02 wrx intercooler vs. 06 07 wrx intercooler

[morrocco88]

I have heard the 06 wrx intercooler is a little bit smaller in size compared to the 02/03. I heard they were not as deep from front throttle body to the rear. Is this true? If it is, will it not support as much flow as compared to the earlier 02 03 style?

I have an 02/03 and it was a tight fit getting it on, specifically getting past the pinch weld at the top of the firewall. I had to take the plastic cowel off and trim it back a little to get past it, but once it's in it doesn't hit anything.

The problem is after installing the groupN motor mounts, it changed the engine position just enough to make the intercooler impossible to get back on. So I had to do some more trimming on the pinch weld and barely got it on. So I'm thinking if the 06/07 style is not quite as deep, and doesn't sacrifice flow/power potential, I would switch.

Any thoughts? Anyone measure them and know for sure? And no I'm not going front mount, so please don't suggest that.

Thanks for any help on this!