I just installed the intercooler today, and here are some thoughts.

AMS Intercooler: The piece seems well made and looks awesome! I must say the aluminum wasn't finished at all. It was scratched up and such all over the place. The stock intercooler weights NOTHING the AMS weighs prolly 3x heavier then the stock one.

Taking Bumper Off: I used the .PDF that's floating around here and it was spot on. Only part is its a little tricky unsnaping the clips near the fenders.

Installation: It was really easy. You just have to figure out how to position things to get old out and new in without crushing the fins on the Intercooler or Radiator. The only tricky part is the stock mount point arent used for the AMS. On the bracket where the stock mounting points are underneath you will see some already drilled holes there which you will be using 2. But if you look on the top side of that bracket there is this black solid metal piece thats held in place with 4 bolts. This thing (I have no idea what it is or for) is blocking the left hand side hole. I removed it and and install was a breeze from there.

Fit: The intercooler fit like a glove. Everything lined right up like it was stock.

Performance: I got to be honest im not feeling anything wow about it at the moment. I may have noticed the car getting threw the higher RPM's a litte faster. Also I noticed that boost is comming on a little later in the RPM band maybe 200-300 RPMs. I will be getting the car retuned to get the real gains of this piece.

Pics:

 

hmm, doesnt look like it would be much more efficient, BUT im sure its a good improvement.

 

nice beach towel.

 

Hells yea... Don't attempt to install without one!

 

Doesn't look much beefier than the stock core. Its definitely more efficient but I expected a bigger difference between AMS and stock.

 

Looks almost like stock. Not worth the asking price.

I would have chosen Bushurs Intercooler version. It's much beefier.

Get it tuned and post new numbers w/ the AMS intercooler installed.

 

^ That's the plan! I should be getting dyno tuned next week!

I didn't pay asking price It is over 300CI bigger then stock. It's 12.4"x20"x3.65"

 

Great! Can't wait to see your gains!

Too bad you don't have tuned numbers w/ your stock intercooler.

 

I DO!!!!! 335HP 359TQ I just added FMIC and getting it tuned for intercooler and will see results!

 

AMS Is great stuff, does 4b11's so do respond well to mods.

 

You probably didn't feel that much more power because the stock intercooler is actually a pretty good unit for stock turbo'd cars. A larger intercooler is a must for larger turbo'd cars. The stock intercooler should make similar to slightly lower power but will heatsoak quickly. When I dyno'd my car today we saw this. After 6 back to back pulls my car was making close to 15 whp less. I am installing a larger intercooler in 2 weeks and will repeat the test and hope to not see that kind of power loss.

A larger intercooler mainly will help you keep making power on those warm days rather than magically give you a large gain like a tune, turboback exhaust etc. does.

Pics look great! The AMS is a nice piece, good choice

 

Great numbers! I just read your sig. Can't wait to see results.

 

Great info. I think I read similar info in the past. I think the best bang for the buck over intercooler upgrade are cams.

 

Nice write-up, and it's nice to see how the clips of the front bumper are made in the picture. Thanks,

 

I was thinking the same. Buschur Racing, ETS or Ultimate Racing for me.