I know the starion and conquest, but what other cars are a good fit?
what are the advantages and disadvantages of a FMIC?
i know it cools better, but isthe lag worse?

 

We just had a topic going on this conversation - it's called "DIY front mount" or something.

Long story short, the Starion intercooler is junk. The easiest part of the front mount equation is the intercooler - get something worthy to begin with. DSM guys have proven the Starion is worse than the stock DSM intercoolers, which suck .

When I first upgraded to a front mount, I actually noticed BETTER throttle and boost response. The stock IC is so restrictive, you're seriously choking your input charge down.

IMHO, the best option out there is the new Greddy front mount - for under $900, you can have a big, top-quality front mount with good piping and a massive throttle body elbow. It's a real hard deal to beat.

That said, the only "cheapie" intercooler that IMHO is worth bothering with is the NPR. But, the intercooler is the easiest part of the equation - running and fabbing the pipes will kill ya.

Dale

 

almost any turbo volvo ic. you will have to move your rad back (easy) to make it fit.

PM me if you want pics

 

[img]//members.shaw.ca/brianper/intercooler.jpg[/img]

 

damn those volvo intercoolers are huge.... did you notice a significant increase in lag because of that?

 

Most good front mounts won't increase lag, or lower your boost. Some of the junk people put in the front of their cars will though. And with that.....say this with me.

S E A R C H

Daniel

 

Ya I have a thread going now. Its called "best custom fmic." Best one someone has said is the mkiii supra's. BUT, I am yet to find one for sale anywhere.

 

Brian P, I would be interested in reading a write up about the steps involved in the procedure you used to install that FMIC in your picture. I am 17 and low on cash flow, so any DIY mod is a great one for me. Thanks.

 

Brian P: thanks for the pics, which volvo is that IC from? did you get that in a junk yard or something?
the set up looks good.
so it was much better with the front mount?

i deffinally wanna make this change.

mike

 

mkiii supra???
dont wast your time with that inter-heater.

 

i hear alot of people who do their cars up put isuzu radiators in there.

 

Hasn't someone use a Porsche 944 turbo (951) intercooler?

 

What brings you to this conclusion? It flows well, MUCH better than the small NPR. It has a lot of surface area to cool with. It's not very restrictive of flow externally, so it dosn't hurt cooling as much as most intercoolers. They are also relatively cheap, but a bit hard to find. And UGLY.

Brad

 

Dale,

I hate to question you on anything... but what about the MK III Supra unit? See my comments above.

Brad

 

Question: What model Volvo was the intercooler from. I am not up on Volvo's. But apperantly I should get caught up on them. This is the same route that a couple people on the 240sx.ORG have taken.

Halo

 

I'm pretty sure that all turbo volvo's have this intercooler, its really easy to make piping out of ABS plastic tubing. Home depot has everyting that you need to make it work.

The IC just sits between the rad and the rad support. The rad is moved back with some flat bar bent into a 'U" shape,

Here are some pics



I got it from a junkyard. You could probably get it really cheap if you tell them its a radiator . I noticed a huge difference once I put it in.

 

to my understanding, not all turbo volvo's have an intercooler. am i wrong?

 

That's exactly what I did. "Yes ma'am, this is a radiator." Now I just gotta install the durn thing.

 

I would have to say the Greddy is the best buy. the piping (if you get metal) is such a PITA to get. next to that I would say the NPR then the volvo. I hear many good things about the NPR's. Also, i was told (by Jspecracer7 who did the test ...) that when 2 intercoolers were compared 1 with alot of surface area, and the other with more thickness and less surface area. The cooler w/ more thickness came out 4 or so deg/ cooler at WOT than the other.. oh well, your choice..

 

hey Adam,
i noticed u have an e-fan....did u have to put that on in order for the ic to work or did u already have it?....also im assumin that was the only way of mountin it?....i don't have an e-fan so about how far back did u move the rad.....was it far enough to where the stock fan won't work?.....with this FL heat i don't want to risk any coolin problems.....thnx

 

Im sorry but any intecooler with plastic endcaps such as the volvo should never be put on a car with normal to high boost.Just my opinion.

Andres

 

That's why you're an Exhaust Leak.

 

Kinda harsh huh liquid?
I wouldnt bother putting the volvo with PLASTIC endtanks. I dont even like the plastic on my radiator. For all the effort of mounting the FMIC Id just try and do it right.
Im building 2 stock fc cores in parellel with custom endtanks. Really I dont expect much pressure drop but this wont be easy. Having a tig helps. The cores look like they are good quality, just kinda small. I cant justify 900 on a FMIC. granted its important I just want to try a diffrent path. $50 for the extra core and the cost of pipe. Other than my time Ill have a decient IC for cheap.

 

Seems I'm being harsh latly. Eh, I'm just saying what's on my mind.

People have done the 2 stock core thing, with supposedly very good results. Whenever you're done take pics. I'd like to see what the finished product looks like.

 

whenyou get an fmic what do you do about those two small vacuum hoses that go to the stock ic.