Ok i was looking at some of these intercoolers on ebay that are going for around 300-400 dollars and was wondering how they compare to a brand name (ex. apex-i, Greaddy) Alot of the local guys claim they are just as good for a fraction of the cost.

The Front mount is sopposed to block air flow to the radiator and with the V mount air will go in the path of least resistance. So which one would cool better and help keep the fd runnig cool? also do you need a hole/vent in your hood for the v mount to work right?

 

search, this has been talked about a lot and NO you don't need a hole in your hood but that always helps no matter what you are running

long story short, FMIC for power, SMIC for cool, V-mount is the best of both worlds and you will pay out the **** for it.

 

Most of the intercoolers found on ebay aren't bad at all, they all do (tube and fin vs. bar and plate) about the same thing but on ebay your just buying the intercooler. No brackets, no piping, nothing, so it would have to be a totally custom set up. Spearco's are definately good intercoolers and they go for pretty cheap on ebay. I think as far as keeping the car running cool, a SMIC would be best. If your main goal is reliability and safe temps SMIC are great. Not trying to start any arguments now... My FMIC certainly caused me a lot of overheating issues, not to sure about a v-mount though. I do know that with ducting a v-mount can be very effective for low water temps

 

Dont forget that alluminium piping can run you about $250-$300 and the duct another $150 or so... You do the math.

I picked my PFS IC, duct and PFS airbox with filter for $700 + shipping on the forum

 

PFS?

with the setup im going to be running most all the piping will have to be custom any ways.

 

ok, heres the real story.....
Go the Ebay stuff, its just as good, or even better yet design your own custom IC setup buy a core and get a professional to build it for you.

FMIC = little more lag more power
SMIC = less lag, higher air temps
V-mount = less lag, lower temps but still higher temps than FMIC

I have been all three and found that FMIC actually still gave me lower water temps than SMIC and Vmount plus had more power.
I would go FMIC

 

Would you happen to have ANY information at all besides wild speculation that shows a Ebay core is just as good??? Does anyone have any idea of the insides of these IC's? What type of turbulator does it have? How dense are the turbulators? What is the fin count on these IC's?

How can anyone say they are just as good if you dont even know the specs of the subjects your comparing

I'm with a lot of the other hard core type guys on the board. You buy Ebay parts and you should expect Ebay performance. These parts are put out there for the kid ricer that wants a "bad *** F&F car" but works at McDonalds.

Hey, I wonder how many race cars are getting thier custom IC's from Ebay???

BTW - I do agree with spekdah about going custom. If you know what your doing and you can make things very professional going custom is real nice.

 

what were your mods when you found this out? and what ic kit are you useing?

 

also what other kits have you used?

 

PFS = Peter Farrel Supercars IC
Best SMIC considering performance/price IMHO.

 

im gonna v mount a evo intercooler there reallly nice and relativly cheap

 

Search, sheesh. There's likely over 200 pages of very good debate content on this exact topic over the past year or two.

 

Searching is good and i have but peoples views, products and technology change. so thats why im asking and thats why im posting

 

If you want a FMIC and know someone that can tig weld just decide what size IC (including tanks) you can go with, call up Spearco and order a IC with endtanks that will fit. Then go to burnsstainless.com and order some 3" alum pipe thats straight and a couple U bends. Find a small piece of alum sheet metal to make a couple brakets (Home Depot has it). Then just make it yourself with the help of someone that can tig weld the pipes for you.

Without paying for welding it'll set you back about $1300 with couplings and everything. Yea, it'll cost about the same as a "kit" but you'll have what you want and you'll be proud of it because you did it yourself.

 

BS. There have been many good discussions over the past year -- nothing has changed since.

It would be great if you WOULD use the search function instead of starting new threads everywhere asking about every damn part on the car.....

Spekdah: I don't buy your "real story". You say you've had all 3 setups -- whose setups did you use and what were the testing conditions? There is no way in hell an FMIC is going to give you cooler water temps than the other 2 setups, even FMIC fans wouldn't claim that....

 

Everybody listen to SPOautos, he makes very good points I would stay away from those ebay cores if they are they same ones that have been brought into my shop. All the ones I have seen have had poor design.

 

spekdah,

Colder water while using a FMIC V.S. a SMIC do not make any sense unless you were having a cooling problem. Also please elaborate at what time of the year you used each set up. Because I'm thinking you ran the SMIC during the hot months and the FMIC during the cold winter days.

 

front mount all the way~~~ looks cool and definetally....does its job.

 

i would get the fmic too b.c of looks.what good is it spending 1500 without letting others know u did. besides an ic it doesnt really do anything.

 

Gee, you're just full of good advice, between your intercooler and your wheels....

 

As you can probably tell by now, which set-up is best is up for debate. My advice would be to upgrade your radiator if you go FMIC (which is what I did). Also, if your computer allows, set the radiator fans to come on sooner. All that would seem to help offset the reduced airflow.

 

i would not trust the advice of someone who sells intercoolers they might be a little biased.

 

I have a Ebay cooler and I did my own piping and elbows an it works excellent. I think I got it from red dog motorsports.

 

"2.5" piping,"

Odd

 

No offense to rotariesrule, but there are some very honest and knowledgeable vendors out there, so all vendors' advise should not be too quickly dismissed.