Help buying an intercooler

Johnny T · Post by **Johnny T** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:39 am

Hi Everyone, I need some help a.s.a.p about intercoolers

I am about to buy a "Subaru rs turbo water to air intercooler" and I would like to know if this would work on my 87 subaru vortex xt turbo.

I have also attached a photo of what it looks like so you know what I'm about to buy

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:39 pm

Yeah mate it'll fit. What you'll need to arrange is the air pipe work in and out from the turbo to the intercooler to the engine. You'll also have to get the gear to run the coolant to a radiator out the front, but you don't need OEM gear to do this - just an electric water pump, small radiator and some pipe work.

Check out this thread, it's lengthy, but there's some good info in there - page two especially. You basically mount it as you would in the EJ. What you'd need to really work out is the space behind the throttle body and the fire wall. If the vortex has the spare tyre under the bonnet (can't remember) it'll fit in.

A couple of pics from the thread:

I think Blackmale settled on this setup:

Cheers

Bennie

Johnny T · Post by **Johnny T** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:45 pm

thanks for that mate, does it matter if my engine has the spider manifold of it?

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:47 pm

Again, it depends on the distance from the throttle body and the fire wall. It'll be easier to hook up as the spider manifold is much like the EJ's spider manifold setup.

The real issue is fitting it under the bonnet

Cheers

Bennie

Johnny T · Post by **Johnny T** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 2:09 pm

thanks again, if it doesn't fit could i make brackets at a lower spot for the cooler to fit? i should be able to dummy fit this and see if the hood closes right?

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 12:24 pm

Johnny T wrote:thanks again, if it doesn't fit could i make brackets at a lower spot for the cooler to fit? i should be able to dummy fit this and see if the hood closes right?

It's going to be custom brackets all the way, you can't do it without them. It's not a direct bolt in application

Cheers

Bennie

Johnny T · Post by **Johnny T** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 2:48 pm

Thanks for that again, unfortunately someone else bought the cooler so now i'll have to keep an eye out for another one that comes out :S but at least i'll know what I have to do next time.

Thanks again for the advice,

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:56 pm

Had the same set up in my L wagon (RS WIAC / Spider manifold -> EA82T)

Think the profile of the Vortex bonnet may = less room?

Just checking, you know you need the pump and heat exchanger as well? It is the mounting of the heat exchanger that will be the challenge.

Post an ad on RSLC - always a set up in the FS section there it seams. Worth $80 - $150 for the whole kit.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 11:03 pm

Send a PM to 'nncoolg' he has just fitted a slanted wrx intercooler to his vortex, it fits exactly how the RS waic will

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:46 am

'Nn...... fitted a remanufactured air to air to his spider Vortex - big chunk cut out and patched to clear wiper motor and turbo to IC pipe cu$tom made to $uit. The front section firewall of a Vortex lacks the L Series spare tyre well likely gave Sven some room. The waic unit looks bigger than the smaller air to air cooler of Nevilles - never gonna fit a spider Vortex directly

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 7:54 pm

Looks like it's time to "upgrade" to an L series (wagon of course!) to fit the WAIC to the EA

Cheers

Bennie

Steve NQ · Post by **Steve NQ** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:55 pm

sven '2' wrote:Had the same set up in my L wagon (RS WIAC / Spider manifold -> EA82T)

Think the profile of the Vortex bonnet may = less room?

Just checking, you know you need the pump and heat exchanger as well? It is the mounting of the heat exchanger that will be the challenge.

Post an ad on RSLC - always a set up in the FS section there it seams. Worth $80 - $150 for the whole kit.

Please help as I'm new to all this. What is a spider manifold? And post an ad on RSLC What is this?

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:57 pm

Spider manifold is a type of inlet manifold that looks like a spider? Someone confirm.
RSLC = RS liberty club

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:14 pm

Spider manifold and what looks to be a very home made front mount intercooler

Spider manifolds were only available on Vortex's

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:49 pm

Gannon wrote:Spider manifold and what looks to be a very home made front mount intercooler

Spider manifolds were only available on Vortex's

Ohhhh...baby

BTW, there is a complete WAIC on RSLC ATM in the FS section for $100

Steve NQ · Post by **Steve NQ** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 9:24 pm

Thanks sven '2' for a picture of a spider manifold. It seems I have a lot to learn

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 9:38 pm

Steve NQ wrote:Thanks sven '2' for a picture of a spider manifold. It seems I have a lot to learn

Ya sure do... I posted the picture