The shop I'm getting my car rebuilt at swears by upgraded SMIC. I wanted to go with a FMIC. The only disadvantage I see with the FMIC is the piping. That would make the distance the air has to travel longer, but the air would be colder right? What do you guys use or suggest? Any help on this matter is appreciated!

 

Do a search. This has been discussed in detail. The primary concern with an FMIC is overheating as it blocks some airflow to the radiator.

 

And the primary concern with an SMIC is that it doesn't look as "cool" as an FMIC . . . . petty reason from a performance standpoint, but hey, everyone has their priorities.

John is right tho, you'd be beating a dead horse asking this, as there are litterally hundreds of threads about this. As well as the SMIC vs FMIC vs VMIC as well, with almost everyone posting about the pro's/con's.

 

Definitely usethe Search button. I perfer the FMIC, regarding the whole air flow to the radiator John (PHAMSPEED) did the fan mod, so I can swtich on the fans anytime. Here are some pics of the PHAMSPEED Custom FMIC.

 

a good smic (ASP med or large, Pettit, etc) will cool the charge air every bit as good as the best front mounts without covering the radiator as much. they tend to heat soak if you stand still too long but they cool off as soon as you move foward, it's easily prevented adding a fan to it. easiest to install too!

front mounts will heat soak less but will have more lag due to the piping and will reduce radiator and intake efficiency significantly as the ic will heat and slow down the air before it enters the radiator and intakes.

I see v-mounts as an upgraded use of Stock mount. The ic is in the same spot as a smic albeit more angled towards the front of the car, reducing heatsoak by being farther away from the engine. The rad's position is reversed so the fans blow down instead of up to the intercooler further reducing heatsoak. A good kit will come properly shielded/ducted to provide ambient air to the ic/rad and intake (a good smic does the same though).

 

Ive read a few threads about this same topic, the conclusion i get is that SMIC is good for the stock twins??

 

it makes no difference what type turbo you have....

 

The reason the SMIC is good for the stock twins is because well designed SMICs have a low pressure drop (short tubing & less bends) and turning up the boost to make up for the pressure drop of a FMIC is not good for the stock twins. What's a little more lag on a large turbo though ?

SMIC = more responsive turbos (less pressure drop), better engine cooling, better A/C, easier installation
FMIC = better intake temps (with proper ducting), less heat soak, bling factor

A FMIC should be fine for street, drag, and autocross if the engine cooling system is up to par.

 

SMIC w/ water injection. From my gathering it seems to be the way to go.

 

The Large ASP IC is the cadillac of intercoolers.....search and ye shall see..thank you Kevin Wyum..

Tom

 

i had a pettit smic, then i went with a fmic

i would never go back..colder intake temps, heatsoak reduced, looks better cosmetically..

sure it raises water temp but thats nothing..i saw 190f on the gauge the whole ride 2 weeks ago when it was 85 degrees outside..

 

Exactly. The only thing you are giving up is the 'bling' factor. My intake temps and coolant temps are extremely low (even under extended open tracking) and the ASP race ic has been proven to support upwards of 500 rwhp.

 

I am always amazed people still discuss differences between different intercoolers as if it even really makes a huge difference.



-David S. Clair

 

I am always amazed people still discuss differences between different intercoolers as if it even really makes a huge difference.



-David S. Clair

 

In my OPINION, the only drawback of a FMIC is the potentially increased coolant temps. Increased lag is a bunch of BS with a good FMIC.

That said, if I didn't get such a good deal in my IC, I'd have a ASP large.

 

If you drive on the street, this IS a matter of preference. I always get a laugh out of posts like "yeah, I installed a FMIC, and drove to my brothers house on the highway and the temps never got over XXX". Thats because the fans kicked in, and regulated the temps. The point of maximizing the water cooling system is for track use... when you're on the track, and you've got a big radiator, fully sealed ducting, and the fans are already blowing full blast, and your oil/water temps are still climbing, THATS when you'll actually have to decide between bling-factor, and backing off to save yourself from buying a new motor.

 

I have Greddy 2-row, ducted dual oil coolers, 99spec bumper, PWR and A/C and around the city stay locked in at 80C coolant temps! With some spirited driving I have gone to 83C. Two days ago went on the highway and got 90C after 30sec runs at 140MPH. Intake temps were 32C with Aquamist WI pure distlled water not cut with EtOH during the same runs.

I think the ducted, dual stock oil coolers make a HUGE difference in coolant temps and their recovery...

 

I run a custom spearco FMIC with my GT42R. I also have a KOYO radiator so I am not worried about radiator cooling issues.

 

VMIC

 

I would be running a ASP Medium SMIC right now but it's been on backorder from RX7 Store for going on 6 months.

 

Hrmm it has? If it was one of those last three from that ugly group buy I thought those got cleared over a month ago. Send me a private message or email either way I'd like to hear about it. The only other delay has been waiting on ducts but that was only recently.

Kevin T. Wyum

edit: I sent Jason an email to find out details and make sure it's taken care of in case you don't read the board often.

 

I've had both a SMIC and a FMIC and in my opinion FMIC is a lot better.

A lot of the stuff people have said regarding the tradeoffs are true. For the record I have tracked my car with both setups and have yet to overheat in a FMIC so far. Of course I haven't gone to the track when it is blazing hot in the summer but I wouldn't go either way since the driver will overheat =)

 

Sorry...its been 3 months. I've been working with you guys for six months on other things...before I put the IC on order I was waiting on a Racing Beat airdam that never shipped.

I'm sending you a PM Kevin.

 

have you seen the stock intercooler? almost any intercooler will lower the temp better. whatever you run cant be bad if you use common sence when installing it if your doing it custom. if not, whatever you buy cant be worse than the lil stock one. basically do whatever you want it wont hurt.

 

VMIC is better...