Working out my intercooler install this weekend. Over the last couple weeks I've been struggling to keep my idle at the same AFR. I would start out super rich even with the coolant at full temp, and then over the course of an hour of driving it would get leaner and leaner. It seems I found the culprit.



Yes, if you are wondering, I did just wrap electrical tape around my GM IAT sensor and jam it in the place where the stock sensor lived. And yes, it did just fall right out...
In my defense I thought it was going to be temporary, but I never got around to doing it properly.

 

This cracked me up glad you got it sorted

 

Things are happening! Last weekend I had a FM clutch installed, this weekend the intercooler. Some pics of my routing/mounting:





Turbo goes on that end. Coming soon! For now I removed the last piece, threw a shorter one on and slapped a cone filter on the end of it.





Through the hole behind the headlight, which I enlarged and trimmed with plastic.





Intercooler goes there.





I went around the side of the radiator and under the sway bar.





up and in.





Used some angle stock aluminum for a bracket, with cutaways so it could sit as low as possible.





Plus some flat stock. Mounts to where the power steering lines were. I moved those up and out of the way. I also triangulated the bottom to some random bolt underneath to stabilize it.

 

Nice progress Nigel!

 

Thanks! The photos you sent over were super helpful. Did you do any brackets to hold the tubing in place, or is it just supported at the intercooler, TB and turbo?

 

Glad I could help. No brackets besides the intercooler mounts, probably best to have a little give for any movement between the motor and chassis.

 

My MK Turbo kit should be arriving any day. In the mean time I had to throw my car back together so I can drive to work tomorrow. Check out my baller oil catch can! (someone tell me now if it is a stupid idea to drive like that for a couple days)

 

Just stick a mini filter on it. Doesn't matter.

 

For now, shop rag + zip tie = mini filter

 

Threw together a license plate frame. The old one was bent to **** because the bolts were rusty, so the PO bent it up and cut the old plate off. Much scratching has occurred, so I'll need to repaint my front bumper.




If I did this again, I'd use thicker angle stock for the lower part to reduce twisting, and I'd use angle stock instead of flat stock for the main piece. I attached it to a bolt hole where the bumper cover bolts up to the bumper.

 

Installed a koyo 37mm radiator. I think I'm all good to go for the turbo now. I should be boosted by the first week of January!

 

First box should be to you on Wednesday, the second box should be early next week.

 

 

Some things showed up at my house...

 

Has trurbo!

Twibs415 helped me out today and we got everything installed and running is a few short hours, which then ended up being midnight, but whose counting. Ran it around the block a couple times and confirmed that it is working. Tomorrow I'll auto tune on my way to work. Yay!

 

Yippee on getting it installed.

 

Need photos of install or it didn't happen!

 

 

Yay! I can't wait to go for a ride and see how the vvt spools.

 

Everything looks pretty spot on

Maybe a few touch ups here and here, with wiring & hoses but that's it. Dem shiny new parts!

The only question I have is which pcv valve do you have and I forget if the vvt ones are good for boost pressure. If stock & yes, I'd grab the FM upgraded one if you haven't already. Question after that is what kinda oil catch can setup are you going to run?