Just thinking about moving my intercooler to regain my ground clearance. My only question is will I in turn decrease the airflow to the intercooler and affect my boost? Unlike some of the other guys here, I don't have a front license plate to cut out behind. I've also got fog lights. Could this be a problem? Thanks.

 

You will not loose boost if you move the intercooler to the nose. I did it on my Z
www.geocities.com/marc94z/intercooler.html

I ditched my fog lights.

Marc

 

Actually, I'm more concerned about the cooling flow through the intercooler rather than the actual boost. Just want to make sure it's not going to raise my IATs a whole bunch. Thanks. Anyone else?

 

When I had the intercooler mounted vertical on the end of the frame rails my intake temps would be 20* above ambient and by the end of the track while going through the lights it would rise an additional 20*

So on an 80* day it would be 120* while going through the lights, In my current setup, I have angled the intercooler to mirror the radiator to increase airflow to the radiator.

Marc

 

I also had my 2 core mounted in both places. I noticed when it was Under the car my IAT sensor was reading ~25 degrees above ambient plus it would raise a little in traffic cuz of the heat radiating off the motor and radiator. When it was moved to the front nose of my car, Not only did I get my ground clearance back, but I noticed my IAT sensor was now reading ~19 degrees above ambient and thats with me only using the fog lights and some duct work to cool the IC (If I had a bigger whole, I would probably get more of a cooling effect).

I would recommend relocating it. It made life a lot easier with a lowered car because I did not scrape the IC over every little speed bump or going up my driveway. Plus it did increase cooling too. Also forgot to mention, I did notice that my "Coolant" temps also went down about ~6 degrees. I assume that the IC was not letting some hot air escape from the Radiator when the IC was locating under my car. All readings were done on my scanmaster.


shoot me an email if you wanna see pics of the install.

 

What did you fellas use to hack the bumper? My cut-off wheel wouldn't "cut it" this weekend

 

If done right, you shouldn't lose any airflow. I had some small problems w/ heating up in traffic or on very hot days(100*+), but that wasn't because of the intercooler.

At first, I was going to keep the bumper, but changed my mind. I'll be making a "cage" sorta like Marc did out of 1" square stock.

 

What do you mean "hack off the bumper"?

The crash protection will unbolt and one side of the intercooler will bolt right up to the drivers side frame rail and all you have to do is drill a hole off set less than one inch (towards the drivers side) to get the other side of the intercooler to bolt up to the end of the frame rail. Then just get some 1" square stock tubing and fab up some crash protection to give yourself a little protection.

Marc

 

Ooops, that should have read "bumper cover."

 

I just used a utility knife with a new blade and took my time as one wrong move will get you a new bumber cover pretty quick. A pair of dikes can also help you get started in some of the corners that are a little thick. I traced out where I wanted to cut with a magic marker and then cut away. Then applied a little tuch up paint to cover the raw edges and you're good to go.

Marc

 

When I trimmed my rear bumper for the larger tires, I used a Dremel w/ the little metal saw bit (looks like a small saw blade on a shaft). It cut through it like buttuh.

I'd definitely trace out where you want to cut first. I used white chalk to make my cut line, scored it w/ an X-acto, then cut it w/ the Dremel.

 

95 Silver TA:
Thanks man - that's exactly what I wanted to hear. I'm going to start this weekend. I'll send you an email for pix.

1st and Goal - are your pix of the "angled" mount or of the first setup? If not got pix of the latest and greatest? Thanks.

How long did it take you guys to do yours? I'm going to send my PCM to PCMforless to get rid of my high idle so the car will be down for a while anyways.

Thanks again for your help fellas.

Justin.

 

Here are the links to the pics of the revised intercooler position that mirror's the radiator angle.

http://www.geocities.com/marc94z28/r...erpostion.html
http://www.geocities.com/marc94z28/revisedairflow.html

Here is a pic of the fog light area cut out, I cut a hole in the middler where the licence plate bracket goes and I gut the plate bracket bowtie out so I could take the plate off and air could get though there. I have plans to cut out most of the center section and put a Stull grille in and fab up a bracket to reposition the front plate a little further down in the front.

http://www.geocities.com/marc94z28/n...oolernose.html

The rest of the intercooler page is:
http://www.geocities.com/marc94z/intercooler.html

Marc

 

I didn't cut my front fascia. I removed the fog lights on my TA and used them to get air. The front plate law in IL sucks, so I had to have somewhere to mount the plate. I'm working on it though.

When I first did mine, it took a day or two. I double checked all my measurements/bends before putting everything together and I had to wait on some parts. I could probably do one now in half a day if I have the pipe measurements.

Marc's page is very helpful. Many times I had printouts of his pictures laying in the garage.

 

Thanks

What goes around comes around......In the past I've done the same thing and had pics of what other people did lingering around and then use it as a guide line to do what I want to do. This board is a great resource

Marc