Intercooler location

[1slowvw]

Hey guys, I just bought a side mount intercooler for my 95 Golf AZZ, it is 18x8x6 inches, I was thinking of placing it where the airbox is and relocating the air filter elsewhere(I am running a k&n pod). I was just wondering if anybody had done this.
I was also contemplating putting a filter directly on the turbo inlet, I have seen some people do this but it seems that it would be sucking really warm air being right next to the exhaust. So give me your 2 cents, and if you have any pictures of interesting intercooler location in a MK3 (and by interesting i mean not visible front mount) post them up.
                                                                      1SlowVW

[QuickTD]

Here's my Mk3 installation, nowhere near as large as yours. Sort of in the GTD location. I did it this way due to lack of space in front of the rad, I kept the AC. Air is ducted from the space above the rad. Works pretty well.

 In the photo's it doesn't appear that I had to move anything, but in reality I had to move everything... Rad fan motor was rotated to get the connector out of the way, wiring was relocated on the rad support for better airflow, grill plastic was cut away for same reason, new turbo oil line was made to provide clearance, vaccum hose relocated, etc, etc...    

Without the duct,



With the connecting duct in place,



If I did it again I might opt for the driver side fender using some of the Mk3 TDI piping. Mk3 TDI's were pretty rare in the junkyard when I did mine, so it wasn't an option.

[LeeG]

QuickTD, is that a custom made IC?  Fits nicely

[veeman]

Looks great!   When I was looking at intercooler designs for my mk1, I came across this mk3 design (not mine, but kudos to the owner).   I really like it...



The twin brushed stainless pipes running next to each other spawned the idea for what eventually became my system.

[anarchyx34]

Here's my Mk3 installation, nowhere near as large as yours. Sort of in the GTD location. I did it this way due to lack of space in front of the rad, I kept the AC. Air is ducted from the space above the rad. Works pretty well.

 In the photo's it doesn't appear that I had to move anything, but in reality I had to move everything... Rad fan motor was rotated to get the connector out of the way, wiring was relocated on the rad support for better airflow, grill plastic was cut away for same reason, new turbo oil line was made to provide clearance, vaccum hose relocated, etc, etc...    

Without the duct,

That's slick as hell. I'm still trying to figure out how you got outside air to the cooler without hot-radiator air going though.

[1slowvw]

Wow QuikTD your set up is super clean, did you notice much loss of boost?
As for the set up vee man posted, i used to have this pic on my computer before it crashed, I remember the car, it was from europe I think,it was a white golf with angel eyes. I think he posted pics on here some time ago.

Anyway keep the ideas comming guys I'm sure someone out there has mounted there intercooler on the passenger side.
1SlowVW

[burn_your_money]

Wow anarchyx34 your set up is super clean,

That's quick TD's setup :wink:

[1slowvw]

Wow anarchyx34 your set up is super clean,

That's quick TD's setup :wink:

Sorry about that, its been a long day. edited it now.
1SlowVW

[QuickTD]

QuickTD, is that a custom made IC?  Fits nicely

Sort of. I got the core from this forums "Macgyver". It was the core only, the plastic tanks had been removed. From what I've seen I believe it is a saab 900 core. I made the end tanks and welded them on. The pipes were just stainless pipe and elbows from the junkyard that i welded up and polished. It was old milk pipe from dairy barns I think.

That's slick as hell. I'm still trying to figure out how you got outside air to the cooler without hot-radiator air going though.

 The duct is removed in the first pic, notice in the second pic that the air is ducted from above the rad, not behind it. A Mk3 has about a 2"  space all the way across between the top of the rad and the rad support, I cleared out some of the junk from this space and made the duct to carry the air to the IC.

Wow QuikTD your set up is super clean, did you notice much loss of boost?

Thanks, and no measurable loss of boost nor any noticable increase in lag. It does heat soak in traffic though, I've toyed with the idea of adding a fan, though it may restrict airflow at speed...

[1slowvw]

Come on guys there has to be more guy's out there running intercoolers then that. Don't be shy, I want to see them all, don't care if there half done or held together with zip ties and duct tape, I'm looking for ideas, and althought the pics posted so far have both been of nice clean instals my set up will not be one of these, so keep the pic's comming.
1SlowVW

[Chestrockwell]

I've got a G60 mounted ahead of the left wheel. I couldn't tell you the dimensions but it fits up there nicely. Aluminum 2 1/4 tube fits fine as well. Check out the last link for more shots of my car and I think there's a few of a friends bmw I did charge pipes on as well.










And a bunch more here: http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/ccotter_671/Jett/

[veeman]

You may have already seen this, but I just finished fitting an intercooler from a Mitsubishi Starion to my rabbit truck...  I know yours is a mk3, but you might see some ideas...

http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=5391

I've got some other pics of some IC installs I can try to post, but the majority of them are in Mk1 / Mk2's.   Have you tried looking at gasser turbo swaps in Mk3's for ideas?  Maybe on the 'tex?

[1slowvw]

Thanks Veeman i had alwready seen your post with your caddy (love the caddy btw) and it was helpful, first pics I have seen of someone mounting there intercooler on the passenger side.

As for Vortex I have been searching for interesting set ups and will probably post the same question there, but i figured i would ask here first because theres a lot more diesel hanging around and a lot less B.S put out.

Chestrockwell, you set up seems to be nice but my car is lowered and i would be affraid of scraping the intercooler, or picking up a rock if i mounted mine that low.


1SlowVW

[nogama3]

what have you guys done regarding the egr valve?

i have used lots of water coolant hoses and used the original piping from a tdi set up.

will try and post pics soon

[jannemann]

Smart CDI - intecooler in a `88 Bus , behind the left backlightJX[/img]