Auxiliary Radiator Delete
Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 1:12 am
I got that itchy feeling again so with my car on SORN for the winter, I decided to have a try at installing a cold air feed.
This is what awaits you once you have removed the front bumper and plastic air duct to the radiator.

Upon removing the radiator, I discovered that there were 3 water inlet/outlets so I had a local radiator repair shop fabricate me a 20mm equal T with flared ends which enabled me to make the join.


Unfortunately, the hose from the secondary air pump to the air filter housing passed right across the air trumpet inlet. A trip to my local VW truck spares found me an unrelated but twisted hose that I cut to suit and which then routed the pipe away from the air trumpet. My car had already had the air flap removed.

I then attached a 1 metre length of collapsible trunking to the inlet trumpet and routed this to the front, finishing it off with the top of a funnel, cut and taped to suit.

It was a real pain to reassemble everything because the plastic air duct was previously mounted to the radiator. Also, with the new ducting in place, everything is a bit squashed but aided by plenty of cable ties, I got it all back together.

Thus my car now has a cold air inlet feeding a JHM silicone air intake, through a devaned, ported and polished inlet manifold, then exiting through a custom s/s exhaust with 200 cell sports cats. Should be interesting. Next step is to find a nice fine day and take some air flow readings to see how it compares to stock.
This is what awaits you once you have removed the front bumper and plastic air duct to the radiator.

Upon removing the radiator, I discovered that there were 3 water inlet/outlets so I had a local radiator repair shop fabricate me a 20mm equal T with flared ends which enabled me to make the join.


Unfortunately, the hose from the secondary air pump to the air filter housing passed right across the air trumpet inlet. A trip to my local VW truck spares found me an unrelated but twisted hose that I cut to suit and which then routed the pipe away from the air trumpet. My car had already had the air flap removed.

I then attached a 1 metre length of collapsible trunking to the inlet trumpet and routed this to the front, finishing it off with the top of a funnel, cut and taped to suit.

It was a real pain to reassemble everything because the plastic air duct was previously mounted to the radiator. Also, with the new ducting in place, everything is a bit squashed but aided by plenty of cable ties, I got it all back together.

Thus my car now has a cold air inlet feeding a JHM silicone air intake, through a devaned, ported and polished inlet manifold, then exiting through a custom s/s exhaust with 200 cell sports cats. Should be interesting. Next step is to find a nice fine day and take some air flow readings to see how it compares to stock.