Difference between intercoolers

[Pympton]

I tried a search, but only found 2 responses, and neither of them helped at all.

What's the difference between a top mount intercooler and a front mount intercooler... besides where they are mounted? Does one offer more hp? Does one save more space?

I'm planning on getting the Greddy VSPL FMIC, and wanted to know if there was any big differences. Thanks

[240DRFT]

i dont think u could fit a top mount on a 240. theres not much room above the valve cover for an intercooler.

[otterman]

The only difference is where they are positioned. Most cars come stock with either a top mount or a side mount.

Front mount is better then top because more air can flow through it easier. But yeah, I dont think they make a top mount for 240. But if there was a choice between top or front, front is the way to go.

[drifter_for_life06]

Front ftw

ive seen a top mounted s14...looked retarded

[nzmoman]

Vmount is good if you have the need for tons of air hitting the radiator. If you are driving hard and want to keep the temp down. I know people who have toyed with the idea because they wanted to protect the fmic or hide it.

I think that with the intake panels the vmount actually will perform almost just as well as the front mount. dont forget you have the fans there moving air also. Fans dont really help much if you run the front mount, so they balance each other out, but the air coming from the front should be cooler. But I think both actually are worth it. Id imagine vmount makes it harder to get to things

[xero1]

a top mounted intercooler reduces the lenth of the piping, also since the pipes are shorter the turbo takes less time to spool up in first gear. if you're planning on making a lot of hp(350whp+) a fmic is better.

[nzmoman]

but there are several sr20s that run vmount and make that power+. It is not that different it mostly looks different, but the difference in air temp on the intercooler is main difference and it wont even be that much of a difference. I am going to try to find a link I was looking at that showed the air fow....It aint that much different

[xero1]

v-mounted intercooler is different for top mounted intercooler. example of a top mounted intercooler are subaru wrx, rx7 FC. v-mounted intercooler is ok.