B43410 - Outback XT Top Mount Intercooler

Owned by Brandyn Mowat
Last updated: May 03, 2024
9 min read

 

 

 

B43410 - Outback XT Top Mount Intercooler

Outback XT 2020-2024
Outback Wilderness 2020-2024

 

Congratulations on your purchase of the COBB Tuning Intercooler! The following instructions will assist you through the installation process. Please read them BEFORE beginning the install to familiarize yourself with the steps and tools needed. If you feel you cannot properly perform this installation, we HIGHLY recommend you take the vehicle to a qualified and experienced automotive technician.

 

 

Parts List

 

 

 

Tools Needed

Sockets

3/8"

  • 3/8" ratchet

  • 3/8" 6" extension

  • 3/8" 12mm socket

Hand Tools

  • Phillips head screwdriver

  • 4mm Ball End Allen Key (Included)

  • Trim removal tool

  • Pick

Misc.

  • Razor Blade

  • Side Cutters

  • Hose cutter

Stock Intercooler Removal

  1. Park your car in a flat, level area and allow it to cool down properly.


  2. Remove the two 12mm bolts from the throttle body to the intercooler using your ratchet.



  3. On the driver's side (USDM) remove the 12mm bolt through the intercooler itself, the two holding the bracket to the intake manifold can be left installed.



  4. Remove all three 12mm bolts on the passenger's side (USDM) and take the bracket out of the engine bay for now.



  5. Gently pry out on the retaining clip spring until it sits in it's unlocked position (It should stay there without need of holding it with a tool)





  6. Pull the hose connection out of the charge pipe and tilt the intercooler to remove it from the engine bay.

     



Stock Hood Shroud Removal

  1. While not strictly necessary if you have agile fenders, taking the steps to remove the hood shroud make things significantly easier. Start with removing the trim clips on the sides by pulling the center outward and then removing the whole clip.

     

     

     

     

  2. Don’t forget the ones on the back corners!

     

  3. Almost the last one in the center under the hood

     

     

  4. The final secret one is up inside the duct in the shroud. It’s a little easier to do after you pull all the rest and the shroud flops downward on the black hooks.

     



  5. With that the shroud should fold downand you can easily slip the hooks out of the back.

     



Shroud Disassembly

  1. Remove the trim clips going around the outside of the rubber gasket on the factory ducting. This can be done by squeezing the triangular clips and pushing down to remove the three clip section as a unit.

     

     

     

     

  2. Once they’re all off it should just flop off the ducting on a melted rivet in the center, if you gently wiggle it around to one side it should come off around the melted rivet.

     



Intercooler Pre-Assembly

  1. Loosen the outermost clamp from the rubber coupler holding the charge pipe together. Then remove the outer barbed portion from the coupler. Then do the same with the rear mostclamp until you have the three parts of the charge pipe disassembled. (Doing this while the pipe is still installed to the intercooler will give you a bit mroe weight and leverage to hold things in place) It can sometimes help if you get a pick under the rubber to break things loose, but be careful not to poke a hole in anything.

     

     



  2. Remove the three bolts holding the factory charge pipe to the stock intercooler.

     



  3. Transfer the charge pipe onto the new intercooler.



  4. Reassemble the charge pipe using the provided coupler and clamps in place of the factory rubber ones.

     



  5. Remove the metal insert from the rubber bushings on the stock intercooler, then remove the rubber portion.



  6. It can then be installed into the new core. (the large flat side of the insert should be on the top side away from the side with the charge pipe on it.



  7. Carefully remove the o-ring from inside the stock intercooler using a small pick. Any tears may cause issues down the road.




  8. You can then slide it into the new intercooler



  9. Assemble the four pieces of the shoud using the supplied hex key, and the 6 Allen bolts.

     

     



  10. Use the snubby looking trim on the back side (opposite the cobb logo) on the portion without the bolt holes.

     



  11. Using the pointy duck head looking one, go around the other three sides of the opening in the shroud. You can get as fancy or as lazy in the corners as you want, making angled cuts where they meet up etc.

     

     

     

     

COBB Thrust Tunnel Installation

  1. Using the original trim clips, attach the thrust tunnel to the underhood shrouding starting on the sides and then doing the front. Once you get one in, evrything should be fairly easy to line up.






  2. Moving around to the back of the shroud you’ll put one of the captive nut plates on the side of the COBB Thrust Tunnel away from the shroud, then use one of the allen bolts and washers to secure it through the factory underhood shroud. Start with them loose until all 6 are installed and then tighten them down.

     

     





  3. With the nut plates installed you can take the tabs from the back of the shroud and route them around the outside of the shroud into the slots in the Thrust Tunnel






  4. At that point you can reinstall the shroud to the car if you uninstalled, or you’re all finished with this step!

     







Intercooler Core Installation

  1. First get the COBB intercooler under the lip at the back of the engine bay





  2. Get the charge pipe lined up in place and push it in until it clicks, make sure the snap ring falls into place.


     

  3. Rotate the intercooler around the charge pipe to get the throttle body into place on the intercooler.

     

     

     

  4. Loosely install the passenger's side bracket with the stock bolts.

     



  5. Repeat with the driver's side.

     



  6. Bolt down the throttle body with the two factory bolts, then tighten down the two outside brackets. It’s a good idea to gently wiggle the intercooler upward and towards the throttle body until you feel the bolts going in smoothly to avoid cross threading.

     



  7. You’re all done! Go out and enjoy!

 

CARB Sticker Application

This product is covered under a CARB EO for some vehicle models/years. For more information check out our page CARB EO numbers for COBB Subaru Products

(Where Applicable)

  1. Apply the supplied CARB sticker in a clear, easy to find location.  Typically underhood, or on the radiator core support.

 

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