Hey Guys!
Back again for a quick update for those looking to install over the weekend. I'll start by first saying that we've making updates to the design for the units currently in production and beyond. I'll have more info on that soon!
Ok, so our findings while we had our donor vehicle in since we had our engineer, and some less mechanically inclined folks perform this install to get to the bottom of the issue. It seems that one of the main causes of the radiator tab snapping is supporting the weight while working on the driver-side charge pipe, so, again, having a second set of hands for this installation is ideal. In either case, we were still able to get our prototype and a production unit installed without damaging the tab, but it's admittedly tricky. That said, however, while the part numbers match through the years, there's likely enough of a difference in the tolerances that are also contributing to the broken tabs.
So, that all said, we have some more tips for those looking to install this weekend. To start, I'll reiterate that for our install procedure, both of these tabs are only utilized temporarily to support the weight of the intercooler while securing the primary mounting bolts. As long as the primary mounting points and lower struts are aligned, the intercooler will install properly. But, to avoid some unnecessary struggling and frustration, we advise to hook in the passenger side tab, and then secure the upper driver's side mounting bolt to hold the intercooler in place while you work on the charge pipes. Hooking the driver's side tab, again, isn't necessary for the complete installation.
Now, if you're working on this step and the cast tab is in the way, you can remove it. With a hacksaw or cutting disc, cut along the solid line in the photo below and remove the portion labeled with an X. Just be careful not to cut into the end tank while removing this tab:
End result will look like this:
This way the tab is out of the equation for a simpler install and so you won't risk breaking the plastic tab on the radiator. Also, since we're advising you to modify this product, I just wanted to give you the heads up that we will still honor lifetime warranty claims for this product even after modification, in case you experience other issues with the intercooler.
Thanks, guys! I'll do my best to keep an eye on this thread over the weekend if you have any questions.
-Nick