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Intercooling the Nine Fo'
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:41 am
by free5ty1e
Whats goin on?
I just purchased my new favorite toy (and my first Subaru), a 1994 Legacy Sport Sedan. It's left-hand drive but the speedo is in km/h... and the 5-speed manual has more play in gear than most any other tranny has in neutral. Anyway, I notice the hood scoop kind of just directly cools the turbo. Looks like it could use a top-mount intercooler, perhaps with the STI hood scoop. I have been browsing around this forum and like what I see so far, but is there a definate list of parts I'd need to add said intercooler? I'd like to benefit from the experience of those who have worked on this... suggestions?
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:52 am
by Legacy777
freestyle.......remove the pic from your sig.
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 1:09 am
by free5ty1e
k... "I have removed the pic from your sig" would have worked, too. Sorry about that.
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 4:26 am
by Brat4by4
The gear linkage is missing a bushing. I took it to "my" shop and they fabbed something up for free.
Re: Intercooling the Nine Fo'
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:50 am
by legacy92ej22t
free5ty1e wrote:
I I have been browsing around this forum and like what I see so far, but is there a definate list of parts I'd need to add said intercooler? I'd like to benefit from the experience of those who have worked on this... suggestions?
Welcome, well to answer your question....no. There isn't really a definitive list of parts because everybody pretty much has a different, custom set up.
There is pretty much 4 main options all of which will require custom compressor to i/c piping(5 if you go FMIC). 1 Get a water to air TMIC from a Liberty/ Legacy RS which you can get either from someone in the states or order from over seas. A few guys here are running them and like them a lot. This route will require moving and adding some things. Cost (i'm guessing) around $300-500 total. 2 Get a TMIC off a 93-96 STI. A couple are running these too and really like them. You don't see to many of these sold in the states but you can order them from over seas (mainly N.Z. or Aus.) Easier to install, less stuff to move. Cost ( again guessing) around $300-400 total. 3 Put in a OEM WRX TMIC. Once again a couple of guys are running these and like them. They seem to be a little bit of a bitch to get in but it can be done. They require moving a few things too and guys seem to have a little trouble with the outlet to i/c piping. They can be had fairly cheap on ebay $50-150 so (again guessing) total cost might be $80-200. 4 Put in Saab 900 TMIC. Now this is probably the easiest, cheapest and most used option. It is not as good as any of the above but good enough for most peoples needs. You don't have to move much and the i/c itself can be had on ebay from $20-80. This is the route I took. Total cost about $45-125. I hope this helps
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:05 am
by LegacyPunk
If you go top mount with a 02+ WRX TMIC a few things:
1. The AC line along the firewall needs to be re-routed or removed
2. The coolant tank gets in the way but can be moved
3. Connecting the turbo to the IC is no easy task but can be done, im still working on a better way to connect them.
4. You'll need a bigger scoop, because the tiny stock one won't do a thing, I used an STi one.
5. The BOV needs to be re-routed with some kind of an adapted off the IC, unless you get an aftermarket BOV.
6. It is an EXTREMELY tight fit, but all in all it is worth it, I noticed a big difference in how hard the car pulled.
as legacy92ej22t said, there are a few ways to go, check out some of the pics people have posted of their IC setup
welcome aboard

Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:23 pm
by LegacyT
And the ingniter has to be moved
Mark,
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:17 pm
by Legacy777
free5ty1e wrote:k... "I have removed the pic from your sig" would have worked, too. Sorry about that.
No prob, and welcome to the board.
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:02 pm
by boostjunkie
Seeing as you live in a pretty hot environment during parts of the year, I would personally suggest a front mount intercooler or a/w intercooler if you can afford it.
I am currently running a v2 STi topmount and notice that in the summer time, where temps reach around 90-100 degrees, that the intercooler will be too hot to touch after a period of hard driving, or even standing in traffic. That's why I installed a waterspray system . . . although I'm not quite sure about the efficiency of charge cooling even with this system.
I do have a larger turbo, and ran much higher boost, which may also have something to do with intercooler temps.
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:47 am
by rsstiboy
do something like this
works a treat in hot conditions

Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2003 3:10 am
by free5ty1e
Thanks for the help, I have a few paths to look into as far as intercooling my Legacy now. I have a 3" thick FMIC from some VW that I was planning on using on a car that is now totalled (hence the reason for purchasing the Legacy), but as I examine my engine bay it seems FMIC would have an intake path like 7 or 8 foot long - does that affect the latency of the throttle response as much as I think it would?
The top mount seems the simplest upgrade, and I already was planning on pointing one of the three windshield wiper pissers at it (drivers side has two for some reason, yoink!)... an a/w intercooler sounds interesting, never done the water thing before but if theres a top mount unit that will fit perhaps that's what I'll experiment with.
I do have a Greddy Type S BOV from my last application too, I was planning on using this anyway. First though, my boost gauge and MBC go in. I'm not sure this thing is hitting 8 psi, it picks up under partial throttle plenty strong but there doesnt seem to be much more power between half-throttle to the floor. I'm wondering if something's keeping it from spooling all the way up. Can't tell until I get the gauge in there though...
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2003 3:35 am
by vrg3
rsstiboy - Is that a soda bottle in place of the coolant overflow tank? :lol:
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:11 am
by LegacyPunk
Talk about a custom overflow tank

Is that a kill switch by your fuse box??
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2003 10:10 pm
by rsstiboy
nah, its not my car, wish it was!! it has 194kw@wheels, its a "work in progress" the coke bottle is there because the idiot mechanic that rebuilt the car removed a few essential items. don't know about the switch by the fuse box, I only just noticed that yesterday
If you have broadband or are willing to wait for a download of this beast in action check out
this 
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2003 10:39 pm
by mTk
There was some garbage in the URL, try
This
MK
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 12:38 am
by Matt Monson
What kind of ignition is he running on that thing???
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 3:57 am
by czo79
If you are talking about the pic in the previous page on this thread that Rsstiboy posted...I think its just a standard EJ20G coil on plug affair...although perhaps there is something going on that I didn't notice, cause I can't actually see them.
Micum
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 8:48 am
by rsstiboy
he's running bosch coils