I am installing my intercooler on my 86 xt right now, the question is with my xt now running a intercooler is a blow off valve needed, if so what vac line do I need to attach to the bov?

I am installing my intercooler on my 86 xt right now, the question is with my xt now running a intercooler is a blow off valve needed, if so what vac line do I need to attach to the bov?

 

Depending on what IC you use (WRX) some will come with a recirc valve.

You dont really want to use a BOV.

One line goes to the intake manifold and the larger line goes to the intake prior to the turbo.

So to do an intercooler on these all you need to do is hook it up in between the turbo and intake? No need for BOV or anything? Seems easy. I have one Ive been waiting to install because i thought it was beyond my skill.

The principal is simple, the application in old school Subaru's isnt.

Go to the Retrofit forum and do some searches for top mount IC installs.

Blow off valve has nothing to do with intercooling. It is there to release pressure when you have a decent turbo that can spool up fast building good pressure. If you have the thing floored making a lot of boost then completely let off the gas, you now have all that pressure and volume with no where to go. Without the BOV, it will back up into the turbo causing damage to the turbine, compressor, shaft or bearings. Depending on the back pressure and amount of times you do this, it could be damaged quickly or over a period of time. What kind of intercooler are you installing? Top or front mount? Front mount is ill advised. Serious lag time and an actual loss of performance. This applies to the XT, not in general.

Top mount WRX

Can you post pics when you get it installed. I have a wrx tmic that I wanta install on my turbo brat with a ea82 turbo.

 

Thanks Clay

Its a little different with the spyder intake, but most of the plumbing is the same.

turbone-looks like the factory wrx bypass valve is actually bypassed???

Yes, for a while I didnt have it connected. I had a TD04 WRX turbo installed also and when I left off the throttle from a hard pull you could hear the air slamming against the throttle plate :-\

This is what it looks like now.

2 questions, where did you get the maf adapter and what do you use to mount the IC to the car?

The MAF adapter I got from someone on the forums. It was a few years ago, so I dont remember the details. Some folks go to Home Depot and get a dryer vent line connector. Not sure if this will work in all applications.

I made brackets to mount the IC to either side of the spare tire platform.

K, thanks for the info. I will have to make some mounting brackets for mine since the spair tire is mounted in the trunk.

For mounting the intercooler I've seen another member use turnbuckles on both sides and putting bolts in place of the eyelet bolts. So you have height/angle adjustment so it fits nicely under the hood. Sorry I can't remember the user to give credit too. -matt

cool, thanks for the tip.