I'm choosing between these two SMICs.

Pettit CoolCharge III or ASP Large

Positive/Negative experiences with either? Other (informed) opinions?

Or feel free to suggest one of the medium ICs since I'll be running stock twins (pricing is not significantly different).

Although I have searched intercooler discussions I inevitably turn up threads with FMIC/SMIC debate. I've already made that decision.

 

The ASP Large and the Pettit Coolcharge III are basically the same.

The main thing for me is that I didn't want to relocate my battery so I went with a smaller SMIC (old Pettit Coolcharge II), and that it was forsale at a VERY good price.

If I was buying a new one today, it would be the ASP Med SMIC.

 

I had the ASP large in my car for ~ 1 yr, and for my purposes it was too big (daily spirited driving). The cool-side pipe was still warmer than I'd like it after a 20-30 freeway/city commute for work. Also, I thought the i/c & duct blocked off too much of the back of the radiator. When I had my fans on, I could feel the hot air being pushed by the fans behind the front wheels & under the car (the area you normally use to jack up the car). This is *with* the underbelly in place & the 99-spec fan blades.
I now use the ASP/M2 medium, and I'm a lot happier. I left the battery in the trunk, so there's much more empty space in the engine bay for air to circulate.

 

I've been happy with my M2 large. Of course you can't get it new anymore.

Works well for me for track use and for the street. Relocating the batter was pretty easy and works a lot better than using one of the tiny slim batteries in the stock location. The turbo outlet to intercooler intake pipe barely fits around the air pump (I have kept all my emissions equipment except the pre cat).

I'm sure the Pettit Large is probably just as good.

 

The M2 large is the same product as the ASP large (same thing for the M2 Med). Just a new/old person selling them instead of M2.

 

I don't follow. Too large AND did not cool to your satisfaction?

This is good info. Engine temps are my biggest issue and I'd hate to add to my cooling problems -- a primary reason for going SMIC rather than FMIC.

I'd just hate to go halfway on the IC if the large is going to provide significantly better charge cooling.

 

I've had r0t0r-rooters ASP large in my car for about a month and I'm cooler than where I was with a greddy smic. Of course there is now a ton more space in there. But all in all I'm happy with the ASP large so far.

 

Look no further than the input output tubes on the IC's if you're looking to compare quality : ). The Pettit is a knock-off, he was supposed to be reselling them just like M2 used to, of course what he really wanted to do was just make lower quality copies of it. He even had the nerve to ask if he could borrow the ducts for a few weeks, (gee why do you want to borrow it?) He eventually had one of his customers buy one and borrowed the parts to try and make copies. He did the same thing with the GReddy throttle body elbow, ground off the name and had castings made. He even made a few with my logo put on them hoping I'd buy from him.

There's also now the issue of the new cast air pump pipe being available with both of my IC's, I suppose till Pettit tries to make a copy of that too : ).

The big difference between the large and mediums are low speed efficiency. They're both within a few percent of each other at high speed (20mph or more through the core) but the large has better cooling at low speed. The person that mentioned the medium with a moved battery being the best for radiator cooling was probably right for it being the optimal balance.

Sorry for the rant but the Pettit thing still pisses me off, dishonest *****.

Kevin T. Wyum

 

Whats the specs on the medium and large (cfm, core used, ect....)? Also I noticed on your car (Kevin) you have 2 inlets on the intercooler, is that an option for those of us that are in the middle of a twin setup?

-Alex

 

You're doing two large turbos and want two inputs on the charge side? If so yes I can have another one made like mine for a few extra bucks. Check Steve C's Lightning in a world of thunder page for specs on the cores. I forget exact numbers sorry.

Kevin T. Wyum