I was wondering how difficult and how much better/easier would it be to install an intercooler on the intake manifold instead of in front of the radiator. Same as the WRX basically. Just trying to do something different. Thought it would be cool.

Thanks,
Matt

 

The problem with that is that the air in the engine bay (espically the top since heat rises) is a good deal hotter then the ambient air rushing past your radiator in the front. Because of this, not as heat exchange can occur, so the intercooler is much less efficent. At idle and low driving speeds, the heat from the engine can actually INCREASE the Charge Temperatures, rending the Intercooler an Interheater.
WRX's compensate for this by adding a hood scoupe, but it's still an inefficent setup, and one of the first things that must WRX owners do is opt for a nice FMIC