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have quick questions. Saab 900 or WRX intercooler?

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 9:57 am
by Project_Legacy
1. Which flows better?
2. Which works better? (i.e. cooling wise)
3. Which is easier to install?
4. Which fits better?


Ive been reading up on both of these and from what i see in pictures and have read, the Saab 900 intercooler looks much easier to install than the WRX one. But it doesnt look as big as the WRX intercooler. i also realized that it'd be a biatch to put on the WRX intercooler because of all the steps needed. But then again the Saab 900 also looks like it fits in better too. Can u guys help me out please?? Im feeling discouraged from the WRX intercooler cuz it seems kinda hard. But anyway any input will be great. Thanks a lot.


O yea im putting this into the EJ22T motor without A/C.

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:12 am
by jake15
1&2- WRX i/c
3&4- SAAB i/c

they can be had for around the same price, its just a matter of how much fabrication you want to do, i had to do quite a bit to make my WRX i/c work, and i dont have any regrets, its just time consuming. if your lookin for installation ease, go with the SAAB i/c. but if you want more cooling efficiency, go with the WRX i/c. and if you need some help w/the WRX i/c, you might want to stop by the shop in the next month or 2 because robbie is putting a WRX i/c on his car w/ the stock turbo. so you'll get some useful information from him, when he does it. i'll keep you updated

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:13 pm
by ultrasonic
It seems to me that the Saab only marginally fits better. Both have their issues. You might also consider the (non-USDM) early WRX intercooler from GC chassis. I think the appropriate years are 93-97ish. It is larger, and fits better, than the Saab unit. Fits better than the >02 US WRX i/c. Also it has the proper recirc valve, so your plumbing fabrication is greatly reduced. Better yet would be one from an STi of the same era. Slightly larger, flows better, still easily installed. The only missing link on both of these is the pipe from the turbo to the i/c inlet, which of course is something you'd have to deal with on both the Saab and the WRX units.

Here is a non-STi version on ebay right now, although it does not include the recirc valve.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... gory=33742

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:52 am
by Project_Legacy
aye jake15. i thought robbie alrdy put the WRX intercooler on. he showed me at his other job. well it was a picture of it on his phone. maybe it was urs and i misunderstood him. yea that would be kool to check it out. cuz i jus bought a WRX intercooler on Ebay. i found a crap load of Saab 900 ones also so maybe i mite get both?? who knows. anyway ill probly be stoppin by soon then when he starts workin on it. thanks a lot everyone.

o yea ultrasonic i saw that one on ebay too. but then i heard that they cut somethin off in a bad place? anyway thanks a lot everyone. guess i will be doin a WRX intercooler then.

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 2:45 am
by jake15
yeah, robbie started to try to make it fit, but he didn't have enough time to finish it, so he just snapped a picture of how it was, and put it back together in stock form. we're hoping to finish it sometime soon, like maybe when we put his TD05 on :twisted:

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 7:38 am
by BAC5.2
I went with the SAAB unit because it's easy as cake to install, and I won't be running it for much longer.

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 8:16 am
by Project_Legacy
ooo ic. thanks a lot guys. wish i had a better garage to work on all this stuff in. anyway im goin wit the WRX IC since it should equal more performance. thanks for everything. peyce

Don