WRX I/C installed, yeehaaaa!! Now with PICS

[mhrallyteam]

I will try to post some pics has soon as possible.

It's a really tight fit, but everything works fine, i didn't get any pressure drop compared to no i/c. I still have 8-9psi, and much better performance.

Before, from 3/4 to full throttle i couldn't see any difference. Now i can use that last 1/4, it really pulls hard now.

I used only one inlet to the I/C, to simplify the installation, and i don't think it hurts performance too much. I used a plate to block the other inlet, and i tapped the boost gauge fitting in it.

I shaved both the Throttle body and the i/c flange, trimmed the hood and firewall, and used a radiator hose to fit the turbo to the i/c, and that's it.

Really worth the effort and 100$can, recommend it the anyone who has a garage. Next step, rising the boost

[vrg3]

Cool!

How did you deal with the blowoff valve?

How do you know you're not getting a pressure drop if you're measuring boost at the intercooler inlet?

Do you have the part number of the radiator hose you used? Does the hose go all the way from the compressor outlet to the intercooler inlet, or did you hack up the stock WRX Y-pipe?

[mhrallyteam]

For the BOV i used some aircraft parts laying around here to use my stock diverter valve, a aluminium plate holds down a AN fitting in the bov hole, and it is sealed with a O-ring. The pictures will help with this one.

For the pressure drop, even if i measured at the i/c inlet i expected a small drop, since the pressure should be the same troughout the i/c. The i/c acting has a kind of plenum i figured it would be 5-6 instead of 8-9psi. Anyway there is none and i was wrong

The radiator hose was hack up from a 72 mustang( don't laugh ). Of course the hose was almost new, it runs from the turbo outlet straight to the i/c inlet. no parts number, sorry

I did a 1250km trip yesterday with everything still working and no leaks

[vrg3]

That's cool that you made your own BOV adapter with an AN bulkhead fitting.

The pressure isn't the same throughout the intercooler. If it were, you wouldn't have a pressure drop . You're effectively measuring boost at the compressor outlet right now. Hook your gauge up to the intake manifold and you'll probably see something like 7 psi.

I gotta check out a radiator hose from a 72 Mustang... that's way cool that it's the right diameter and has the right bends for something like this.

[wind chaser]

AN Bulkhead fitting? Please educate me.

Is there performance lost using only one of the intercooler inlets? Which one is not used?

Kind of unrelated: If one were to get a wrx ic (tdo4 I think) would it fit right up to the Y pipe of the wrx ic when mounted in our cars?
I got my wrx ic last week and pulled off the current plumbing to look at fitment and got a little discouraged at the tight space between compressor and wrx Y pipe. (not to mention the ac line that has to be bent or replaced with a n/a one and I'd rather not have to switch to R134)

[mhrallyteam]

AN means Aeronautical standard products, which can be purchase at AVIALL, the major supplier of such parts, they are premium quality parts used by every aeronautical company in there products.

you can also found MS, military standard, quite often in aviation.

Of course using only one inlet is not the best way, you have has much air going in, since the diameter is the same, but the air is not spread evenly across the ic.

If you want to use an y-pipe, try to get a silicon one, much easier to work with.

And be prepare for rubbing noise, my IC is rubbing a lot since the engine moves a lot and the fit is so tight

[mhrallyteam]

Now the pics,

http://img45.exs.cx/img45/5743/subaru178ox.jpg


http://img45.exs.cx/img45/5743/subaru178ox.jpg

http://img45.exs.cx/img45/8233/subaru185lm.jpg

http://img45.exs.cx/img45/1875/subaru193jv.jpg

Best i could do in one day

[BAC5.2]

No ABS? Neat!

[dwreck30]

Did you have to pound the firewall any?

[mhrallyteam]

I wouldn't say pound, let say reformed with a calibrated percussion device.

[greg donovan]

where is the clutch fluid resevoir?

[LegacyPunk]

I miss my WRX IC

[jake15]

I miss my WRX IC

get a SAAB i/c, or you can always go FMIC

[LegacyPunk]

FMIC someday.....that and a bigger turbo...but i am poor...stupid art school..

[mhrallyteam]

Its a cable actuated clutch, since it is the original 4.111 tranny, which stands very well to the abuse

[irishsetter]

How did you support the IC? Did you make a bracket or is it free floating?

[mhrallyteam]

It's holding in place with only the silicon hose at the throttle body, and the hose from the turbo.

But i recommend to use some small brackets, using the old A/C line holes in the I/C and the plastic engine cover bracket has mounting point. at more than 12psi it could pop out.