I'm a gluten for pain so while I have my engine out I'm thinking of doing some stuff to keep things cooler and running better. Couple things I was thinking of are redoing the inlet piping and possibly running 3" piping. I've seen a couple of post but no threads on this in the FI forum and was wondering if anybody has done it and is it a horror or success story?

I bought the K&N filters and basically I want to get them in a better location so they're not breathing heat from the engine bay as I'm not interested in a vented hood and it's getting pretty hot in there. I was thinking of dropping them on the sides of the intercooler and relocating the window washer tank or removing it completely. This is how SFR's kit works (kit I wanted to go with).

Not afraid of taking a grinder to stuff but I also have an oil cooler and a tranny cooler to cram in the front too so maybe it's a no-go but want to see some pics, hear some stories, or get some thoughts.

Thanks,

JAA

 

The hardest part is going to be getting 3" pipe to bend around the AC compessor. I think it can be done, but it will take some work and will be very tight. On the passenger side, it would be relatively easy if you were to change the routing of the compressor outlet piping. have the piping go up and over the engine (like the JWT kit) and you make plenty of room for a 3" inlet on that side.

Also, I think you'll need to do some grinding on the motor mounts since they are right in front of the turbo inlets.

 

Colder air takes less space - just food for thought - thermal wrapping might be lower hanging fruit than tackling all new piping.

 

I would avoid new piping as well. I don't think you'll benefit at all from 3". I would buy rubber exhaust hose and route that to a new location before I tried to make 3" hard pipe work.

 

Yeah, I spent all last night looking at it in the garage. I think I'm gonna do some ducting from external air source in front of wheels and cut 2 circular holes in the bumper on each side of the front grill then duct them to the intakes. Thermal wrapping is already done and to the max so I think that's as far as I'll go as it be a major PITA to route around that AC Condensor and I gots to have my AC.

JAA