The turbo install will begine after this weekend so I need to get my plan going. I plan to do mostly auto-x and would like my power steering. Does removing it save a lot of room and make it easier to route the intercooler piping? Does it make more sense to remove the AC?

 

Removing both the A/C and PS pump will make more room for IC pipes and turbo stuff. You can still do it without removing these items though.

I myself have A/C and no PS, and will be doing my piping myself with 2.5" AL pipes. I'm thinking about routing the hotside pipes through the fender well to avoid dealing with the A/C compressor and lines.

 

I removed my A/C and it made it a lot easier to route I/C piping. About 70% of the time I wish I woulda kept my A/C though, so I guess it depends what you're going to use your car for. If it's a daily driver, I say leave the A/C.

 

If you pull your A/C and P/S you can clock your compressor outlet straight down. I ran an IC that was exactly the width of the radiator, and my entire hotside pipe was a 45* elbow off the compressor housing, a 12" section of 45* pipe bend, and a 90*elbow... that's it.

It's the next shortest route vs. an over-the-rad setup.

 

Pulling both obviously frees up the most space and weight. If you were to pick one or the other, the PS pump sits higher (i.e. closer to the manifold/turbo) so ridding the bay of it frees up good room for the turbo. You really don't need PS for autox, unless you're super-competitive and competing at the national level. Even a looped rack is easy to turn.

Sam - IIRC Ben's old Greddy/NA had the compressor clocked down and had AC, just with smaller piping (I want to say 2").

 

The FM charge pipe (turbo to IC) is really worth the money, works with A/C and PS.
I tried it with standard 2.5" tubing and even with A/C removed I had problems, finally gave up and got the FM Silicon tube. I'm using a 2554R and a CX Racing IC.

 

2-1/2" intercooler pipes with a/c & p/s is stupidly easy. It took me all of an hour to measure, cut and mount mine in place. I know I don't have p/s installed in these pics, but I did have it installed when I first did my 2-1/2 intercooler pipes. I had no issues.







Take a look through some posts by Braineack and find some shots of his setup. He has the turbo clocked down with a/c.

 

I ran it the same way but under hard acceleration, the PS pulley hit the piping, even with new Mazda motosports mounts.
Looks like you don't have PS and the idler pully you have instead is much smaller. The A/C compressor wasn't the problem.

 

All it takes is a bit of massaging, but it can be done easily.

 

Like the guys said: removing gives you tons of room but you can still pull it off with everything in place.

I cannot live without ps and ac (huge *****, I know. IDGAF)

 

Same. I only took my p/s out because it barely worked.

I can't live with out the a/c in southern Florida and I'm sure it's just as bad in California. I still think the best part is people telling you to pull the a/c because it's what the cool kids do, then listen to them bitch and whine about how hot it is and how they don't want to drive their car anymore

 

I've got turbo clocked down with a/c and ps...
Bought the hot side hose to the intercooler from FM to do it. It has many bends and rubs a little against pretty much everything.

It is stupid close to everything and I should've routed it similiar to "viperormiata" or passsed it through the fender well. I could've used a larger diameter pipe this way and not rub on anything.

 

I think I would keep PS if I had the option and it's not just a street vehicle. I'm finding that I have to really fight the 9" wheels when getting aggressive on the street already. Tuning out a lot of the caster might help.