where do you run your charge piping?

[redsubdivisions]

I currently have my M20 turbo build at a small standstill due to changing my mind about my intercooling setup. Instead of the water to air setup I originally planned, I have a spare intercooler laying around. Not only is it cheaper, but aside from buying piping, it's free (as opposed to shelling out the additional $500 for a decent WtA setup).

with that said, I want to figure out how I'm going to run my charge piping. I am getting 2.5" piping and what I am hoping to do is run it under the headlamps with some small modifications to the headlight brackets.

So...how do you have yours setup? If it's under the headlamps, post a picture!

[MF DOOM]

i cut a little on passenger side.



massage valence

[TheTacoMan]

I have a similar setup, I had to trim the headlights as well.

[BMWManiac]

I had to trim my passenger headlight some, not a big deal....but I run both my piping under the headlights...posted pics on my build in the projects sub forum

[ColdAsLife]

I cut the headlight as well as cut the valence to fit with lots of trial and error.

[Northern]

Same as above.

[GunMetalGrey]

I am running a fairly large intercooler (28x18x2.5 I believe...) and have the piping routed underneath the headlights.
The passenger side elbow fit perfectly under the headlight without modification, and I had to trim out the bottom of the housing on the drivers side under the high beam to get that side to fit properly. The valance required a fair amount of cutting, and making new upper mounting tabs.
I will see if I can dig up some pictures, or take some.

[BMWManiac]

We did cut the valence a fair amount as well, but you can't see it once the bumper is mounted

[einstein57]

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47551

[hyperE30]

Same as posted above, under the headlights, I did have to cut the valance and trim a good portion of the lights, running 3"..

[redsubdivisions]

Bumping this thread for some insight:

As I am mounting up the intercooler, it seems the condenser hardlines are keeping the intercooler from sitting completely flush on one side. This is preventing me from attaching the front valance fully without serious modification. Anyone else run into this same issue?

[redsubdivisions]

einstein57 pretty much solved my issue with his link post. Looks like I will be getting a different intercooler.

[BMWManiac]

Check out my build thread....we notched the support so that we could run the condensor lines.....worked like a charm!

[redsubdivisions]

Check out my build thread....we notched the support so that we could run the condensor lines.....worked like a charm!

Checked it out. Definitely gave me a good idea for the future should I need to modify it. I went after an intercooler that would allow more airflow to it behind the kidney grills, as well as the ability to retain the stock oil cooler location. Before I worked on my E30, I never got the freon vacuumed out so I'm working with a pressurized system until I can get the chance to drive it to my work and refill as necessary.