Well I have few ideas but want get some other opinions maybe someone else has some great ideas. With my front bumper (pic below) I thought about cutting out the bottom part to show the intercooler. Which is getting polished. If I go this route the bumper will be shaped around it so there wouldn't be any gaps around the intercooler. I think it would look alot cleaner but debating it. Or should I leave it way it is with just the intercooler polished showing through it. As for the little fake vents on bumpers and side those are getting eliminated. Then kit will be painted same color as car.

 

in my opinion, showing an ic is a little tacky. unless it will significantly increase air flow enough to justify it, I would advise against it.
again, my opinion.

 

yeah dont show alot of IC, i know everyone is probably thinking JoeBoost right now

 

There will be not that much if did this. maybe half of the intercooler. I would not modify stock bumper just my lower lip reshape it a bit give it some better lines. I took some time as you see in this pic the bar that goes across the middle of the lip thats what would be removed. Second pic of just the lip yellow line is what im talking about removing to show a little intercooler action.

 

I completely agree. That's why I purposefully got my IC anodized black and my IC piping and couplers are all black too.

I know alot of people over the years have nutted all over JoeBoost's car but his IC setup is tacky and kind of hack-jobby. Look how his Stillen lip is all pushed down in the middle (i.e., sloppy). It takes real skill/effort to make the intercooler sit in there cleanly.

Plus, as we get older our tastes generally subdue a little bit. I would hate to be a 30+ year old driving around in something like JoeBoost's setup.. hell I'm 27 and wouldn't want to drive JoeBoost's car around.

Akurtzer.. if you remove just the center bar it won't look much different than a Stillen lip with intercooler. I just think you might regret such a "loud" setup with the polished IC and all that as you get older

My setup for reference (when it goes back on it'll have black anodized clamps too so nothing will be very eye catching):

 

My opinion. I agree with BenStoked and James92SE looks much nicer. I'm not a big fan of seeing the intercooler. I like the lines of the front of the car and seeing the intercooler reminds me of seeing the teeth of a zombie with its mouth closed.

Just saying. But do what you will.

 

Ive just been debating this for awhile. Currently I have the all black look. Along with black charge piping.

 

This is a PERFECT EXAMPLE of what your IC should look like and how it should be installed. Having the intercooler on the outside of the front ground effect is like having the radiator hooked up to the front of the grille. Sweet Max my dude!!

 

James, aside from the clamps, that's perfect. the first time I saw it, I was like, "wtf is he talking about?"
came back just now, and saw the IC. same pic. it is almost invisible.

es bueno, man.

 

ill post up some pics here in a day or so, all i did was get an intercooler and regular piping and i installed it. nothing fancy, its just there

 

i sooo want that grill

 

Thanks... I spent a buttload of time on it especially knowing I'd have the Stillen lip on there. I had the IC up and off, Stillen lip installed and back off, over and over, trying to figure out the exact height the IC needed to be for the lip to mate against the bottom of it cleanly. The bottom of the intercooler actually has three evenly spaced threaded bungs welded to it, and so I have bolts going up through the lip into the intercooler which keeps the lip from bowing down from wind getting in between the lip and IC.

I also spent alot of time fabricating the IC piping to be completely horizontal. Not only do I hate gaudy IC setups, but crooked, curved, bent, and unsymmetrical IC piping also bugs me

I swear, I don't think anybody out driving around even ever noticed/saw it. Never had one ricer stare at it, one passing car do a double take or anything like you see people do with obvious turbo setups, etc.

I'll find some black clamps hopefully this summer when I get the setup onto the blue car. If they're outrageously expensive or something I'll just paint the ones I have

 

im with the others...

you have a legitamately rare body kit...not sure which one it is or whatever but im guessing you cant get them easily anymore...not my style and im sure a lot of 3rd genners will agree with me...however no point in hacking up the front lip just so some mechanical part of your setup shows when you can keep it concealed

that way you have much more of a "sleeper" set up

ive never liked the look of exposed ICs on any car however james setup is very well done...too bad it looks like he cant sport fog lights...pr maybe ill get corrected?

keep it the way youve got it!

 

I'm also all about the sleeper look. Here you can see my intercooler is almost completely hidden.



As for the intercooling pipes, I cut a hole just on either side off the radiator and snaked them through there. It totally hides the pipes, shortens the required length and allows you plenty of room for fog lights. I hope these pictures show you what I mean.