Airdam mount intercooler for A1?

[veeman]

I've been thinking that I'd like to add an intercooler to my A1 caddy TD, so I started looking on ebay.  There are at ton of different IC's from stock applications that look like they'd work.

I'm having a bit trouble envisioning how to mount an intercooler in the engine bay though.  I searched the archives and I've seen some possible solutions suggested by Jake and others in this thread:
http://www.vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=690

I'd like to put it in front of the radiator, but I'd really like to try and keep my AC.  All the components are there and the system seemed to hold pressure.  In Ohio, AC is very nice to have.   The problem is that the AC condensor takes up most of the space I'd have for the IC.

This problem is discussed here:  http://www.vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=62

So... I was thinking of perhaps mounting an intercooler below the radiator in the front valence area with some creative ducting OR trying to install one above the transmission like the GTD's had.

With the front mount, the ducting would be a challenge and the tubing runs would be rather long, but with the GTD-style, I'm not sure if there's room next to the battery...

Any thoughts or BTDT's?

[BlackTieTD]

easiest install is to find one that will fit in front of the radiator. there is a fair amount of room there.

not sure what you mean by 'below' the rad... no room there really.

i like quickTD's install in his mkIII but that is a lot of fab work.

for my '82, i have only one IC install location in mind, in front of the rad directly behind the grill.

[veeman]

I'd like to put one in front of the radiator, but the condensor takes up quite a bit of that room.  Not sure if there'll be enough space between that and the grill...

[VWRacer]

How about right next to the rad on the passenger side? Plenty of room there for a smaller OEM-style IC on my Mk1 GTI.

[BlackTieTD]

as VWRacer mentioned...

or dump the condensor.  

[Maarten]

Renault 21 IC on a dutch caddy net to the rad

 210 x 190 x 85 mm

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Foto=XMRSYVSN

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Foto=BJU4CVHU

[VWRacer]

Yes Maarten, that's exactly what I had in mind...  

Saab or Audi side-mount IC's  are easy to find here in North America, will be nearly identical to the Renault unit and would mount just like it.

[veeman]

Thanks for the info guys... I like the one featured in Maarten's post.  Maybe I could get a Saab Blackstone unit to work in that position.  

>>not sure what you mean by 'below' the rad... no room there really.

As far as the front mount idea, I was thinking maybe there would be some way to mount a long intercooler (like a 944 unit I saw once) down below the radiator in the front of the car.  It'd be pretty low (beneath the bumper), so I'd have to come up with some sort of air-dam / valence to cover it up.

I've seen an A1 Kamei valence that extends lower than the US A1 GTI part.  That might present some interesting IC piping challenges though...

I might end up ditching the A/C after all.  Need to dig up those brackets and such.

[VWRacer]

No need to ditch your a/c. Summers are awefully hot and muggy in Ohio.  

Just do the side mount (next to the rad). It'll be easy. It'll work great. And you'll be glad you didn't do away with the a/c.

[mk1vdub]

here you go, this is pretty much what you wanna do





not really to my taste, and I'm not sure if its all that practical, but with a lightly smaller and thinner 'cooler, you could probably get a rs2 look front bumper over it?



or possibly a modded A2 bumper?



I'd be much more inclined to try and get an intercooler you can fit behind the grille though, next to the rad like has been sugested above, it'll probably be easier, and look better  

[vwmike]

There really isn't any room to put an intercooler next to the radiator when you have A/C. Perhaps you should consider an Air/Water with a heat exchanger under the trans or something.