Intercooler for K14 turbo?

[Les]

My 94 AAZ has a K14 turbo pushing 14 PSI max. I need more HP climbing hills. I was thinking adjusting boost to 18-20 PSI max, adding more fuel and installing an intercooler. The next thing on my list is water/methanol injection.

Does intercooler makes sense for 18-20 PSI?

[rallydiesel]

An intercooler is always a good idea, regardless of psi.

[dts67]

IC is a must for 18-20psi imo, the air gets so hot theres little or no gains, try the water meth first even at 15psi you'd be surprised the difference it makes.

[Les]

Is K14 turbo good for climbing hills & pulling a trailer? Would VNT be better?

[myke_w]

This probably goes without saying - but before you do anything - add an EGT gauge.

[Rabbit on Roids]

a K14 is a very limited turbo. imo, a VNT would be a way better setup. whats a K14 max out at, about 20 psi and then its into the grenade grounds? my VNT and intercooler in my rabbit work wonderfully.

[sprstu]

I have a K03 on my rabbit (which is a small turbo as well) and saw a huge benefit from adding my intercooler. Measuring the temp difference between the two pipes showed a 75f degree drop driving around and 115f drop on hard pulls. I am using a Mazda 323gtx intercooler currently.

[Les]

So decision is made - I am going to have an intercooler. Thanks for your comments.

Rabbit on Roids, is it VNT-15 what you have? What controller you have on it? There were a couple of topics on electronic ones but unfortunately the threads are dead.

[Rabbit on Roids]

no, not a 15, its a GT1749VB. i dont run a vane controller. it spools way fast enough without one. and besides, i would have to completely re-learn how to drive it if the boost came on lower. besides, i dont want too much boost down low with a stock 1.5 engine. and as for electronic controllers, why would you want to complicate the simplest engine on the face of the planet? i love that these engines take 3 things to run, fuel, air, and 12v.

[macka]

SAAB and Mazda side mount intercoolers are the easiest to get in the engine bay, you just need good flow through the IC. I'm not one for the IC mounted in the front bumper, as a rock or hunk of debris can take it out easy, unless you protect it, then you restrict airflow to it.

[jack's lack]

I'm not sold on the SAAB intercooler. I pulled one at the cash and carry the other day, and I ended up putting it back. It is very small and the end tanks are plastic and crimped on. I felt like it would be a liability at 20 psi. I am going to go much bigger and with welded end tanks. I know guys are running them and that they are cheap and readily available it just seemed a little mickey mouse IMHO

[Rabbit on Roids]

i have an old 740 IC in my rabbit, and it regularly sees 25 psi. havent broken it yet.

[zukgod1]

i have an old 740 IC in my rabbit, and it regularly sees 25 psi. havent broken it yet.

That's a front mount no?

I have one of those in my shed waiting for something to come along that it will fit.

[Rabbit on Roids]

i have an old 740 IC in my rabbit, and it regularly sees 25 psi. havent broken it yet.

That's a front mount no?

I have one of those in my shed waiting for something to come along that it will fit.

yea, mounted it in front of the rad. it works so good. today was the first time ive driven the rabbit in a couple months, and its amazing the power it has compared to the 5000. it flat out ***z and gitz. is your ic the mid tank in/out or the top tank in out? the mid tank one fits beautifully in a rabbit. the inlet sits right under the battery tray, and my charge piping runs close to the engine mount, but i was able to get a nice tight bend and clear it. but the outlet sits ridiculously close to the alt cooling fan. if i ever lose an engine mount, its gonna be apparent the first time i go for the boost and its not there.

but uh, on another topic, how much are you charging to work your magic on injection pumps? or should i even worry about my fuel pump right now? probably should work on getting my turbo fixed.

[gldgti]

a K14 is a very limited turbo. imo, a VNT would be a way better setup. whats a K14 max out at, about 20 psi and then its into the grenade grounds? my VNT and intercooler in my rabbit work wonderfully.

man your negative posts are frequent... VNT's are great sure, but the man has a k14 - thats what he's got to work with.

now to the OP: personally i have an AAZ in a mk3 with k14 and a big front mount intercooler. i run 22psi at the most (drops off over 3500rpm to about 18psi) and the car has plenty of pulling power for hills and overtaking - however, its not much good for towing - turbo is just too small.

on the whole, a nice big intercooler will help your power no end :-)

pics FYI:



the old piping... it a little different now but you get the idea...


this is when i was putting in the first cooler - the top pic is of the current cooler which is the same size as this below but goes another 50mm lower :-)


HTH :-)