What intercoolers do you guys reccomend or currently have?

 

Ive heard the greddy intercooler kits are simply amazing...

 

I prefer the HKS FMIC's. The Turbo XS FMIC's are pretty much HKS knock off's though and are idientical. APEX'I makes a good one as well. Just my 2 cents. Hope it helps. Best of luck.

 

I have a greddy FMIC and I like it alot.

Chris

 

If you're on a budget...Isuzu Npr! just my 2 cents.
Andres

 

i've heard good things about the M2 intercoolers....but i've had no experience with them...also...just my 2 cents

 

got some pics of one installed? i have one and need to get some ideas for my guy to put it in( he does custom fab/machine work)
spoolin7@midsouth.rr.com

 

i heard the m2 was a pain in the *** to install, but im thinking of going with a greddy...

 

Those are massive IC's for cheap.

 

The M2 large SMIC is a pain only because of the battery relocation. THe M2 medium SMIC is a straight bolt-in ... pipes and all, but you'll need to replace the stock intake box (if you haven't already). You'll also need the Greddy elbow to replace the stock IC elbow/pipe. Most FMIC's are going to ultimately require the relocation of the battery as well; so, either way, installation is not fun.

The Greddy SMIC is a very easy install, but seems horribly undersized (kinda like the stock IC, eh). I'm not convinced that any SMIC is going to improve the heat soaking problems. Anybody have any comparison experiences of SMIC vs. FMIC? Which one is better, in your opinion(s)?

 

Say what?

The RX7fashion is the same as the TrboXS FMIC but I do not beleive HKS uses the Apexi Skyline GTR core.

I have not seen the Greddy FMIC in person, so I can't comment on it but I have seen the Blitz and I like that one alot, especially because the radiator is still angled.

 

Could someone post pics of the M2 SMIC's (medium and large) for comparison? I have seen the large in person but never the medium... I plan on going with one of these kits and I am not sure I need the large one...
Thanks
Catlin

 

i'm working on installing a 944 t intercoller. i moved the battery and will keep the stock air box. heat soak is not an issue for me-road racing-and the 944 unit is huge! by the way, a friend picked it up for me in good used condition from a junk yard for$75. i will gladly spend a couple of weekends fabricating mounts and plumbing it. vince brown of performance garage in nashville makes a beautiful smic for about $1k. good luck

 

check the www.m2performance.com website for the difference.

and i was talking about the pics of the npr fmic install. i thought i posted quick enough earlier to be next. oh well.

 

That's probably true about the heat soak, however, I would rather myself deal with that, than restricting air flow into the front of the car with a FMIC (especially if you don't have a vented hood).

These cars run hot enough that I wasn't about to add to the heat under the hood by sticking a FMIC to block air into the car.

However, the effect isn't as bad with an aftermarket radiator and a vented hood when using a FMIC... But, that's more $$$.

 

So, here's question #2: Sticking with the SMIC, is it worth the hassle of relocating the battery for the M2 large SMIC or should I/we just settle with the straight bolt-in medium SMIC?

The reason I ask is that after any auto-x run, the IC is super hot. Spraying water/keeping fans on doesn't seem to help it that much ... if the sucker is just going to continue to heat soak, then why bother with the hassles of a larger IC? Or better yet, does the increased capacity and larger surface area help at all?

 

Pics and info about the M2 Medium (mine was ASP, but M2 sells them now):
http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/parts_info/ic/index.html

There are some pics of it installed here:
http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/gallery/mycar/index.html

I would get a FMIC unless you live somewhere really hot or want to road race, but the M2 SMICs are the best if you want stock mount.

-Max

 

Looks really small maxcooper...

 

Problems with a FMIC, you get rocks and crap damaging it when you drive, its a major PIA to install it, boost lag.

Everyone complains about heat soak. they only time you get heat soak is when you are sitting in traffic. Yes you will get alittle more with a SMIC than a FMIC, but neither one cools if you sitting still in traffic.

With a FMIC, you now have two things blocking your radiator from getting air, and the cars will run a little hotter as well.

 

Feh, small? It's the biggest thing that'll fit in that area. Trust me, when I designed it I did so to use all the space there is to the point of having 1/4 " or less tolerance on the top. I first did the large one with the only intent of it being for me personally. After it was refined for awhile I made a slightly different version that was trimmed on the drivers side just enough to allow the battery to stay, hence the meduim IC came about.

I'm not up for a debate about Front Mounts and Internals right this second but I will say the Front Mount IC's have more value to someone who's watched the Fast & the Furious a number of times than to an actual racer who's looking for performance and streetability.

Kevin T. Wyum

 

I JUST INSTALLED THE m2 med...i made two wot runs for about 10 secs each the temp stayed at 30 C. I was impressed. The weather is much cooler now but compared to the stock ic it made a world of difference. Driving around town temps do still creep up though b/c of stoping at lights, filliung up on gas, etc... I may look into a water shot/mist at some point. Heat soak is an issue but not big enough of an issue to make me want to change to a fmic.
Also, in my opinion i really dont think any other smic's compare to either the M2 lg or med and i have seen many in person.

 

I'm running the M2 medium. The only gripe I have with them is that pipe from the turbo to the IC rubs with the hood. I had to take the pipe off and bang it down a bit so that it doesn't rub anymore.

 

Ok, Im extreamly confused..... I want to get a new IC for cooling reasons and I was looking at the greddy IC for my car. Now it is a FMIC, so is it going to make my car run hotter in the long run? Should I look into a SMIC for better cooling? I dont plan on racing, its just for extra cooling. Any sugestions?

 

If you place the GReddy SMIC and the stock IC side-by-side, you will see it has twice the surface area of the stock, plus the end caps are aluminum, which sheds heat better than the stock nylon. Someone on the forum did an internal volume comparison of the GReddy SMIC, FMIC and most of the popular bolt-ons. All of them, even those (BLITZ, etc.) that fit in the stock area have larger tanks and surface area than stock. Plus- the polished aluminum looks a lot better than the black nylon/plastic crap on the stock IC.

I can feel the flames approaching.

 

i'm going with the greddy smic next month. heard good things about it, plus it's CARB certified, so if a cop ever pulls you over you just point to the carb # and tell him to be on his way, assuming the rest of car doesn't look too crazy.