I/C Piping Completed! *pics*
 

Finally! I have been putting off attatching the intercooler because I didnt have the right couplers. My I/C is attatched to the bumper support, and that puts the ends right next to the fog lights. The BTI piping wouldnt fit like that. I couldnt move the intercooler to a different location because of several reasons, and I actually like it where its at right now anyways. I needed special couplers to bend around the foglights so I wouldnt have to remove them. I ordered the couplers and they came in today! :pepper: [IMG]http://img478.imageshack.us/img478/5...ping004kg0.jpg[/IMG]
So now all I have to do is install the pipes! I fit everything together earlier, and heres what is going to look like........[IMG]http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/5...ping005ve5.jpg[/IMG]
Then I did a little test fitting later![IMG]http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/4...ping001fc5.jpg[/IMG]
Ill be adding a Vortech mini race BPV soon! Polishing the pipes as you read this....Let me know what you think......

Heres the intercooler mounted.......
[IMG]http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/6...ials004qp9.jpg[/IMG]

looks good. how much power do you think that i/c is gonna enable you to go up to?

thats looks good!!!! what brand of intercooler is it!!!! i have a intercooler from a 92 thunderbird, do u think theres any chance that i can do the same and add it on mine

Thanks! The intercooler is good to 700hp. Should be able to max out the s-trim with it. If I need more power I have some juice set up also, but I think this might be enough!:D


Its an ebay intercooler 24x12x3. Its really good quality though! You can use the thunderbird intercooler, but I dont think it would flow well enough for what your using it for. You need a 3" inlet and outlet. My intercooler was only a little over a hundred bucks. But, youll also need a vortech mini race BPV that costs like $260, and a piping kit thats another $100. So it adds up quickly! I know a guy thats making almost 600whp with just a meth kit and stock bosch BPV......

nice deal, cant wait to see new numbers.

Needs more chin spoiler

:poke:

LOL And lowering springs

:poke:

I'd rather have go before show...:devil2:

thats my motto

You're only saying that because you haven't got one either.
:boink: :breakdancesmilie:

:bs2:

Started the install today....Man its a super PITA sofar. Is coming along, but ive spent a couple hours just getting the couplings to fit around the foglights and AC lines....Had to trim the couplers a little to get the proper angles. Ill need to take the bumper off again to attatch the hard pipes. I think that'll be tomorrow's work. Im beat for today.....Wish I had the money for the paxton kit, but I dont and that would cost about a grand more.....

Take off the fog lights they dont do squat anyway.

I was thinking about it, but I want to keep the car as much intact as possible. I really hate having to cut this hole for the pipe leading to the throttle body......

*update*
 

Well I got alot more work done today. It was much easier after I removed the bumper. I could have had iot finished up today, but I need a reducer hose to connect the I/C pipe to the bypass valve. They should have them at lowes......
[IMG]http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/8...ping008mi6.jpg[/IMG]
Yes, I transplanted a 96-98 bumper support onto my car. The 03 style support must be cut front, back, and bottom to fit an intercooler. After you cut all three sides, it has no integrity and is very flimsy. This would be a problem if I were to get into any kind of collision. So, I found a used bumper support from a 97 cobra. These style supports only need to be cut on the front and bottom, leaving the entire back intact. This retains MUCH more strength than the new style would have had. It is very rigid now and would give alot more protection during a collison. I am also reattatching the crash foam after this is all completed.

Heres the pipes.......they route perfectly. Should be riding intercooled tomorrow!:breakdancesmilie:
[IMG]http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/8...ping006qd6.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9...ping007my0.jpg[/IMG]

Be careful about using the rubber hose at lowes. The ones used for sinks or trash compactors are not made for the temp we see under the hood and will start to distort.

the last pic who the hell was knawing on the peice...

Very cool dude, looks good.

Hmmmm. Didnt know that. Well they didnt have them anyways. I ended up going to the hardware store and buying a plastic reducer barb. Then I went to advance auto and got a radiator hose that was the correct size....

LOL, Thats wahat happens when youy try and cut a straight line after a few beers. Ill be ordering a new one soon, but it actually works fine cause the pipe is way off in there.

Thanks!

Man I could have finished it up today but it took a little time cutting that hole for the pipe leading to the throttle body. I got home from work late and only had about an hour and a half before I was supposed to be at the probation office. Didnt want to violate so I put it back to normal and hurried over there....I had the supercharger turned facing down and everything. I didnt know the WHOLE front of the head unit comes off when you take off those retaining screws! I was Like OMG did it break or what?! I expected it to just turn and stay together. LOL.... Ill finish it up for sure tomorrow.

Nice your going to get some nice gains from that for sure, but yeah the cuppling looks kinda haggerd otherwise looks like a nice clean install.

PS- thats a freaking big ass intercooler.

You mentioned you got the intercooler on ebay for a bit over $100 - is that the standard price or did you swoop in on a good deal ?

Got a link to any others ?

Also, with the extra height going into the support, but being covered by the foam and the bumper - does the extra height add any performance gain ?

BTW, looks killer

sweet! definitely let us know how the numbers look ! :moreboost:

I sure hope I see some good gains. I would like at least 30-40hp from it at the same boost. Yes its the biggest you can fit under the bumper support,Perfect!

Yes they go for sale all day on ebay for around $100. Actually I paid $137 shipped and its really good quality. The fins inside the intercooler have cooling slits in them and everything with nice welding.....

This is the exact item I bought.......http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...117817358&rd=1
Its exactly the same as the Godspeed intercoolers. Only difference is they have a nameplate on the top that says "Godspeed" lol.....

I have left the foam off for right now. I may leave it off, havent decided yet. Im sure that it would cut down on the amount of airflow going through the top of the intercooler. That would lead to higher intercooler temperatures, so it would certainly cut down on the cooling effect it delivers. I just dont know if I want to go safety first....or performance first...

Will do!:)

welcome to the forums!

Im done!
 

Anyone ever want to see the inside of a vortech with the scroll removed? lol..
I used this time to clean out the impeller and the inside of the scroll with some good carb cleaner. It had a little dirt buildup inside.....
[IMG]http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/7...ping009jm7.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9...ping010bi1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/593...ping011xu3.jpg[/IMG]
Its alive! Finally done with the install!! Its started right up and idled pretty smooth. I havent driven it yet but i will in a few minutes. Cant get into boost until its tuned with the new bypass valve though. Yes thats coolant on the ground, I had to trim the hose a little after I turned the scroll.
[IMG]http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7...ping012se8.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/1...ping013nu8.jpg[/IMG]

Ok now I think I want to convert over to a smaller treadstone intercooler.....This I/C is just too freakin big. I think its causing slight boost loss. Its perfect size to fit into the bumper support, but I want to mount the intercooler behind the support. The BTI pipes are made for a behind the support install, but I didnt figure that out until after I already bought the intercooler and mounted it. Its too big to fit behind the bumper. Its 12 inches tall and I need something more like 8-10 inches tall . It also must have mounting TABS instead of the ebay style threaded points on the top of these intercoolers. I found one on ebay from treadstone and it has the right mounting tabs I need. I want to "hang" the intercooler from behind the bumper support so its partially in free air. Kind of like the prochargers are setup... Hopefully improve cooling a bit. Then ill be able to buy a new bumper support and put it back on there. I havent had any trouble like it is now, but it would be a little safer to use a full uncut support....And i can get rid of these crazy bend couplers I have on it and maybe itll flow a little better...

ok I got my current intercooler to fit . Got rid of those big couplers and mounted it right in front of the radiator. I used some metal bars to hang the intercooler to 2 holes in the radiator support. Everything fits great with the bumper off! It looks like its probably flowing better. Only problem is I put the bumper back on and the intercooler is sitting too low and its flared out on one side of the bumper a little bit. I will have to figure out what the problem is. i dont see how I could raise it any further though because the piping is premade to fit that way. So the intercooler now hangs a little bit below the bumper. I will have to take some more time and look at it tomorrow.

But I drove it and it seems to be running smoother! I could possibly have had a boost leak before but I dont think so. Seems like better throttle response too. It s cold outside though right now so the intercooler was like ice. On the highway the engine temp gauge was in-between the middle and cold even though I had been driving for 30 minutes. I may be able to keep this kit if I can get it to work with the bumper....