Are there any Front mount intercooler kits that don't require you to cut part of your car up? I'm doing a turbo swap in my 91, but don't want a turbo hood so I'm going with an FMIC.

Also suggestions for different kits would be helpful too, or if you have one FS shoot me a PM.

 

I would recommend the greddy. You still have to cut the bumper support a little to make it fit, or if you don't want the support you can just take that out. I would recommend a support, you never know when some crazy bitch is going to go sit on your bumper. Any fmic you will need to cut holes in the engine bay that's a given.

 

You could go to a water to air intercooler.

 

That's not entirely true. There's a good number of people on here who've just created new radiator mounts to move it further back in the engine bay and then passing the pipes along the sides. Depending upon core size and how it's mounted it can also drastically reduce piping length.

 

That's a good idea. I was thinking of putting the core where my AC condenser used to be. There's a good amount of room there.



Are there any air to water kits out there? Are they generally more expensive than the air to air intercoolers?

 

Typically, as most run external reservoirs/pumps. If you're not too afraid of fab work, a lot of people have been doing the radiator method, pretty much where the condenser used to be, just make sure that you shroud it will when you move it backwards so that it gets nice airflow and the air doesn't just escape around it.

 

^+1

 

I purchased the Greddy kit because everyone tells you that is the kit to buy. I never installed it and I do not like it at all.

The biggest reason I did not like the greddy kit is because the intercooler piping partially to almost fully blocks your brake ducts in the front bumper. I like to track my car and I did not like that at all.


I had turbonetics/spearco make me a custom intercooler that fit right where the o/p wants to put his, in front of the a/c condenser.

I used to have some pics


You can see my intercooler at the bottom of this pic:


Here is an idea of the routing. I used the greddy piping and ended up with almost 5 feet left over after we cut and fabbed it to fit my car.



Here is my intercooler (bottom) next to the Greddy. The only thing I would do different if I had another made would be to taper the end tanks like the greddy, I get good flow through this though and my intake temps are great so I am not too worried about it.

 

Old School Thrust or HKS FMIC is what I used for "The Beast". Only had to cut a very small hole under where the stock air box is for one pipe.

No battery relocation, no PS removal, no need to remove the Air Pump. Just need to go to an aftermarket cone air filter.

 

Yeah, the 10 miles of piping these early kits come with is also nice.

 

The difference in piping length is marginal at best, difference in performance is marginal at best, and the deminimus number of extranious installation modification needed (move battery, eliminate PS Pump, etc) in comparison is far from marginal.

 

i think the "old school" kits use smaller cores too

 

That would be a nice setup. And Jims5543 I likeeee!

 

just use alcohol

 

I use AI

I don't know if it was mentioned, but the Isuzu NPR intercooler fits perfectly infront of the rad with no modification. Digi7ech is running that one. He is pretty active in the drift scene and says that BOTH sides of the pipe are "touchable" after a run.

 

the older kits did use a core that was a little smaller, and the pipes are longer- but come on- there are compromises you make if thats what you want.

For most under 400hp cars the smaller core is more then fine.

You want shorter pipes and a larger core- you got to cut and make compromises as well

 

If I run meth can I have a top mount with an NA hood?

 

ditch the top mount and watch those AITs DROP

 

the fins are different in the early cores too. so its smaller, but more fins....

 

the oldschool hks has a little less piping than the trust, but you have to mount your turbo cold side facing the ground. then the only cutting required is the plastic skid plate.

 

And remind, the IP's question was about a no cut FMIC. Aside from a replacement top mount IC, the only answer to his question was realistically about minimal cutting FMIC. Thus the old school set up is the best answer toward his goal.

 

Or I could just go with a V mount....

I really don't know what I want to do yet, I would hate to cut up my car only to change the setup later + not need that hole anymore.

 

OR. the NPR intercooler that requires NO CUTTING

 

^amy more information on that?

 

yea, old school's have been my favorite although it's hard to run into them that are in stupendous condition.