When is a FMIC an overkill?

[Neejay]

I have a chance to get this kit for a good price, used, locally:



But I'm scared that it'd be an overkill for my stock turbo RB25. I'm boosting at 10psi, Apexi cone filter, and I have a full 3" turbo back exhaust. Is it too much?

I'll be keeping the stock intake manifold for a while, and I don't want to do the piping across the radiator intercooler setup.

[l0nestar]

You should be okay.

[krayton]

good investment

[mattleegee]

You buying the whole kit or just the intercooler?

cxracing has another one that is a little smaller that works great also for $100 brand new shipped

here it is on my car, i dont have my bumper support on but the top pipe fits perfect through it

[RustspecS13]

You dont need a FMIC untill your pusing 20+psi. I am. On my stock rb20 turbo.

So whats that guys number?

J/P though. Sounds good Id get it, mostly because thats exactly what I want as well. Mid size IC, good piping and a great setup for a RB25 turbo.

~Alex

[Neejay]

You buying the whole kit or just the intercooler?

cxracing has another one that is a little smaller that works great also for $100 brand new shipped

here it is on my car, i dont have my bumper support on but the top pipe fits perfect through it

It's the intercooler + custom-ish piping. The one you have is actually the one I was aiming for, since it can be had for so cheap. But then I'd have to buy pipes + couplers + take the time to customize it...which isn't feasable since I live in apartments. So buying all the extra parts will end up costing more than what I can get this setup for.

[glitched]

I'm interested in hearing others thoughts on this as well.

[Cjmartz2k]

You dont need a FMIC untill your pusing 20+psi. I am. On my stock rb20 turbo. ~Alex

Your from Columbus, so I'm not going to bash you for running 20psi on a stock turbo. Go Buckeyes!

Buy the intercooler--but vertical flow FTMFW! That thing is sexy

[GTRs13]

It is never overkill for any size FMIC. Cool dense air is your friend.

And before someone chimes in with the always cute, but what about lag from the piping. Extra piping does not turn your t25 into a GT40 as far as spool up time.

The only time people complain about "Lag-time" (Personally if they are worried about lag, why are you messing around w/ turbos?) are people that use old Journal bearing design turbos, and 18ft of 90's from ebay.

Hell, jam the biggest FMIC you can afford into that thing, you'll be happy.

[Cjmartz2k]

It is never overkill for any size FMIC. Cool dense air is your friend.

And before someone chimes in with the always cute, but what about lag from the piping. Extra piping does not turn your t25 into a GT40 as far as spool up time.

The only time people complain about "Lag-time" (Personally if they are worried about lag, why are you messing around w/ turbos?) are people that use old Journal bearing design turbos, and 18ft of 90's from ebay.

Hell, jam the biggest FMIC you can afford into that thing, you'll be happy.

I completely agree that a big a** front mount will barely affect spool time on a stock turbo. That's a myth spread on the internet by people who have no clue what they are talking about.

As for journal bearing turbo's, having a BB CHRA makes a few hundred RPM difference in spool time. Things like wheel design and single scroll vs dual scroll make WAY more difference. Don't buy into the garrett GT series nut swinging hype preached all over the internet.

[mattleegee]

It's the intercooler + custom-ish piping. The one you have is actually the one I was aiming for, since it can be had for so cheap. But then I'd have to buy pipes + couplers + take the time to customize it...which isn't feasable since I live in apartments. So buying all the extra parts will end up costing more than what I can get this setup for.

I bought the intercooler, and a $90 do it yourself pipe kit from the same company, only special tool i used was a MITER SAW to cut all my s***s up, they come with angles and i made it work (quite well actually)

But now that its made i am buying 2.5" 14gauge SS 409 and making both hot and cold pipe into one piece units, 4 couplers just sounds better then 7

[GTRs13]

If you don't mind my asking, why 409 stainless?

You live near the ocean that would corrode rather quickly.

Why not 304l, or 321?

Oh, and let me also say that it is important to "Bead" your intercooler pipes, no matter how much boost you are running.

http://www.roadraceengineering...d.htm

[mattleegee]

the place im getting the pipes from sells beaded pipes, so i will just buy a couple of them and have it done...

http://www.mandrel-bends.com/c....html

damn ... i guess i dont know my SS- im glad i didnt order yet probably got with 304 then

[l0nestar]

Great Links GTRs13!

If you don't mind my asking, why 409 stainless?

You live near the ocean that would corrode rather quickly.

Why not 304l, or 321?

http://www.azom.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=965

Oh, and let me also say that it is important to "Bead" your intercooler pipes, no matter how much boost you are running.

http://www.roadraceengineering...d.htm

[Neejay]

I bought the intercooler, and a $90 do it yourself pipe kit from the same company, only special tool i used was a MITER SAW to cut all my s***s up, they come with angles and i made it work (quite well actually)

But now that its made i am buying 2.5" 14gauge SS 409 and making both hot and cold pipe into one piece units, 4 couplers just sounds better then 7

Looking at your kit, it looks like I could use 4 90 degree pipes...hmm...how long before you make your own piping? Want to sell me your current setup? lol

Is there anyway you could take an up close picture of your piping, in the fender well area and above in the engine bay?

[sepulchralx]

get a freddy intake manifold and put a better kit on.. You dont want to be stuck with an IC that has a dual port end tank on one side and nothing on the other.

[Neejay]

get a freddy intake manifold and put a better kit on.. You dont want to be stuck with an IC that has a dual port end tank on one side and nothing on the other.

That's not happening for at least another 8 months or so. I can easily resale a same-side intercooler for around the same price I'll be paying.

[GTRs13]

Great Links GTRs13!

No problem, that's why I'm here!

[johnny butt]

That intercooler will work fine.

It was the same one I was using on my Rb25 however I had to switch to a different style (one like 2-3 inches shorter in height), because I could not get it to fit AND mount my silvia headlights.

It is too tall if you have a silvia front end on an s13 but will do fine if you are using pop-up lights.

Here are pictures of my problems.

Notice the FMIC height and where it is positioned on the headlight brackets.

[Neejay]

johnny: thanks a lot for the pics, that helps a lot. Is there anyway you could take a picture of your piping setup? (fender well area, and engine bay area)

[mattleegee]

I have some older pics without the intake in and stuff but maybe it will help you, when i redo it i will probably run a 90 coupler right out of the charge pipe so i will have one less bend, but thats still up in the air

[Neejay]

Yeah, that definitely helps. Thanks man.

[mattleegee]

the top pipe is ran through the bumper reinforcement, i will get some pics up when i put the reinforcement back on, try to get you some better angles, if you didnt want to go through the reinforcment the intercooler you picture might be a better option but i still dont think it will clear it, or using the one i have with a 90 coupler right off the bat

[bloodspread]

here's mine, with my rb20



everything fit fine after I put together some brackets and trimmed my bumper

[thompsont2]

a bigger intercooler could never be a overkill

[DrifterProdigy85]

No such thing as too big. I run a huge 24x12x4 core on my SR. I got the biggest i could cause the turbo is a T67 and looking for 600whp.

[dsm007]

A friend of mine whom I was with at CFT has his 97 spyder (4G63 buillt,gt35r,AEM management) all wheel drive tuned on the dyno with a 12X24X3 inch thick core intercooler made 380 AWHP.....the EVO's there were making 500 plus on the dyno that day so we were like WTF yanno,the secret with the EVO's was they was running a 4 inch thick core...so we take his car and put in a 24X12X4 inch thick core and went from 2.5 inch plumbing to 3 inch plumbing,with NO other changes the car made 535 AWHP!

[Crazyirish]

There had to be something wrong with the first setup. I have a hard time believing that a one inch thicker core and 1/2 inch thicker intercooler piping gained 155 horsepower.

[mattleegee]

Neejay what did you end up getting?I finnally got you a picture of it all installed if you still wanted it

[Blown240sx]

No such thing as too big. I run a huge 24x12x4 core on my SR. I got the biggest i could cause the turbo is a T67 and looking for 600whp.

There is a point where it does become to big but most likely nothing youll fit under the bumper of a S13 or 14