Date: Tue, 04 Jul 2006 21:28:13 GMT From: Paul Halliday <pjghnospamyonder.co.uk> Subject: Re: Saab 900 Intercooler Questions
in article DBAqg.92959$mF2.20646nospamsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net, Jeremy at jerem43nospamnet wrote on 04/07/2006 21:56: > Intercooler questions for the Fourth of July: > 1. I was considering upgrading mine to a larger one later this year or > early next year. Well, not all stock intercoolers are the same. The later cars had a plastic capped 9 row cooler which is more efficient than either the metal capped 9 row or the 15 row. It does still heat soak, but I have an idea which involves moving the oil cooler ... See below. > 1a. Anyone seen aftermarket intercoolers for the Classic 900t? (Group > 9 had some, but Mr. Dale has closed up shop and sold the company. I do > not know what the new owner will be doing with the site/store.) Abbott Racing make a "chargecooler" which will fit into the stock location. Theirs is further cooled by water. > 1b. If you have, are there any that will fit in the OEM location with > minimal custom work? It would be better to provide increased airflow (or a fan) to the stock intercooler. A mate of mine cooked up an intercooler fogging system, but he already has a FMIC from a Volvo. My thought is to move (or replace) the oil cooler to a more central location in front of the radiator and install a scoop and pipe up to the stock intercooler. My other thought it to cut into the bonnet and install a scoop to force air down over the intercooler where that little plastic air dam usually sits. > 1c. Any thoughts about keeping it in the stock location verses putting > a larger one below the bumper, behind the air dam? I know this would be > an expensive option. Unless you have the Airflow/Carlsson bumper skins, you'll almost certainly have to remove/cut the lower airdam or grind off the towing lugs if you go for a FMIC. Volvo 760 or SAAB 9000 intercoolers seem popular, but they are not very efficient. Going for a FMIC will certainly involve custom pipe work and perhaps "clocking" the turbocharger. One of the cleanest installations I've seen is by Aussie Alex Reid: <http://www.nospam/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1448> > 2. I already have one of each style of the OEM intercoolers in my parts > bin at home. Is there any difference between the two? There was a plastic capped 9 row and a plastic capped 15 row, as well as a metal capped 9 row. I rate the plastic capped 9 row the most, but have no empirical evidence :) > 3. Any one ever upgrade the hose/pipes so that there is a uniform > 3"/7.62 cm pipe/adapters throughout the system? Would there be any > advantages to this? Custom job ... Yes, there are advantages if you have a high flow charger. There will be increased lag as well. It depends what you want ... Long sustained top boost or fast spooling for short bursts? > 4. I have a small cooling fan (6"/15.24 cm) that I am conteplating > installing to get better airflow over it. Help or hurt? Any thoughts on > this? Great! Fit it behind the intercooler to pull air through it. Have it actuated by boost, or if you're a little daring, drill and tap in a thermostat (like on the radiator). > 5. In an OEM install, does the litle metal/plastic deflector piece make > a major difference in the performance of the intercooler? Mine is > missing, but I have located two in a junk yard. Send me the other one will ya :) It's there for a reason, so I suppose SAAB must have found it makes a difference. I've never had one on my current turbo and it's not on my immediate list for procuring, but if I did get one, I'd put it on. Why not? If you can get one easily, fit it. Paul 1989 900 Turbo S http://saab.go.dyndns.org/
