Pick My FMIC for Me!

Don't get too excited, guys--I'm not buying one just yet. Just doing a little homework (or having you do it, rather ;)) to get an idea of how much money I'll be spending, and what platform will yield the best results.

First things first: I will be doing an ebay core with custom piping. My goal is to get this all done for under $300, but we'll see if that is possible. I suspect I'll be a bit over that in the end, especially considering couplers and what not. Please keep in mind when considering these options that this will be a daily-driven car, and I will need my A/C operational (FL summers can be killer :().

For a while I assumed I would just get the monstrous 12x24x3 core, but after reading Kevin's warnings about overheating, I've researched a few other options.

These are the options as for as the intercoolers themselves:
1) http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7956161253&category=33742

2) http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7954990278&category=33742

3) http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7956035904&category=33632

4) one of various 24x12x3" cores with 3" i/o, $210 shipped

Cliff's Notes version?
1) $230 shipped, 20.5x9x2.4" core, 2.75" i/o
2) $240 shipped, 21x9x3" core, 2.5" i/o
3) $203 shipped, 20x6.5x3.5" core, 2.5" i/o
4) $208 shipped, 12x24x3" core, 3" i/o

Which do you think would be best suited to my setup (Evo16g turbo)? Would any or all of them leave room for the future, if I decide to go bigger at some point? Would the 3.5" thick core be superior even though it is only 6.5" high?

Throw some stuff out there for me; I'd love to hear what you guys think ;)

bar and plate if you can...

bar and plate if you can...

Yeah, good point, Vince. All of the options I posted above should be bar and plate style intercoolers--please correct me if you notice I misread one or more of the descriptions.

top two are tube and fin, #3 is a bar and plate.

#4 is whatever...

B&P is a bit heavier, but more efficient. if i ever get a new one it will be B&P.

2 or 3 is the best bet. 12" is too tall for your application, and 2.4" is too thin. And anything but 2.5" in and outlet is going to cost more in the required reducer couplers. Straight sections are much cheaper. It was a toss up between the taller but thinner core and the shorter but thicker core. Hearing that number 3 is bar and plate, I would now lean towards that one.

Adding length increases pressure drop, while adding height or thickness will reduce it (height can be tricky depending on endtank design). It will be easier to get more air to the greater thickness than to a greater hieght. You have a 2.5" pipe vs the height, and 2.5" vs the thickness. What I'm saying should be obvious, if not I can elaborate, though its kind of hard to explain cleanly. Shorter will also allow more airflow to the AC condenser and the radiator. Sounds like 3 is the way to go. 16% less charge side area, hardly enough to offset the reduced risk of overheating in sunny florida.

I would quickly estimate pipes/couplers at ~100 bucks. But that puts you jsut about at your 300 mark. Looks like #3 is the cheapest too? Yeah, 3 is looking better and better. ;)

http://stores.ebay.com/Extreme-Turbo-Systems_W0QQsspagenameZl2QQtZkm

has anyone on here used one of his intercoolers before, they look to be alittle bit better quality than almost all the ones on ebay.

make sure to put back the air ducts and seal the bumper to the fmic and the fmic to the radaitor. that will help with your overheating because it forces all the air to go through the fmic AND the radiator

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7954074234&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
Im gonna get this one since its the cheapest and dont plan on doing custom fabrication. Plus it looks really good. Ill cut the black piece off and i think it will let some air in my radiator... I hope.......... my summers suck too :banghead:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7956345504&category=33742

he just put this one back up for auction today, this is the setup that i am going to use if and when i get this gsx next week or whenever. Of course after i slap on a ported EVO turbo: ) and the suporting mods.

Given the length of that core, you might have to shift it over to the drivers side some if you want to cme through the radiator support for the outlet like the SBR kit. My SBR core was 24 inches long for reference. I'm sure it can be done though. Shorter really is better, if for nothing else to keep the engine bay simple. Fewer couplers also means less leak and blow off potential.

As far as going to a bigger turbo, its also important to remember that larger turbos tend to be more efficient at the same boost. Say 20 psi on the 16g, and 20 psi on the 20g. With greater effciiency, less intercooling is required ;) But since the 20g will have 5 psi more boost capacity, and boost is heat, that is when you will want a bigger core. BUT, at the same time, you will be running race gas if you are running 28-29 psi on a 20g anyway, which will again reduce the amount of intercooling required. My point is that while a larger core would be beneficial, it may not be requried, and I would see if it works with the bigger turbo rather than just automatically upgrade. It may do just fine, and still let you run your AC without overheating ;)

Additionally, Kyle (KPT4321) is a local NEDSM member, and you can pretty much trust everything he says. Very knowledgable.

i got my core and it pretty much covers the radiator. and this was in the heat of the SFVin the summer, where 110 days are not uncommon. my car actually ran a smidgen cooler with the intercooler... go figure...

Do you think if you get the #3 intercooler would you have to cut the bumper supports? From the picture it seems like you cant keep the fog lights, can you?

The black eclipse really looks nice! I just like how the intercooler looks since its not huge!

Kevin said everything plus more than I would have said, thats why I havent voiced any opinion yet... Plus I know it irritates you! :lol2:

cavalierchamp: why don't you give me some insightful advice ;)?

Here is some advice... SEARCH :p It took me 1.39 seconds!

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=198037

If I hadn't read that thread when it was written almost a year ago, that would be very useful :rolleyes:

I'm referring to the more specific option, Jake. See two posts up :iceslolan: I want you to tell me which one to get so I can defy you and get the other one! :p

No, I already know that the ricer in you would take the bigger core :lol:

LOL!!!


No, I am not running a pussy little 16g like you are! :rofl: I need a big intercooler! My core is only 24x12x4...

Go with whatever you want... Its your car, your money, and your goals!

Pick whichever core you want I can make an arguement for it to convince you ;) But I told you what I Think. I don't think anything less than 3.5" thickness is worth the time or money. Its not about frontal area only, or half ass flow numbers, etc. Its about the core as a whole, and the application it is being used in. I think the SBR 24x12x3.5 was the best core for our cars, but without the pusher slim fan I would overheat just cruising at 75 on the highway. I remember trying to fire up the laptop, waiting for it to boot up while the temp gauge was climbing fast. I could then use DSMlink to kick on both fans and it would drop the temp imediately. But I'll tell you there is no possible way adding a FMIC can make the car run cooler, some other variable had to have changed in order for the temp to drop. ;) I personally would just do the SBR kit and be done with FMICs for the rest of your life. But it doesnt fit your budget.

To elaborate on the flow number thing, they're all pretty much useless. CFM is very low on our cars. A 2 liter motor at 7000 RPM and 100% Volumetric Efficiency will consume ~250 CFM airflow. ;) FOr reference, a motor will use half of its displacement per revolution. So, 1 liter x 7000 rpm is 7000 lpm, or 247.2 CFM. Just for grins, a 2.4 liter in the same conditions will use 296 CFM. At any rate, you see my point. We are no where near a thousand CFM, where most of these cores are rated. And the ratings from one core to the next may not have been taken under the same conditions (pressure drop, etc).

Well, I was leaning toward the smaller Garrett core to begin with, and from the sound of it, you agree ;). I just think it will be a great match for my setup, and thinking back to your point about using race gas--this intercooler could probably support a 20g making almost 400hp on race gas just fine. I may not even have to worry about that :p

And for now, it will prevent me from overheating (hopefully!), allow me to safely run probably 23 psi on pump gas, and still cost less than $200 (plus piping and couplers) :D. If I need to go bigger, chances are I can modify the piping and make it work with a larger core at some point.

It will save me some money on couplers as well...I'm still considering whether to try to do short route piping or stick to the easier piping through the stock location...

Thanks for the help, everyone. I'll be sure to post pics and write a review when I get all of this stuff together, but it probably won't be for a few more months.

Another thing to keep in mind that that lets say at some point you decide to go with a whole kit (like SBRs), you can always sell your current core and piping to someone else trying to save a buck or two. Probably for more than you paid, since you have done the hard work already. You really can't go wrong.