DIY R32 cooler install

[JH32]

This is for anyone who has an R32 and is thinking of paying someone to fit their cooler.

After getting quotes of around $650 to fit my intercooler, I decided that the money was better spent on beer, so my brother and I went to work fitting the thing

It was actually surprisingly easy, and let me be the first to admit that my mechanical skills aren't that flash. I pulled the front bar off, removed all the stock cooler components including supports, pipes etc but left the pipes that are in the engine bay.

I then had to cut a few parts of the metal supports to fit the cooler and piping in, but nothing major. Luckily for me, it appears that my car probably had a front mount in Japan so the big hole in the support bar at the front had already been done.

I then drilled 2 holes in the support bar and bolted the cooler to that. The piping then went out of the cooler on the drivers side and back underneath, running along the length of the front of the car to meet up with the stock piping.

It took about a day in total but now my car feels HEAPS better!! I'm going to put it on the dyno and get the timing and boost set properly and then take it to the drags

Anyway I thought I'd write this in case other people were going to be lazy and get someone to fit their cooler for them! Don't be lazy fit it yourself it's not that hard!! Instead of paying $650 it cost me about $180 for all the parts.

You've also gotta have a few brews to hand when undertaking such an operation :alcoholic

oh here's a pic of how we did it

[Guest Blank]

mate, i think to have your support bar cut is illegal, so i would be not posting that pic on public forum :S

[JH32]

hahhahaahaha

shoosh orright!

[MM2death]

JiMiH, i am almost ready to do my own FMIC installation.....my 600x300x76 Hybrid is sitting in my room......anyhow, was it easy to route the piping back to the standard pipes? Will that 180 bend on the drivers side affect velocity? What material did you use for the piping.... I think i'm going to use grade 304 stainless. What size is your cooler?

Your install job looks neato btw...

Regards,

Scott

[MM2death]

Did you mount the cooler to the bar above the cooler??? If yes, is that strong enough? I was actually gonna mount mine to the plate across the bottom of my radiator....

Scott

[JH32]

Scott,

it was pretty easy to route the piping back to the original pipes. You've just gotta be careful with your measuring. For the 180deg bend I bought a donut and then cut it in half. This way you get the tightest bend. I had to angle it downwards so it would fit behind the cooler, and in front of the radiator. It also has to go slightly below that fan on front of the radiator. I'm not sure what effect the 180deg bend has, but it doesn't seem to be any laggier than stock so I assume it hasn't had any negative effects

My cooler is exactly the same as yours, just not branded a Hybrid. Same dimensions etc also.

The bits I bought were :

1 x 2.5" donut

2 x 90deg 2.5" mandrel bends

2 x 3" ---> 2.5" pipe reducer

2m of 2.5" piping

yeah I mounted mine to the bar above the cooler ... not sure if it's strong enough but the piping holds it, and the whole things as tight as a nun's snatch but i'm also get some brackets welded to the underside soon to give it some extra strength.

Hope that helps some

[MM2death]

Thanks alot mate.

It should help me alot for when i do mine.

Scott

[JH32]

No worries!

Good luck!

[MM2death]

It would be good if you could put up some more pics.

Thanks,

Scott

[MM2death]

I've never knew you could buy those donut things you're talkin about.... i take it you are using mild steel? How tight is that 180 degree turn anyway? What outside diamter is it?

[bbenny]

Nothing to do with the cooler, but that lime green is so damn sexy! did you have that paint put on here or get it done already?

[awill]

Schmick looking job mate but i dont think id like my cooler pipes running under the cooler so close the the ground, specially with all the speed bumps an shit roads in WA.

Did u do all the welding yourself??

Some more pics (in focus) would be cool to.

Congrats on da job.

[Mr R32 M-Spec]

I was in the same boat, even though I had purchased the HKS Kit for the R32 GTST, I have no technical skills at all. got a mate who knows what he is doing and we knocked it over on a saturday arvo. cut 1 hole and it looks sweet as. HKS kit fits with no modification bar that 1 hole we had to cut, although I should mention there was already a dotted line in the chasie where a pipe should go... guess the GTR's and GTS's share a few similarities

didn't have to cut the support bar or bumper though, fit straight on. cost me $1300.00 delivered to me. we cut out the front bumper and put mesh in it though, for more of a sporty look :D