Some may know i've recently joined the rebuild club. my issue is i'm trying, ( excuse for jacking mahjik's term) a "quick" and as reliable as possible car.

Keeping stock ports, Complete OEM rebuild. OEM mazda gaskets/apex coolant oil etc.
getting fluidyne radiator, apexi rx6 turbo, powerfc with suitable fuel system. my issue is choosing a Intercooler to match up. i've read up on v-mount, and the money needed is pointless to my setup. I'm only look for 270-290 RWHP. yes i know i can keep twins etc etc. but i'm going for simplicity and getting rid of all the cluster f*ck mazda did. rats nest removal, twins assy removal, GZ LIM upgrade etc.

anyway. my idea for a intercool, would it be ideal to put a mid sized IC inbetween the rad and fans, so i cool motor first, then ic, and fans would help forcedraw air through both, granted with proper ducting outta fiber glass. Or is a SMIC more feasible to my needs? I WILL keep my P/S and A/C, too damn hot in houston a little fabbing isn't a problem, i just don't need a 1 year intercooler fab project. i dont' want water inj or anythign like that. i just want a much simpler and more reliable setup then mazda gave us. what would ya'll reccoment me? thanks!

Los

 

with an fluidyne radiator you should be ok to run a front mount if you want. But ASP is making the stock mount intercooler you want.

 

the ASP intercoolers are really nice. top notch. personally, i wouldnt do a front mount in houston, fluidyne ot not.

 

270-290 RWHP?? To be honest, I like the twins for that kind of power. Simplified/not simplified seq. twins will be more responsive than RX6 and cheaper! Also, you don't need upgraded fuel nor get it tuned.. Stock PFC map should run twins to 300HP without any issue with DP and catback. Full exhaust and upgrade IC, you might want someone to touch it up.. but still under 12lbs, Stock PFC map should be ok.

Also GZ LIM is pointless for making that kind of power and with stock port.. and with it you have to run a single..

Far as smic, Go with ASP, Ebay, Greddy, Pettit, Any of these SMIC should be ok for 300RWHP. Even stocker should be fine.

And I have no clue about what you are saying about cooling engine, IC, what ever.. Hope you understand that engine is cooled by the radiator and that if you put something behind the rad, you'll get all the hot air. Go look at your stock system. Mazda didn't **** up that much..

 

If you want to talk with someone local just PM me, I'm in the Houston area and have been modding the third gen for a decade now.

 

Have you taken a look at the Rotary Extreme V-Mount Intercooler set-up? I also agree with Herblenny, you don't need to spend the $$$ on an Apexi RS6 for those power goals. Spend the turbo money on a v-mount.

 

"my idea for a intercool, would it be ideal to put a mid sized IC inbetween the rad and fans, so i cool motor first, then ic, .... I WILL keep my P/S and A/C, too "

Bad idea, in summer, air preheated by ac condenser and rad will preheat IC core. Volvo saab, and sc scion(A/L) put IC core between ac cond and rad ... better that your concept.

agree with posted smic list, except Greddy ... too much pressure drop at inlet. Also consider PFS.

only fmic for Texas, with stock bumper, is true Apexi.

 

I agree with herblenny. A stock setup will do just fine for ~290RWHP. In fact, you could get a reprogrammed ECU (M2/Pettit/etc.) to simpify things even more. The PFC, in comparison to a reflashed ECU, is a very complex unit. Seeing as how you are not in CA, you could do a simplified sequential mod.

A DP, intake, catback, ECU, and SMIC w/ 12psi should put you at your goal.

 

Your idea of rad-IC-fans is a very bad one, if you could even accomplish it.

Just stick with a good SMIC, it is the most reliable solution. For your needs, an M2/ASP medium, a Pettit Coolcharge II (old style), or a PFS would be a great fit. If you go single turbo, it will be easier to fab up piping to mate with the M2/ASP than the others.

 

I agree with everyone else. Stick with the twins. You could even upgrade the twins to some BNR's or something if you want a little more hp. Im located about 30-40 minutes outside of houston and wouldnt trust a front mount with the heat we get. Talk to Kyle (twok) about tuning and upgrading. I sent him my car and we are finishing the tuning this weekend. About the intercooler...If you want reliability just go something other than stock. Im going to eventually get the GReddy stock mount. Or you can go with the large ASP and relocate your battery.

 

How long have you had this car? Why are you so apt to give up on the stock set up? I mean come on, it sounds like you havent even given the stock twins, and their control system a chance. Why do you feel the need to go single turbo, especially if you arent trying to make more than 350whp? Thats just pointless.

Just take some time, get to know the car and how things work, and then start modding. Dont just read posts about bitches that dont know how to diagnose their car, so they take the easy route and dump everything and go with a single kit.

 

just go with a simple aftermarket smic that wont give you any fitting issues

 

Agreed. If you dont want all the rats nest and mess or vacuum hoses, just go non-sequential. Gets rid of alot of things. Just get a full exhaust system and you wont have too much lag. If you want to make 300rwhp just get all the bolt ons and you should be good. To get your car runnin like new talk to twokrx7 (Kyle).

 

ok.. dont' wanna sound rude. but i've decided on a single for my own reasons. i know i can tune twins to whatever i want. that's not my point i'm working for.


second don't say i didn't give them a chance, or that i can't diagnose my car. you don't know me. i work at mazda and am a pretty damn good technician. i'm not a rotary god or know it all. but with a book. i'm good. i have the original manual on paper, original diagram in pdf, and the original mazda FD highlihgts book with is probably worth more then the whole manual itself.

if you didn't mean it in this way forget the second paragraph.

thanks to those that offered help on the intercooler setup. prolly get a m2 or similar as rynberg and a few have suggested. i'm getting rid of twins for simplicity and reducign all the heat i can. apexi rx6 as far as i know spools about as fast as our twins. and if i get 300 rpm +/- lag, i'm not worried about it. i don't auto x, road race, or anything. i Daily drive mine. i'm trying to build a fun quick car that'll last me another 100K miles. i've owned it for 8 months.

again thanks for the help guys. appreciate it !!!


Los

 

More power to ya man

 

Los, Good to see that you are a Mazda mechanic. Well, you more than most of us should know quite a bit about cars. And that Mazda didn't really **** up these cars.

The fact that why I recommend twins vs. single is that, most newbies on the forum thinks its the BEST set up for some odd reasons. In fact, most twins lasted as much as 80-100K miles with few problems when taken care of. Also, for better response, its hard to beat twins. For the money (because people want to get rid of their twins) you can't beat it either. Any single set up you would need pretty much everything from custom IC piping, dp, manifold, oil lines, coolant line (if the turbo is water cooled also), and also you have to choose the wastegate. Its quite a bit of work to get your car less responsive.

People think that single is less of a hassle.. but to me, its more of a head ache if your twins are good and only thing you need to check is solenoids, vac lines, and one way valves.

At the end, its whatever you want to do with your car. Seems like you are pretty knowledgeable and just looking for some opinions. Good luck with your project!