal shape of the end tanks to be controlled around the airflow path, helping transition air between the charge piping and the intercooler core.

Both sides feature 3-inch inlet and outlet ports.

The 3-inch ports provide substantial airflow capacity and also establish a useful connection size for custom charge-air piping. However, as supplied, the AMS High Mount Intercooler is designed to connect to the factory intercooler piping.

This distinction is important for customers planning future upgrades: the intercooler itself features 3-inch ports, but the current product configuration is intended for factory intercooler piping rather than AMS or third-party aftermarket intercooler pipes.

Factory Blow-Off Valve or Turbosmart VeePort Compatibility

The cast outlet tube incorporates an integrated mounting provision for the blow-off valve.

The AMS High Mount Intercooler is compatible with either the factory blow-off valve or a Turbosmart VeePort, providing flexibility for different EcoBoost configurations.

This allows customers to retain the factory valve when appropriate or incorporate a compatible Turbosmart valve into a modified setup.

Drain Plug for Intercooler Servicing

Turbocharged engines can accumulate oil mist and condensation within the charge-air system.

To make servicing easier, AMS incorporates a drain plug at the low point of the intercooler system, located in the cold-side outlet tube.

This provides a dedicated point for removing accumulated oil mist and condensation rather than requiring the intercooler to be removed for this type of maintenance.

The drain provision is particularly useful for trucks being used in demanding environments where regular inspection and servicing of the charge-air system are part of the vehicle's maintenance routine.

Heavy-Duty Off-Road Mounting Structure

Moving a large intercooler to a higher position introduces different mounting requirements, particularly on a truck designed for off-road use.

AMS addresses this with a substantial mounting structure centered around a 1-inch 304 stainless steel lower support bar.

The lower support bar is gusseted with additional 304 stainless steel reinforcement to provide rigidity and resist the flex and loading associated with off-road driving.

The intercooler itself is supported by two mounting pins with rubber grommets.

These rubber-isolated mounting points help separate the intercooler core from impact energy and vibration rather than transmitting every movement directly into the end tanks.

A 304 stainless steel upper support bracket provides additional positioning and limits movement of the core.

Together, the upper and lower mounting structures are designed to provide the support required for a large intercooler installed in a truck intended to see demanding terrain.

CAD-Designed Around the F-150 Front End

AMS developed the High Mount Intercooler around the packaging constraints of the F-150 platform.

The company's engineering team modeled the front end in CAD to account for existing vehicle hardware, charge-pipe locations, available space, and the requirements of the new high-mounted intercooler position.

This allows the intercooler, end tanks, ports, and mounting system to work together within the available upper-grille area.

The result is a purpose-built high-mount system rather than simply repositioning an existing intercooler core.

Data-Driven Testing and Development

AMS's SnailWorks Engineering Team uses on-vehicle and dyno testing as part of its intercooler development process.

The company's research and development Ford F-150 Raptor uses a MoTeC dash data logger and a 19-sensor array to monitor critical engine and turbocharger parameters.

For the High Mount Intercooler, testing includes monitoring 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 other high-mount intercooler solutions, with the same calibration maintained between testing runs so that the intercooler remains the primary variable being evaluated.

This type of testing provides a more complete picture of intercooler operation than core size alone.

Designed Around Demanding Off-Road Builds

One of the defining advantages of the AMS High Mount Intercooler is its packaging strategy.

For a conventional street truck, the lower front bumper area may not be particularly important. For an off-road build, however, that space can be needed for equipment that directly affects how the truck is used.

By relocating the intercooler to the upper grille, the AMS system opens the lower front end for applications involving:

Winches

The freed-up bumper area can accommodate winch-oriented front-end configurations.

Frame-Cut Bumpers

The high-mount layout is designed with frame-cut bumper builds in mind.

Baja Bumpers

The relocated intercooler provides additional flexibility for larger off-road bumper configurations.

Prerunner Builds

The packaging also suits prerunner-style builds where front-end hardware and clearance are important considerations.

The result is an intercooler designed around the needs of the complete truck rather than only the engine compartment.

Factory Intercooler Piping Compatibility

The AMS High Mount Intercooler is designed to connect to the factory intercooler piping.

This is an important distinction when planning an installation.

The intercooler is not compatible with AMS Performance aftermarket intercooler pipes or other aftermarket intercooler pipe systems in its current configuration.

AMS has a dedicated intercooler pipe set for the High Mount Intercooler in development, with availability expected in Q1 2027 according to the supplied product information.

Customers should therefore ensure they are using the appropriate factory piping configuration when purchasing the current intercooler.

Installation Considerations

The AMS High Mount Intercooler is designed specifically around the 2017+ F-150 and F-150 Raptor front-end architecture, but installation does involve modifications to surrounding factory components.

Installation requires:

• Removal of the upper front grille shutters.
• Trimming of the surrounding duct material.
• Installation of the high-mount intercooler and its support structure.
• Connection to the factory intercooler piping.
• Proper installation of the blow-off valve configuration.

Professional installation is recommended, particularly because the installation involves modifying surrounding duct material and working around the vehicle's front-end components.

Customers should also confirm the exact vehicle configuration before ordering.

Four AMS High Mount Intercooler Configurations

The four products covered in this article use the same core AMS High Mount Intercooler platform and are designed for the same F-150 and Raptor EcoBoost applications.

The primary differences are the exterior finish and whether the AMS logo is present.

Silver Uncoated with AMS Logo

The AMS Performance AMS.55.09.0002-1 features a silver uncoated finish with the AMS logo.

This version leaves the aluminum intercooler visible behind the grille while displaying the AMS branding.

The exposed finish can be particularly suitable for builds where the intercooler itself is intended to remain visually prominent.

Part Number: AMS.55.09.0002-1

Shop the Silver Uncoated AMS Logo Configuration

Silver Uncoated without AMS Logo

The AMS Performance AMS.55.09.0002-2 uses the same High Mount Intercooler design in a silver uncoated finish without the AMS logo.

This configuration retains the exposed aluminum appearance while providing a cleaner, more understated look behind the upper grille.

For customers who prefer the appearance of an uncoated intercooler without visible branding, this is the appropriate configuration.

Part Number: AMS.55.09.0002-2

Shop the Silver Uncoated Configuration Without AMS Logo

Black Powder Coat with AMS Logo

The AMS Performance AMS.55.09.0002-3 adds a black powder-coated finish with the AMS logo.

The black finish gives the intercooler a more subdued appearance behind the grille while retaining visible AMS branding.

This configuration can complement builds using black front-end components and other dark-finish off-road hardware.

Part Number: AMS.55.09.0002-3

Shop the Black Powder Coat AMS Logo Configuration

Black Powder Coat without AMS Logo

The AMS Performance AMS.55.09.0002-4 features the same high-mount intercooler design with a black powder-coated finish without the AMS logo.

This version is suited to customers who prefer a darker, more discreet appearance behind the grille without visible branding.

Part Number: AMS.55.09.0002-4

Shop the Black Powder Coat Configuration Without AMS Logo

2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost Fitment

The AMS High Mount Intercooler is designed for the following applications:

• 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

The same four finish and logo configurations are available for this application range.

As always, customers should verify their exact vehicle configuration before ordering.

Core and Construction Specifications

Across all four configurations, the AMS High Mount Intercooler uses the same core and primary construction.

• Core Type: Bar and Plate
• Core Dimensions: 24 x 14 x 3.5 inches
• Core Volume: 1176 cubic inches
• OEM Core Volume: Approximately 552 cubic inches
• Increase in Core Volume: 113%
• Inlet/Outlet Size: 3 inches
• End Tank Material: Cast Aluminum
• Support Material: 304 Stainless Steel
• Lower Support: 1-inch gusseted 304 stainless steel tubing
• Mounting: Rubber-isolated mounting pins
• Blow-Off Valve Compatibility: OEM valve or Turbosmart VeePort
• Piping Compatibility: Factory intercooler piping only

The configuration-specific difference is the exterior finish and logo treatment.

Which Configuration Should You Choose?

The underlying intercooler hardware is the same across the four configurations, so the choice primarily comes down to appearance and branding preference.

The silver uncoated versions retain the natural aluminum appearance of the intercooler.

The black powder-coated versions provide a darker appearance behind the grille.

Within each finish, customers can choose between an AMS logo or no AMS logo.

This gives F-150 and Raptor owners four visual configurations without changing the core intercooler design, mounting structure, or intended vehicle applications.

AMS High Mount Intercooler Key Features

• Designed for 2017+ Ford F-150 and F-150 Raptor.
• Compatible with 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost engines.
• High-mount configuration relocates the intercooler behind the upper grille.
• Frees lower front-end space for winches and off-road bumper configurations.
• 113% more core volume than the OEM intercooler.
• 1176 cubic inches of core volume.
• 24 x 14 x 3.5-inch bar-and-plate core.
• Custom AMS-spec fin and tube geometry.
• CAD-designed cast aluminum end tanks.
• 3-inch inlet and outlet ports.
• Integrated blow-off valve mounting provision.
• Compatible with factory blow-off valve or Turbosmart VeePort.
• Low-point drain plug for servicing accumulated oil mist and condensation.
• 1-inch 304 stainless steel gusseted lower support.
• 304 stainless steel upper support bracket.
• Rubber-isolated mounting pins.
• Designed for demanding off-road applications.
• Connects to factory intercooler piping.
• Four available finish/logo configurations.

Build Your F-150 or Raptor Through XPH

The AMS Performance High Mount Intercooler is designed for F-150 and Raptor owners who need more than a conventional intercooler replacement. Its high-mounted layout combines a substantially larger charge-air cooler with packaging that frees the lower front bumper area for the equipment commonly found on serious off-road builds.

With 1176 cubic inches of core volume, 3-inch ports, cast aluminum end tanks, heavy-duty stainless-steel supports, and factory-piping compatibility, the AMS system provides a purpose-built solution for 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost trucks.

At Extreme Power House (XPH), customers can choose from all four AMS configurations: silver uncoated with AMS logo, silver uncoated without AMS logo, black powder coat with AMS logo, and black powder coat without AMS logo.

The underlying intercooler design remains consistent across the four versions, allowing the choice to come down to the finish and branding that best suits the truck's build.

Important: Installation requires removal of the upper front grille shutters and trimming of surrounding duct material. The current intercooler is designed for factory intercooler piping and is not compatible with AMS or other aftermarket intercooler piping.