Since my STi USDM TMIC arrived yesterday, I've been doing a lot of reading on the 'right' way to install it. There's a ton of information on the various WRX sites regarding it, but a lot of it's conflicting. I think I've boiled it down to this, though: STi intercooler is mounted ~17mm further back in the engine bay than the WRX one. This is because the STi is 'throttle by wire' and has a thicker throttle body than the WRX. (Note that some 05 WRXs are apparently throttle-by-wire as well; never even thought to look at what I have... supposed to be a mid-year change.) The brackets for the STi and WRX are the same. The brackets on the intercooler are offset to move it back. If you bolt the STi intercooler in a WRX using the stock brackets you will likely need a longer throttlebody hose and possibly a different turbo hose. You can make some brackets to move the STi intercooler 17mm forward so that it sits in the stock WRX position. If you mount it in the further back position, the hood scoop seal won't fit quite right. Supposedly you can use a v8 STi seal and have it fit ok. A modified v7 STi splitter will work here. If you mount it in the stock WRX position by modifying brackets, the stock seal will fit ok, but you are better off with a STi v7 seal. I think you can use the v7 splitter (modified) here too. This is all assuming you keep your stock hood scoop (which I am). Of course, there are plenty of examples of people wrestling it in there and making it fit... which there's nothing wrong with. I was just researching how to get the best possible fit and installation to maximize the benefit of having one. I will probably dink around with it this coming weekend. I got the STi y-pipe and hoses with the intercooler (what a deal!) as well...
this is the first time i have ever heard this..everyone i have ever seen put an STi TMIC on has never had any fitment issues..and from the looks of it, it seemed to be in the same location in a WRX as to an STi..why are you keeping your stock hood scoop..why not put an STi scoop on for increased air flow? the WRX scoop is dinky
From what I gather the WRX scoop is about the same size as the v7 JDM STi scoop, and that flows well enough to feed the JDM STi TMIC which is bigger than the USDM one... remember, the 04/05 scoop is a good bit bigger than the 02/03. If you look at the STi TMIC side by side with a WRX one, you'll see what I mean regarding the mounting tabs.. they are offset quite a bit on the STi one. From what I gather you can make it fit without too much trouble, but I want to try and get everything in there as cleanly as possible with the proper splitter/seal setup to maximize cooling.
PS, regarding fitment issues, I've heard some stories at G2Gs about three people needed to wrestle it in on some cars and zip ties holding it in place.. ;-)
when genya and i did wrxfan420's grounding kit we had to pull his sti tmic. i dont remember it being any kind of problem to put back on.
maybe on the 04-05 wrx but not the 02-03 wrx. sounds like an ID 10 T problem with milos car and a bigger turbo we didnt have any porblems with the STi TM
i could put mine on with just 2 people... might have been able to do it alone but would have been a pain since its only 1 bolt that won't line up without some force
Milo, how did you handle the splitter/seal? It seems that if you get the intercooler to bolt into place the regular WRX stuff won't line up right.
it is suggested by most everyone that if you are going to use an STi TMIC then you would want to use the STi scoop and splitter or something comparable, but not the stock WRX system. or so "they" say. This will be one of my next mods in the near future and everything I have read says to get the scoop and splitter to go along with the IC.
I've read the same in many places, but it seems to lack any substantial data supporting it. If you look at the v7 STi splitter it's actually smaller than the 04/05 WRX one; the 04+ WRX scoop is actually a little larger than the v7 STi one. And, the v7 STi scoop worked very well to support an intercooler larger than the USDM one I'm dropping in. So until I see a really good argument--and supporting data--for going with the STi scoop other than "it's bigger" I'm sticking with stock. Just like with many other mods--solid vs flex uppipe for instance--it really boils down to doing your own research and reasoning and deciding for yourself based on the data available. Not saying one way is 'right' or 'better' but I believe in coming up with an approach that *I* think is the best for my car/situation. As of now, that points to keeping the stock scoop, then either doing the bracket relo/extension or putting the IC further back... in the latter case I'd probably need a v7 splitter and v8 seal, in the former v7 splitter and v7 seal. Of course, that may all fly out the door once I start piecing it together. :rofl: Still, part of the fun for me is trying to learn as much as possible while going about modding... I probably spend entirely too much time analyzing data and arguments than is really needed, but hell, I enjoy it. :ugh: And I hope you guys know that I am not trying to say what I'm doing is better than what you did... I just share the stuff I collect and think about in hope that it might be interesting to others. If it ain't, let me know and I'll stop. I believe you are correct. You'd probably want the matching splitter and seal to maximize performance, though. I didn't go with one since I couldn't find one with y-pipe and hoses for $250. :naughty:
i replaced the stock splitter with the zerosports replica splittler (when i had the STi TMIC)... there was no rubber seal but the zerosports splitter fits nicely above the IC... also there are 3 chambers for airflow that force air downwards and through the IC without the need for a seal...
when i had the STi IC, i got the splitter from Weapon... it was a zerosports replica and u can find them on ebay... i think a rubber seal is unnecessary because the splitter sits perfectly on top of the IC and comes really close to it... plus its design forces air to go through the intercooler vs around it with the hyperflow that i have now, the nice splitter doesnt fit... im running without a splitter temporarily... i need to cut my stock splitter and fabricate one with a good seal... made all the measurements and got all the required parts and tools... just need a helpful friend with a grinder and some free time
you are helpful you are a friend you are a grinder but i dont wanna bother u for time cuz i know ur busy getting stuff ready for the baby
I would say sell your STi TMIC for $330 and BUY my PERRIN TMIC!!! Half joking and Half serious. :rofl: :rofl: It's alot smoother and pulls harder at higher REVs. I kinda feel about 100rpm lag compare to sti TMIC tho... (maybe my mind is playing??) After riding Dan's Monster STi, I literally lost the SENSE of acceleration from my car. I'm damn serious about this. ahhh..... Back to the topic, you definately need good splitter to sqeeze full ponies out of your new TMIC.
I'd be lying if I said the thought didn't cross my mind. ;-) If you want to trade yours for yet another STi + $120 let me know... :rofl: