FMIC vs. SMIC
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From: San Lorenzo, California
Originally posted by Kento
There's only a few SMICs that are just a "drop-in" (meaning no other modifications are necessary); Greddy, Blitz, and PFS come to mind.
There's only a few SMICs that are just a "drop-in" (meaning no other modifications are necessary); Greddy, Blitz, and PFS come to mind.
BlackRX7Turbo: Adding any larger intercooler (except for Blitz and Greddy SMIC) is going to require modifications. Medium SMICs require an aftermarket intake and large SMICs also require a mini-battery or relocation. All FMICs require an aftermarket intake and most require mini-battery or relocation as well.
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Charlottesville VA 22901
Originally posted by Kento
I guess I should have added to the FMIC sentence "if you don't fabricate an alternate system of ducting to force airflow through the radiator."
I guess I should have added to the FMIC sentence "if you don't fabricate an alternate system of ducting to force airflow through the radiator."
Simply implying that if you left everything alone on your stock setup but removed the duct in the underbelly plastic there would be heat problems. The majority of people that switch to front mounts don't add duct work so the fmic is not fighting a fair fight.
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From: IN
You go, Fritz!
Race driver's widow, "But what is so important about driving faster than anyone else?"
Steve McQueen, "Alot of people go through life doing things badly. Racing is important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it...it's life. Anything that happens before or after--is just waiting".
-Le Mans
Originally posted by Fritz Flynn
I am so tired of hearing people put down the front mount ic because of cooling issues. If you remove the ducting from the stock rad your going to overheat. When you install a fmic you have to come up with your own system of forcing air through the rad. Once this is done your good to go. If your going to track the car it doesn't matter if you have an smic or fmic you still need to add oil coolers, front nose, and more duct work if you plan to drive hard for 30 minutes in 90f wheather. Even r1 coolers are not enough for a track car. I have tracked a variety of fds with a variety of different setups and here is my conclusion. A single turbo is more important than using FMIC or SMIC if both equally thought out in regard to temp. Optimum setup for temps would be single turbo, big rad, big coolers, big smic, and mazdaspeed type nose. That said optimum setup for power would be the same as above only huge fmic. If air is forced to go through the rad after the fmic its not that much hotter or moving that much slower to really make a huge difference if the opening and duct work are optimal. Lots of people think the single turbo is hotter but believe me its not. Single throws heat to the outside but in contrast the twins heat is absorbed more by the oil, coolant, and engine.
Let the flames begin
I am so tired of hearing people put down the front mount ic because of cooling issues. If you remove the ducting from the stock rad your going to overheat. When you install a fmic you have to come up with your own system of forcing air through the rad. Once this is done your good to go. If your going to track the car it doesn't matter if you have an smic or fmic you still need to add oil coolers, front nose, and more duct work if you plan to drive hard for 30 minutes in 90f wheather. Even r1 coolers are not enough for a track car. I have tracked a variety of fds with a variety of different setups and here is my conclusion. A single turbo is more important than using FMIC or SMIC if both equally thought out in regard to temp. Optimum setup for temps would be single turbo, big rad, big coolers, big smic, and mazdaspeed type nose. That said optimum setup for power would be the same as above only huge fmic. If air is forced to go through the rad after the fmic its not that much hotter or moving that much slower to really make a huge difference if the opening and duct work are optimal. Lots of people think the single turbo is hotter but believe me its not. Single throws heat to the outside but in contrast the twins heat is absorbed more by the oil, coolant, and engine.
Let the flames begin
Steve McQueen, "Alot of people go through life doing things badly. Racing is important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it...it's life. Anything that happens before or after--is just waiting".
-Le Mans
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Charlottesville VA 22901
Originally posted by SleepR1
You go, Fritz!
Race driver's widow, "But what is so important about driving faster than anyone else?"
Steve McQueen, "Alot of people go through life doing things badly. Racing is important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it...it's life. Anything that happens before or after--is just waiting".
-Le Mans
You go, Fritz!
Race driver's widow, "But what is so important about driving faster than anyone else?"
Steve McQueen, "Alot of people go through life doing things badly. Racing is important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it...it's life. Anything that happens before or after--is just waiting".
-Le Mans
Well actually I had better not start racing or my poor wife will be talking to herself even more. I need some damn track time NOWWWWWW! I hate rain, snow, cold, anything that deprives me of a good fix.
2/4 wheel cornering fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Pasadena, CA
Originally posted by SleepR1
Steve McQueen, "Alot of people go through life doing things badly. Racing is important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it...it's life. Anything that happens before or after--is just waiting".
-Le Mans
Steve McQueen, "Alot of people go through life doing things badly. Racing is important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it...it's life. Anything that happens before or after--is just waiting".
-Le Mans
: That line was based on a quote from the late Peter "Revvie" Revson, who originally told a reporter: "To race is to live; everything else is just waiting."
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From: IN
Yeah, but the Steve McQueen Le Mans quote sounds MUCH BETTER LOL
Originally posted by Kento
Little known factoid : That line was based on a quote from the late Peter "Revvie" Revson, who originally told a reporter: "To race is to live; everything else is just waiting."
Little known factoid
: That line was based on a quote from the late Peter "Revvie" Revson, who originally told a reporter: "To race is to live; everything else is just waiting."
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: NJ
At this point I have an HKS intake (open), so I wasn't making that a factor.
Here's another thing to help winnow down the ICs I would be looking at... I don't think I'll EVER go so far as to putting a single turbo on... in fact, unless (until?) the turbos go, I would be sticking with the stock twins.
I guess my point is, being a newbie to all these modifications that it seems a ton of you have a lot of experience with already, I'm hoping your knowledge will help me in narrowing down what seems to be a large field, given how I plan on using the car...
thanks for all the input so far!
Here's another thing to help winnow down the ICs I would be looking at... I don't think I'll EVER go so far as to putting a single turbo on... in fact, unless (until?) the turbos go, I would be sticking with the stock twins.
I guess my point is, being a newbie to all these modifications that it seems a ton of you have a lot of experience with already, I'm hoping your knowledge will help me in narrowing down what seems to be a large field, given how I plan on using the car...
thanks for all the input so far!
2/4 wheel cornering fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,090
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From: Pasadena, CA
Well, you really need to do a search on this subject. There has been a ton of threads posted on this, with a lot of the discussion basically centered on the polarizing opinions of either camp. There's a hell of a lot more information that you'll be able to gather in much less time than on this thread, so it'll be to your benefit to do some legwork yourself, and search.
Love'n my 7
Joined: May 2003
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From: YOU DONT HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW
I would say if yu have $ FMIC. They are larger to begin with so therfor they will cool your air charge better. They look a hella lot cooler than the SMIC. I think for the time to install and the $ you will get more satisfaction out of the FMIC.
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