Topmount intercoolers suck

[aspect]

So I got a friend to make me up a custom pipe that fit the saab IC nicely under the hood. I took the shrould off and all that, and built a nice waterspray setup using sprinkler mist nozzles and the washer tank from a 300zx in the trunk, but the damn thing heatsoaks so fast when the water runs out. So, I've decided to go frontmount. A friend was selling a nice unit from a mitsubishi starion for $400cdn with large outlets welded to it, but I think I'm going to pick up one of these instead: http://www.streetimports.com/homepage.htm

I'm looking at the 'medium' intercooler. More details on it are available at http://www.yonaka.com/

Installation looks pretty easy, as I should be able to just tilt the radiator back a touch and sneak the pipes around the rad endtanks at the top, instead of mounting the IC at the bottom of the bumper and cutting holes for the piping. I'll post up pics once it's all done! I may also have a saab ic with silicone coupler and custom pipe for sale

[legacy92ej22t]

I don't have a real big problem with heatsoak with my Saab 900 setup but in traffic and stuff it can get pretty hot.

Those fmic's look pimp! Seems like good prices too. I like the medium also. $299 huh? Hmmm.....

[aspect]

It really stands out for me when I do a really good tune on my profec b at night, and then the next day it's all messed up and unpredictable because of the heat. Drives me nuts...

[BAC5.2]

That's mostly ambient air temp, not heat soak. If you tune at 50 degrees, then run at 75 degrees, it's obvious that the tune is going to be messed up.

I'd REALLY like to know how the FMIC install goes. The reason I decided against going FMIC was because I didn't want a fender bender to cost me $1000+.

I wonder how our radiators and such would handle the reduced airflow. Maybe a lower temperature thermostat would help things along?

I'd DEFINATELY be down for an FMIC if it would run me a few hundred. The only thing I worry about would be the turbo position. You'd have to run a pipe from the outlet, around, in front of the turbo, down through where the stock airbox was, through the bumper, through the intercooler, then back up to where the stock Battery location is (a lightweight battery might give enough clearance, otherwise, you'd have to relocate), and into the throttle body.

It seems like the piping would be uber confusing thanks to our awkward turbo placement. On the stock turbo, it wouldn't be worth it, as the amount of lag, and the miniscule inlet and outlet, and the overall pressure drop, would all culminate and produce a very slow feeling car. Loud, that's for sure, but likely slower.

Of course if you were running a Deadbolt 16G.... *cough**cough*

[vrg3]

I think the radiator would be fine. It's a huge radiator to begin with.

A lower temperature thermostat, in my opinion, is not a good idea. That wouldn't improve cooling capacity; it would just make the cooling system try to maintain a lower temperature with the same cooling capacity.

Whatever turbo you were running, it might be possible to clock it to a position that makes the piping slightly easier to run.

[rsstiboy]

love the topic! I couldn't agree more!!!

[LegacyPunk]

Do you have a bigger hood scoop than stock? cause I dont seem to have any heatsoak (using a huge 02 STi replica scoop) issues unless im in stop and go traffic.

[BAC5.2]

STi scoop on a legacy? Pics?

[LegacyPunk]

[rsstiboy]

when I can get to my mechanic, I'll take a photo of a '90 model liberty with a '04 STi scoop on it! looks rediculous!

[azn2nr]

bac the piping for a fmic isnt that bad. you would actualy run the pipe from the outlet back towards the firewall then back towards the front stright under your mug past the charcoal canister ( moving it to the left slighty )and right next to the radatior under the headlight ( this is all one stright piece of pipe btw) down to the intercooler. and on the other side next to the radatior under the headlight and a few funky bends past the water tank and back to the tb. its better than what noah down at cobb tuning did to his gf8 which was cut a hole on the front side of his manifold put his tb there moved the altornator to the right put his coil pack where the tb used to be ran the pipe from the turbo to the fender where the air box was down to the front where his intercooler is on the other side it comes up where the battery is (he has a small one like dlc does. but his is laied down. info on the home page) across the back of the radatior and turns into the tb. on the turn into the tb is where his bov is and it recircs via clear plastic tubing a long ways back to the intake. hes using a ej20 jdm leg motor with a 2.5 closed deck bock crank and other various parts after he blew the motor after he got it. i have a picture but no scanner and no way to post it

[NICO]

5 years ago i had a topmount and u no what, which ever one you got there all shit. as soon as you get a front mount you can make huge power.

[rsstiboy]

run your piping like this.

NICO, I doubt your making huge power with a stock turbo.

[NICO]

rsstiboy i got a 2.2l boxer motor you got a 2.0l boxer motor i no i am make more power then you, your car looks good i like the way you set up your intercooler. also haveing a bigger turbo dont mean your going to make more power.

[evolutionmovement]

I love the fabbed stuff. Looks great. Is there some kind of flex joint on the fabbed pipe from the compressor side? I see where it looks to be bracketed down in front of where the airbox had been, but how do you allow for movement?

Steve

[rsstiboy]

rsstiboy i got a 2.2l boxer motor you got a 2.0l boxer motor i no i am make more power then you, your car looks good i like the way you set up your intercooler. also haveing a bigger turbo dont mean your going to make more power.

ummm..... actually it does mean you can make more power with bigger turbo's, thats why they make them bigger..... get your car dynoed and prove it..