Intercooler mounting issue
 

I finally finished the TB pipe from the stripes kit. Today I got around to mounting it up. I hit a snag though. I drilled two holes into the radiator support bracket and put 2 long bolts through them into the top of the intercooler. It tightens up against the hood latch nicely.

In this position the intercooler is about 5mm away from the radiator, and the passenger side intercooler pipe is about 1 1/2" low and 1" forward of the intercooler.

What I'm wondering is if I should move the intercooler, or shorten the pipe. Most of the pictures I found had the intercooler mounted away from the rad, but most of the diagrams had the intercooler mounted close. I'd like to just shorten the pipe because the intercooler is flush with the bottom of the rad and looks really nice. But if it will cause heat transfer problems I'll move it.

That's good to hear, what size IC was it? I just ordered the 25x12x3 from CXracing today and that's exactly what I planned on doing to mount it. Does it seem pretty secure?

My old IC setup had the IC's bottom at the same level as the bottom of the radiator. And then I had silicone 90's going under the radiator. I never hit anything with it, and my cooling system never suffered any because of it. I had about 1 inch between the two, maybe a little less. It was pretty much the IC right in front of the radiator.

Vash-

It is the 18x12x3. The one welded nut holding the airbag sensor on I drilled out, and then I made another hole on the other side. There is a flat square part under the latch and it tightens up against it. I'm not sure about your mounting holes because they will be further apart, but it should fit the same.

I think I will just shorten the pipe. I will be closing off the mouth and trimming the undertray. With the small intercooler I think it should be alright. I'll go put it back how I had it and take some pics.

Here is how it sits if I use the pipes as-is. Obviously too low, that I know.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...d/IMG_1338.jpg

BUT, this is how far away it sits. I noticed this is a common spacing based on the pictures I dug up. I would need to fab brackets to eleminate the angle.
Attachment 212956

Mounted using the bolt in method. Sits nice and high, which is what I need. The passenger side pipes seem low, I'll trim an inch off that side too.
Attachment 212957

Here is how I mounted the top. This is for the 18x12x3 only.
Attachment 212958

Here is how it looks from the bottom. Nice and close.
Attachment 212959

But in this position this pipe obviously doesn't fit. I'll need to trim 1 1/2" off the upward pipe, and cut about 3"s out of the horizontal pipe. I'll add in a coupler and be set.
Attachment 212960

I like it that way, shorten the pipes and get er done.

cut the pipe right in the area where its close to the radiator and use a coupler to adjust your length or tack weld it until you're comfortable with it then weld it...


*edit* sorry just re-read that you're going with the coupler... +1