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Promised myself I would not work on the Z on Thanksgiving. Doesn't mean I can just eyeball a few things. So, there is an ac line right where the intake tube goes. That rubber line you see in the pictures which attaches to the aluminum lines that come off the condenser. I can get it in there with about 1/4" of clearance to the pulley if I zip tie it off. I cannot mount the bracket where the aluminum lines come off the condenser to keep the aluminum lines stable that go to the condensor. Looks "rigged" to me and an accident waiting to happen later on down the road. Looking on some advice or better yet pictures on how to do this right. I know zero about AC, but I am thinking these lines are the high pressure side? I could maybe pull the pipe out, bolt that bracket back that holds the aluminum lines stable to the top of the condenser then attempt to bend them to get the fit I need. No matter what I do I have that big fat rubber hose passing right by that pulley.
Last edited by Jim Stephens; Nov 26, 2020 at 03:00 PM.
It's tight AF in there man. You have two options, get a new line made to clear with better clearance or you can zip tie it to get the clearance you need.
Personally I would get rid of that support bracket holding the A/C line, then bend it down every so slightly so you can give your self a little more room around the pulley.
If you can find yourself some Spiral Chaff wrap get some to prevent the coolant hose, condenser line, and intercooler piping from chaffing.
That section right there is the main problem with the Vortech system.
Thanks. Yeah, very tight. A guy on Facebook sent me a pic where he bends the aluminum line where the rubber tube is to the right of the intake tube. Going to try that out. Don’t like that soft rubber tube by that pulley. Will post a pic when i try it tomorrow. The bracket is going to be removed as well like you suggested.
For the rubber line, drill a small self tapper with this. It’ll be the cheapest “oemish” fix. Possibly use it with the hard lines depending on how much stress they have.
Make sure the small high pressure line on the frame rail clears as well. Mine was rubbing on a turbo inlet pipe and just worked a pin hole in it this September.
The horror? You pulled out the A/C lines and condenser! In Texas that is simply not going to work at all. LOL Are you ditching the A/C or rerouting it? Can't even contemplate no A/C . If the A/C in the house fails people go get a Hotel room. It's that bad here. So, I have another thread in here, but thought I would just start posting my updates to this thread since it is all around putting this Vortech in. So, today I installed a Setrab 34 row oil cooler. Overall it took some time to sort out fitting it in there, but I watched a video where a guy had to dremal out a bunch at the top to get the AN fittings to clear. So, I mounted it as low as humanly possible and it cleared by fractions on the top. First time to work with these AN fittings. Yes they look cool, but they seem bulky and difficult to work with. Think I would have been fine with rubber oil lines instead. While I have done my best, I feel like somewhere there is going to be an oil leak. Take a look at the multiple small fittings to "T" the oil pressure sensor and then an "L" fitting, so I can tap into it to get oil up to the Supercharger. Also installed an oil pan extension, so I can tap into that for the oil return for the supercharger. All told, I have upped the oil capacity by roughly 2 quarts. On the plus side they left another place in the pan extension that I am going to use for an oil temp gauge. I need a thin wall socket to torque in the oil sandwich that has the AN fittings. Amazon. Tomorrow, I am putting the radiator fans back in then starting to work on the piping and installing the supercharger. From one video I saw I am pretty sure I am going to need to cut some of the fan shroud out to fit the piping. Starting to contemplate how I will mount the intercooler. I am I will hang off the bottom of the aluminum bumper so I can clear the oil cooler. ..
Last edited by Jim Stephens; Nov 28, 2020 at 12:12 PM.
My car is a dedicated race car so AC isn’t really needed. I think the real fun part I’ll deal with is getting a roll cage set for the vert but I have a great friend that can help me with that next year.
Looking forward to see what you have in store though!
Yikes that is tight, I'd just get a different pipe and route it around the outside of the frame.
This is a highly engineered Vortech design...yeah it is friggin' tight. I have gotten used to having the the tiny clearances in the engine bay at this point. They barely shoe horned this motor into this car. It's kinda interesting how technology has evolved. This is a "big" 3.5L motor making 280hp and then I see these 1.8L and 2L motors in the Honda's and my son's GTI and they look tiny to me, but crank out some HP.
Still cannot believe how big this oil cooler is. LOL. Fine line between oil cooled and water cooled in this engine.
Otaku, I am kinda considering tracking the car occasionally down the road, but not committed to the idea yet. Running Autocross with it right now. I figured I would over kill on the radiator and oil cooler because heat seems to be an issue with these cars on the track and of course the super charger raises that as well. Don't tell my wife, but i think, maybe, down the road I will put a "built" engine and a roll bar in mine. I am jeckle and hyde on the purpose of the car a little in that I want it to look OEM with a nice interior, yet I want to handle well on the track. Kinda a problem for me.
Otaku, I am kinda considering tracking the car occasionally down the road, but not committed to the idea yet. Running Autocross with it right now. I figured I would over kill on the radiator and oil cooler because heat seems to be an issue with these cars on the track and of course the super charger raises that as well. Don't tell my wife, but i think, maybe, down the road I will put a "built" engine and a roll bar in mine. I am jeckle and hyde on the purpose of the car a little in that I want it to look OEM with a nice interior, yet I want to handle well on the track. Kinda a problem for me.
Heh, don’t tell my wife but I’m crossing my fingers my engine blows so I can swap to a closed deck.
Not too much of a concern until I get twincharging involved. Hard though, when I gotta also help invest money in her WRX.
Jim, you can slightly bend the top Large AC Line that come out of the top of the AC Comperssor. Bend it toward the motor about 1/4 to 3/8" will give you much more room.
Also, run the Bottom Large AC line between the Frame & the Pipe, but down Low, Not up high.
You will need to tweak & bend the brackets and stuff, to make everything fit nice.
Originally Posted by Jim Stephens
Promised myself I would not work on the Z on Thanksgiving. Doesn't mean I can just eyeball a few things. So, there is an ac line right where the intake tube goes. That rubber line you see in the pictures which attaches to the aluminum lines that come off the condenser. I can get it in there with about 1/4" of clearance to the pulley if I zip tie it off. I cannot mount the bracket where the aluminum lines come off the condenser to keep the aluminum lines stable that go to the condensor. Looks "rigged" to me and an accident waiting to happen later on down the road. Looking on some advice or better yet pictures on how to do this right. I know zero about AC, but I am thinking these lines are the high pressure side? I could maybe pull the pipe out, bolt that bracket back that holds the aluminum lines stable to the top of the condenser then attempt to bend them to get the fit I need. No matter what I do I have that big fat rubber hose passing right by that pulley.
Last edited by OldManZ350; Nov 29, 2020 at 11:40 AM.
Vortech Clearing AC Lines
