SMIC with stock airbox, batter & piping.
 

I'd like to keep my car as stock as possible -- retaining the original battery tray & airbox, but would like to run a larger-than-stock intercooler.

Which one am I looking for?

Blitz? Greddy?
Are there any good better-thab-stock SMICs that are drop in?
Ideally not requiring their own pipes either.

Or am I looking for a unicorn?

Greddy, Knightsport ,SR motorsports, BlITZ, if you're lucky enough Mazdaspeed should all work. Pretty much anything similar to the Greddy SMIC. I am not 100 % sure about the stock piping though. I have an SR Motorsports SMIC.

https://rotaryperformance.com/products/rp-intercooler
Attachment 740117

Call Rotary Performance @ (972) 530 3335 (M-F 8am - 6pm CST) or email: sales@rotaryperformance.com

Mary or Chris will get you squared away!

Pretty sure GReddy and Blitz require modifications to the duct that are visible. Not certain on the KS and SR, but I think they do too.
Finding a true Mazdaspeed SMIC might be tough. I THINK the ARC was pretty much identical (they might have even been the supplier of the MS SMIC), but I don't think either one was much if any larger than the stock IC. I want to say that the big selling point was that they were all-metal and welded. I vaguely remember an article from way back in the day where the stock plastic IC's had developed leaks from higher-than-stock boost levels and heat.

It's pretty hard to get too much larger than stock in the stock location with top/bottom end tanks due to the geometry and space available. The Greddy SMIC manages to get a core in there that is nearly 3X the stock volume... but comes with the cost of a circuitous air flow path and very narrow end tanks (the bottom tank is ridiculous). Core volume does not necessarily = higher efficiency or lower pressure drop... though it does help.

For near stock packaging, the Aussie U-type intercooler looks like the best compromise... not sure of how to get a hold of one, though. Don't know if you can use it with a stock air box either.

Once you get an IC in there that actually works, things aren't looking stock anymore... so why constrain yourself with the oversized stock battery and intake?

Good info here on the older units still bouncing around: Intercoolers

Knightsport Super U. RHDJapan has them available to order. I don't think you will be able to fit anything larger in the stock location.

You cannot beat either the Knightsport or the Australian U-type SMIC (which I have) for size and efficiency. It is hands down the best for size vs performance in the stock location. These have 5X more surface area as compared to stock and have the double cooling effect on top of its greater surface area (U-type style). I tested mine out of the car at low air flow and it was 88-89% efficient (will be lower at higher air flow in the car). The stock is around 50-55% efficient. At full boost my IAT temps go down rather than up due to the increased air flow through my highly efficient SMIC or due to the IC itself but also my extensive thermal mods and ram air into the IC airbox and air intake airbox through my aftermarket Abflug front bumper.
Mike

Thanks for all the replies! Looks like I'll be saving my pennies for a KS -- can't find any info about these Australian ones (ARD?)



That RP one though looks pretty affordable - anyone hear anything good about it? I didn't know they made one!

I used the RP one both with stock airbox and with open element dal Blitz air filters using '95 Y- pipe.

I am using the huge M2 unit now with M2 narrow airbox and relocated battery which uses the old '93 Y-pipe.

I miss the old set-up with the small stock sized IC- it had much better response and felt like more primary turbo power.

Have you tested pressure drop?

No I haven't. I have only tested efficiency. I have not seen any specs on pressure drop on any of the U-type IC's. Knightsport has some efficiency testing stating a 30 degree C improvement in temp drop on their dual bank U-type IC as compared to a single bank.
Mike

I have the Peter Farrell Supercar stock mount IC and like it. I see them occasionally for sale in the 3rd Gen parts forum.

I have no technical background, but why wouldn’t that be part of the testing to determine efficiency? And not saying this IS the case, but wouldn’t lowering IATs be aided if pressure is also being dropped across the IC core?

It's correct that lowering pressure also lowers temperature, everything else remaining constant. However, no one I know wants to lose more boost pressure than they have to across the IC. In a device such as an IC, the temperature can decrease while maintaining (most of) the pressure. What ideally changes is the density of the air increases while pressure remains as close to constant as possible. That, along with reducing the high temperature propensity for detonation, are, IIRC, the 2 main reasons for having an IC.

Understood...I think. And looking at the ‘U’ style intercooler it certainly looks like the design might have some risk of pressure drop. While they claim data showing lower IATs they don’t offer data on that. So maybe it’s not as efficient as one might assume?

The pressure drop and efficiency are tied together somewhat by the ideal gas law, which states that temperature is determined by the pressure in a fixed volume. If you have to start off with 14psi air at the compressor to get 10psi at the manifold, your IC inlet temperature is going to be higher due to the higher pressure required to overcome internal resistance to flow. The intercooler has to work harder just due to the increased inlet temp/press and will show a lower efficiency.

ARC makes a stock mount IC, i didn't look at the price, but they seem to be available new

I trust blue tii's review and I'm liking the price of the RP ! Gonna do it.

Good info re:pressure drop

Because the RP smic core is thicker than stock the lower IC hose can rub the accessory belt. I fixed that by putting in a silicone lower IC hose.

Also the inlet/outlet were a bit too big diameter which sealed well with the old blown out stock couplers, but made putting new stock or aftermarket couplers on a bit of a workout.

You could pay more for something a bit more refined, but I was quite happy with the performance of the RP smic.

My Super U setup.
Works great with my stock hood.
Worked even better with my MS hood.
I've since replaced the stock airbox with an autoexe intake, excellent response everywhere.

I know someone selling a Super U locally if you are interested.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...d589a480b.jpeg