Was just wondering how it fits into the scheme of the front end. As I understand it, the intercooler is just below the rad, down low right infront of the center airdam.

Could I buy (or substitute) the intercooler seperately, or do I need to buy an RS4 rad+IC package. Would it bolt, or otherwise attach, onto my exisitng 90 radiator?

I'll explain what this is all for in a follow-up post. thanks for any help

check yah later

Jager is right, both the RS4 and S4 2.7l 30vtt's use two intercoolers. One for each turbo, and are mounted outboard behind the bumper.

The S2 and RS2 2.2l 20vt's use one of THREE different styles of front mount intercoolers. They attach to the car, as well as the turbo plumbing, via a cross member specific to each of those three FMIC's. If you want to see what the S2 FMIC looks like from the '93-96 cars, click my sig, enter my site, and go to the engine swap page. I have a couple pics comparing the S2 to the POS 5ktq setup.

I also have pictures of the IC used on the 3B engined (early, '91-92) S2, and I thought I had some of the RS2 unit too. Those are not on the web...

Either of the S2 units fit behind an S2 or RS2 bumper. The RS2 bumper I'm pretty sure you need an RS2 bumper for it to fit as it offers slightly more clearance.

The urS4/6 IC's are wierd IIRC. Kinda laid flat with ducting to it. Not sure if I'd use one or not, since it would likely be retarded to make fit.

So I shoulda done that first, but oh well.

And yes, I found out that the RS4 has two IC's which are at the corners (hence the large side airdams...) But it was my understanding that an S4 just has the one IC directly below, and along the length of the rad.

This is what I'm interested in. Or perhaps even using just one of the RS4 IC's (as you may have guessed I'm not going to use it as a turbo feature.)

check yah later

I suppose I should be including B4turbo in this discussion. He probably knows more than I do, and did similar investigating...

so, next question. Where do I get one? The only obvious place I've come across so far has been DUH tuning. But that's rediculously expensive considering I won't even be using it for a turbo. So what...Audi OEM supply store? think they may have unique stuff like that? Ebay? hmmmm, thanks guys

check yah later

Instead of using an IC as part of a tubo'd engine, as it is intended, my friend and I thought it might be cool to use it as part of a cold air induction system.

If you just had the IC (maybe plumbed it to the normal cooling system, just so it wasn't useless) you could duct the air passing through it up into the airbox. Thus providing relatively cold air regardless of OAT. Add misters to the front and you could really drop the intake air temp.

As part of this, you'd probably need to configure the area around the cone (in my case) to be "airtight", as with either the "cone box" (like what Miktip brings up every so often) or with custom sheet metal work to actually create an "airtight" open airspace around the cone. You could easily enough build the heat shroud to block off the area facing the engine, but then you just cut it to a height so as to seal against the bottom of the hood when closed. The ductwork from the IC then enters this airspace from either the bottom, side, or both.

So, what do ya'll think? Has this been done before? Crazy? anyways, thanks fer readin'

check yah later

Why not get an RS2 or S2 bumper? I don't think the quasi-RS4's look right on the B3/B4 cars, but thats my opinion...

Anyway, I got my S2 FMIC off of ebay.de after working a trade. There are several on there at any given time. Otherwise, expect to pay 400-something for a brand spankin' new one, plus around $50 in shipping from the UK or Germany. That is if you want one of the factory IC's.

Really, no matter which FMIC you go with, you'll need to at least modify your front cross member so you can actually mount the thing. Spearco (Turbonetics) makes all sorts of cores, and can make custom end tanks to your specifications. Not too cheap either.

Anyway, for what you are planning, I would not think it would make any noticable difference besides add a fair amount of volume to your intake tract. More volume, slower throttle response. I'd invest in all of mods "urS4" has come up with for the 12v motors first. I think you'll be MUCH happier. Or, spend some of the cash on getting your IM and EM JetHot coated to reduce underhood temps (or buy the two things I'd buy from TDL, the ported and coated factory 12v manifolds and ported intake manifold). Lots "better" (more fruitful) ways to spend your money to get power out of the 12v.

With a turbocharger, your post-turbo intake air is going to be much hotter than ambient. Easily 200 degrees hotter.

With normal aspiration, the difference isn't going to be anywhere near as big. In fact, I believe the additional weight and intake restriction on a naturally aspirated car would make your car lose performance--not gain it.

The only way I can see your setup even being functional is if you constantly sprayed the IC with an evaporating liquid (alcohol or water) or if you packed it with ice. Even then, the gain would be minimal if any.

You can't cool intake air so it is cooler than ambient air.

The reason an intercooler works so well for forced induction engines is because the intake air is hundreds of degrees higher than ambient!

Running any IC on a norm. asp. car will be rather pointless. Think about it from a thermodynamic POV, you can't transfer thermal energy from one thermal body at X celcius when the other thermal body is also at X celcius. Only way you could, was if you did some evap. stuff with it, as Tabula pointed out (or also did alcohol or water injection in the intake tract, which also works well with FI motors).

Lack of information and misinformation are two evils of society. Well, ok, there ARE some good instances of both, but lets not get into governmental issues here!