FFIM intercooler pipe routing pictures

[arknotts]

I'm going to get a FFIM for my car, and I'm trying to figure out how I am going to do the cold side pipes (intercooler to manifold). I know people do it one of two general ways:

1) Route it straight down near the A/C compressor
2) Go down near the battery/headlight (with a relocated battery of course)

I've pretty much decided I'm going with #2 since I have a PWR radiator, and I'm thinking of using 2.75" piping. I feel it will also make it easier to work on not having the intercooler pipe in front of the accessories like that.

I've seen plenty of pictures of you guys' engine bays with intercooler piping routed like this, just not pics of where it is routed down to the intercooler. It seems like it would be cleanest to go straight down through the battery tray (although I would have to grind off the tray, correct?) rather than under the headlight. Can I see some pictures of how you guys did it?

 

[Gilsdorf]

Ark,
You'd definately have to relocate the battery and remove the tray (not a big issue and easily done to trunk or other) if you want to route the pipes that way. I personally believe it is the cleanest looking but makes for a very hard to remove IC to FFIM pipe, you could have a coupler in the middle of this pipe to make it a bit easier to remove, but that is also another point of possible leak/failure. Make sure the opening you drill through the body is at least 1/4" to 1/2" bigger than the piping or you will get a rattle.

My pipes are 2.5" from turbo to IC, 3" from IC to FFIM. All polished stainless. They did require a very minor trim of the plastic wheelwell liner/under engine cover and removeal of the DS lower front fender cover (but the location of my Canton oil filter meant that it would have to come off every time I needed to change the filter).

IC and PC680 battery location

Custom IC brackets

Test fit before final weld and polish

New style HKS SSQV on custom flange

 

[Mk3Les]

Ark,
You'd definately have to relocate the battery and remove the tray (not a big issue and easily done to trunk or other) if you want to route the pipes that way. I personally believe it is the cleanest looking but makes for a very hard to remove IC to FFIM pipe, you could have a coupler in the middle of this pipe to make it a bit easier to remove, but that is also another point of possible leak/failure. Make sure the opening you drill through the body is at least 1/4" to 1/2" bigger than the piping or you will get a rattle.

My pipes are 2.5" from turbo to IC, 3" from IC to FFIM. All polished stainless. They did require a very minor trim of the plastic wheelwell liner/under engine cover and removeal of the DS lower front fender cover (but the location of my Canton oil filter meant that it would have to come off every time I needed to change the filter).

I dont have any thing to add to this except to say ^ Very nice work, well done.

 

[atlpd3147]

Gilsdorf where did you buy that intercooler from? What size is it? And what Hp is it rated for?

 

[kamikazemkiii]

nice

 

[Gilsdorf]

Gilsdorf where did you buy that intercooler from? What size is it? And what Hp is it rated for?

The core is 12"x24"x3" with 3" inlets, I don't remember where I got it from but it wasn't expensive (probably a Yononka or other cheapie), not sure on the hp rating--I haven't reached it yet--but I'm unofficially@520whp.

 

[IJ.]

 

[arknotts]

Ark,
You'd definately have to relocate the battery and remove the tray (not a big issue and easily done to trunk or other) if you want to route the pipes that way. I personally believe it is the cleanest looking but makes for a very hard to remove IC to FFIM pipe, you could have a coupler in the middle of this pipe to make it a bit easier to remove, but that is also another point of possible leak/failure. Make sure the opening you drill through the body is at least 1/4" to 1/2" bigger than the piping or you will get a rattle.

My pipes are 2.5" from turbo to IC, 3" from IC to FFIM. All polished stainless. They did require a very minor trim of the plastic wheelwell liner/under engine cover and removeal of the DS lower front fender cover (but the location of my Canton oil filter meant that it would have to come off every time I needed to change the filter).

That's VERY nice, and just about how I was thinking of doing mine. It's good to see someone that did it like that. I would probably put a coupler in there just so I didn't have the remove the bumper to get it off. I was also thinking of putting some door/trunk molding around the hole so it doesn't rattle.

Did you just grind the battery tray off with a cutoff wheel or something similar? I'm also curious on how much your intercooler flows. I'm looking at a precision turbo one rated at 600 hp and it's a lot smaller than that.

 

[arknotts]

I've seen yours from your build thread IJ :aigo:. Looks really good. I'm afraid going through there I would hit the headlight. How much clearance do you have?

 

[IJ.]

It was a bit tight to the Plastic headlight trim

If I had to do it again I'd follow Gilsdorf's routing for the left side.

 

[atlpd3147]

Mr IJ did you spray your intercooler black? And it looks huge? Is it 4" thick? If not what's The dimensions of the intercooler?

 

[IJ.]

Mr IJ did you spray your intercooler black? And it looks huge? Is it 4" thick? If not what's The dimensions of the intercooler?

Yes and yes

4" core and about as big as will fit in the front of a Mk3 without cutting the front off and starting from scratch.

300x600x100mm

 

[hvyman]

what did you use to paint it black?

 

[Clip]

what did you use to paint it black?

paint

 

[kamikazemkiii]

^ lmao, id imagine the raidiator paint?

 

[IJ.]

paint

Bingo!

Tried banana's but it didn't flow for shit and washed off.

 

[arknotts]

I'm looking at the precision turbo 600 hp intercooler:

http://www.precisionturbo.net/Wc21126d5f695d.htm

...but it seems so small (31.5" x 8" x 3.5") compared to what most people run. I'm looking for 500-550 whp using a GT35R. The 600 HP seems like the right choice. Would the 750 HP one provide any benefit, or will it just add more volume to my system and decrease boost response?

 

[survyor2]

3 inch piping out of the top of the intercooler anyone?

 

[hvyman]

paint

i meant like what kind. because doesn't spray paint make the inter cooler lose efficiency?

 

[adampecush]

It was extremely easy to run it between the radiator and AC compressor....and no cutting was required.

Here is a pic of my set-up with a koyo radiator and 2.75" piping.