Installing WRX front mount intercooler with 3" pipe to GQ

[AB]

As some of you know I got a front mount wrx intercooler which I will be putting in shortly.

Still deciding if I should do this before or after simmo trip as I need to do a lot of cutting on the front and moving things around to make this fit.

Long story short should I even bother getting this retuned after its installed... Td42 gq, std ht18 td42t turbo and only at 10 psi.

Could get a little more out of it of course or am I just wasting my time and wait until money permits for other upgrades?

[MudRunnerTD]

mate given you are only running 10psi there is not really much point. if your not blowing black smoke then either fit hte cooler and get it tuned to 14psi or 15psi and be happy with 90rwkw or if you have never touched the pump you are likely running at around 70rwkw!

Its a big jump when in the hands of a decent tuner. get the IC on it and book it in mate, before the simmo would be better. You got nothing to do! get it done fella

[Winnie]

I would. Your pump is probably not maxed out yet and with the cooler you could do it safely... Take it to diesel tec without a doubt, I drove out of there with a 50% power increase from a tune.

[AB]

Thanks blokes, not even sure if I will have time before the trip but I do know that once I start pulling it apart I'm committed...lol

Just wasn't sure if I should waste $ on retuning that's all.

Anyways, conflicting answers...lol

[Winnie]

I know time is scarce but it will make a big difference to have it done for the trip.

[nissannewby]

It's not a necessity to get it done and will be fine if left as is with the intercooler.

However to get the most from it a tune would be beneficial. A little more boost and some extra fuel will prob see you net around a 20% gain the biggest improvement will be in torque. I will go against MR a little here and wouldn't exceed 12-13psi on a ht18. If you are gonna be loaded and even towing on the trip then the cooler and tune will make life a lot nicer.

[MudRunnerTD]

It's not a necessity to get it done and will be fine if left as is with the intercooler.

However to get the most from it a tune would be beneficial. A little more boost and some extra fuel will prob see you net around a 20% gain the biggest improvement will be in torque. I will go against MR a little here and wouldn't exceed 12-13psi on a ht18. If you are gonna be loaded and even towing on the trip then the cooler and tune will make life a lot nicer.

yeah but i'm a rebel! i have run my HT18 at 15psi for about 5 years and no real complaints. The temps can be a little sporadic but i keep an eye on it pretty well.

[nissannewby]

yeah but i'm a rebel! i have run my HT18 at 15psi for about 5 years and no real complaints. The temps can be a little sporadic but i keep an eye on it pretty well.

Wait until you get a better turbo . Then you can run 25psi .

[MudRunnerTD]

Wait until you get a better turbo . Then you can run 25psi .

I know i NEED to run 25psi, the bloody wife cant be convinced though damn it!!!

[nissannewby]

I know i NEED to run 25psi, the bloody wife cant be convinced though damn it!!!

Running the ht18 at higher pressure won't kill it straight away, it may shorten its life, by how much is infinitely variable. The problem with the ht18 is that once you start going above 12psi it really only starts to produce heat instead of usable dense air. This can be masked with a good intercooler but the turbo will still be outside of its efficiency range.

Sorry about getting all serious lol.