Had been feeling to urge to mess with the 997 again. I'm thinking I probably want to go with some bigger VTGs here before too long, and the first order of business was upgrading the cooling and intercooler plumbing to maximize that system before I tried to go adding any additional flow.

While the 997.2 ICs worked admirably, particularly for a stock part, they have their limitations on high HP stock turbo and upgraded VTG cars. Really good for a 3 gear run (2,3,4) before the intake temps destabilize and start to head for the sky.

I had looked at both the AMS and do88 systems. In my opinion, the 997.2 cores or one of these systems are the main options depending on your goals and setup. The AMS kit is obviously the benchmark, but I was happy with the quality of my do88 turbo inlet pipes and wanted to give them another shot with the IC kit, particularly after seeing some logs of various cars running it.

The install was fairly straightforward for a large intercooler kit. There's not a ton of wiggle room with everything being maximally sized for the space available. I did end up having an issue with a mal-placed Y pipe peg on the driver's side that helps hold the airbox down, but I simply chopped it off. Other than that, I thought the fitment was spot on.

My only minor complaint was that the IC core to Y pipe hoses are not labeled and there is no mention of which side the longer hose goes on. I started out with the longer hose on the passenger side. This DID NOT work for me. The hose was too long, kinked, and hit against the gas strut on the passenger side trunk/engine cover and prevented it from closing. This was the literal LAST step for my install, and I was obviously a bit miffed once I realized the issue.

I changed the longer hose to the driver's side, and that fit perfectly. Problem solved.

The performance of the cores is impressive. A 2,3,4 gear pull from 30-130 resulted in IATs climbing at max of 10 deg F and basically pegging there. Typically, the 997.2 units were starting to have a fairly substantial slope up in the data by then. Temp recovery time after a run was also impressive.

Power gains were quite objective in this case, at least in the torque department. I had long suspected that the hottest E85 map I have is making a LOT more than 700 wtq. The tq onset is frankly quite violent, and even a bit unpleasant. This was magnified once I got this system on and was even enough to slip the clutch slightly in 3rd gear at 4k rpm on my Sachs 2.5 system! I would estimate it was making 750 wtq at a minimum. Came home and flashed down to a 20-21 psi map and now the car is as fast as ever, but much more manageable in the midrange, and smooth as glass.

Overall, the d088 big pack is a deal for the amount and performance of the hardware in this market. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase it again.

 

awesome Glad to see more people upgrading from the GT2RS coolers and not being stoned LOL.

Should I start pulling off my turbos now or give you a few days?

 

Send em on over!

 

Thanks for validating my purchase heh heh. I'll get mine installed soon when the other stuff goes on. Doesn't look like a whole lot of room by the end tanks for welding bovs but hopefully just enough.

 

Nice man!

 

Did you have to retune after the upgrade?

 

Haven’t done any new 60-130s (coming soon) but I have been logging some 60-100 times. It ran a 2.71 sec time on the 20-21 psi map which appears to be basically the same as my old 24 psi map on the 997.2 ICs. Hope to get some good 60-130s this weekend.

Car also hit 448 g/s on 20-21 psi down from 455 at 24 psi so flowing very similar numbers.

 

We're a big fan of the Big Pack. Fitment is great. No cutting or modifying. This is what's on our record holding 997.1TT

 

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You must have gotten a "ringer" set of intercoolers and ypipe, lol.
My shop had to cut a little of the frame underneath, similar to what's in the pics above.
I got a call yesterday saying the trunk wouldn't close with the ypipe. Some fiddling necessary for sure. I think they were referring to the hydraulic lifters for the spoiler but that was what was bumping into the ypipe. I will see tomorrow what they mean but it doesn't sound like it was a no-brainer install...

 

 

correction: I think they were referring to the trunk lid hydraulics being in the way

 

I did notice you pointed that out...he told me he has the longer piece on the drivers side because if you put the longer piece on the passenger side the ypipe isn't level

 

 

mine looks like it sits higher than yours? they took the trunk hydraulics off. Obviously something is wrong somewhere if no one else had to do this....