Ive done my research.. i still can't decide i wanna go SMIC or FMIC... FMIC i found out that i have to deal with pressure drop but temp advantage... but i kind da wants SMIC for reliable reason... i don't know... which FMIC is good? is HKS one is easy to install and work good as others?


PLEZ.. tell me what ya think... i need to decide quick

 

what is your car going do be used for?

daliy driving
auto x
road racing
track events
rallying
or dragging

 

Daily, drag, possb auto x

 

UCI huh? my friend goes there..

 

to da top!

 

FstFD...,

The installation process for an FMIC is a real PITA! I have heard/read that it takes around 8-12 hours of work to install. On the other hand, I installed my last M2 Med SMIC in two hours or less - a no brainer.

I am now looking for another IC. I may go with the Greddy 2 row FMIC and just pay someone(Hypnotic. perf) to install it for me. Ivan said that they can do it in 1-2 days for a really good price! I just don't want to deal with re-positioning the radiator and a/c, triming the bumbper, etc....I may also go with a large M2 Smic or Pettit Cool Charge 3. They are identical.

Hope this helps.

John

 

Go with a SR SMIC Upgrade High Performance Intercooler, it's chaep and huge!

 

knightsports v-mount if u got $3k to spend

 

I'm personally going with a FMIC this weekend, mostly because I have a buddy that's gonna help me put it on! Seriously, I autocross a lot (same would probably be true for dragging), and I don't think a SMIC would ever work well because you spend so much time sitting around letting the thing heat soak. With runs not lasting any longer than 1 minute and speeds usually maxing at short bursts of 60mph, a SMIC would never get a chance to get any real airflow to cool it off. Plus the FMIC just look cool as hell!

On the other hand, I guess it'd be easier to sit a bag of ice on the SMIC, but I've never gone to that extreme.

As far as real numbers, my stock SMIC was sitting on 70C for the entire last auto-x, and my buddy with the Apexi FMIC never gets higher than 40 in traffic.

 

I love my M2 large. It's always nice to pop the hood, and people are like "Goddam, what's a front mount doing in there?"

The core is so damn big I could always convert to front mount with some new pipes.

FYI: My friend has a Greddy FM with a large custom rad, and although his IATs are usually 5 degrees C lower than mine, he has to run his fans constantly to keep his motor temps under 100 degrees C...

 

FMIC is a royal PITA... I wish nobody the pain I've gone through. I have an Apexi FMIC and still in the process of installing it (over a month). Everything seems to go wrong (dunno if it's just my luck). I have the FMIC mounted, but when I was looking at the stock radiator in there it was HIDEIOUS. The ugly *** color plastic on the stock radiator got me so upset that I went out and got a Koyo radiator. The Koyo is at least 2x thicker than the stock radiator so I had to fabricate brackets for it. Measuring, cutting, drilling... I still have to cut some more off the brackets, but I'm to the point were I try to start but just end up staring at my car sighing... A buddy and me tried to work on it yesterday. Got the stock back in and then the Miata battery we got is to big. So now I'm in the process of ordering an even smaller battery rather than relocating the battery to the back of the car (another PITA). If I had to do it over again I would either have a shop completely do it or go with FMIC that mounts right on the front (right behind the bumper) like the rx7fashion IC instead of in the engine bay.

Just my 2 cents.

 

I think for drag a SMIC is good if you put ice on it and keep the hood open before you line up. it is much easier to install. Price seems about the same for SMIC vs FMIC, so i dont' think that should be the issue. It's simply more of a PITA to install the FMIC. The FMIC is more "sleeper" if that is what you want. a FMIC has a bling bling factor to it.

It appears taht a lot of people that used to have SMIC are selling them and going with FMIC. I'm not sure if that is because the SMIC weren't good enough? Maybe someone that has had both can share. but i don't see people that used to have FMIC go back to a SMIC.

 

I think it's for the aforementioned BLING BLING factor.

Quote:

Maybe someone that has had both can share. but i don't see people that used to have FMIC go back to a SMIC.

Prolly b/c the frontmounts are such a royal pain in the *** to install they just want to leave the ****'s in there.

Don't get me wrong, I like the look of the FM, but I'm very satisfied with my M2 Large.

 

I have absolutely no idea why it would take anyone 8 hours to put in a FMIC. I started my FMIC project at 1 pm and finished at 6 pm WITH about an hour lost because I had to go to a meeting. I used that 4 hours to pull EVERYTHING out, put the FMIC in place, run the piping, fabricate brackets for the radiator, dream up some crazy radiator hosing alignments, SMOKE about a pack of cigarettes and drink a 6-pack of coke and still get it all in place...

...ah...never mind, I just remembered...I don't have AC or PS to worry about.

 

I say go for the FMIC as well. The SMIC's are nice, but the underhood temps can really climb, unless you have a vented hood, it will most likely be pretty hot under there.

As for the install, it wasn't too bad at all. The toughest thing for me was figuring out how to get to the bolts for the front bumper The 'install' only takes an hour or so, it's the 'taking the worthless stuff out' that takes the longest.

 

It's not that hard depending on the FMIC you choose to install. There is a lot more labor involved. FSTPOWER, if you are going to get a FMIC, I do not recommend the HKS one. My friend has it and the piping goes from the bottom of the car and in order to fit the IC, he had to remove the bottom radiator cooling tray, and also had to remove his front lip. If I were to go FMIC, I would get either the greddy 2 row, Blitz, or Apex'i. You can get the XS-engineering or RX7fashion one, if you don't want to relocate your radiator.

 

That is anothe thing im worrying about on FMIC... looks like radiator can't get much air..right now im thinking about M2s Ic.. i do have SRX7 IC but i want something bigger.
here is another problem.. i have koyo and since its hella bigger than stock.. ic duct won't fit that good...
i might have to deal with that problem once i get M2..... without good air duct.. SMIC will not work no matter how big it is.. ..

decision.. decision... ..anyone has koyo rad and has same prob as mine?

 

You may consider the med M2 SMIC along with the M2 radiator. Nice combo and great fitment.

 

i need bigger ic.. i already have SRX7 IC.. i need bigger ic cuz iam planing to run @ high boost.

 

I have gone through the same questions. I decided on a large SMIC.

1) I don't want to put in a screen or worry about debris hitting a FMIC.

2) Stealth

I was going to get an M2 Large. I don't have a problem with relocating the battery. I changed my mind back to my 1st thought. The CWR (Crooked Willow Racing) large SMIC. I believe it has the largest volume. I got email back from the manufacturer, so believe he will be producing them again. The CWR has an angled mount, so airflow is good with the radiator. It will also allow me to use a Efini Y-pipe, whereas the M2 would need a modified Y-pipe.

We'll see...

 

do u have picture? links?
thanks

 

CWR

Some people had some problems before getting the intake piece. I will see what happens with me. He will take deposits on the SMIC (1395) in the beginning of August. I already sent him (Duane) a deposit for his Dual Oil Coolers kit.

 

M2 medium if you want to go stock mount.

Ed

 

Also, a FMIC will reduce/restrict airflow to the radiator.

 

that is what im worrying about.. it will reduce air temp.. but water temp will go up...