After hours and hours of late night research on several WRX forums I've narrowed my choice of FMIC to 3 contenders. I'll be running one of these fmic with a PE1818, PE650cc injectors, ECUTEK, turboback, upipe, and intake. So first one on the list is the APS DR500, I love the stealthy look with the black core but I want to keep my stock battery so question to all APS owners, Is this possible???? Next up I like the hyperflow by turboXS but I have no idea who has them in stock and I've heard stories about silicon FMIC tubing that causes problems. The last one on my list is the greddy but I want to keep my foglights and it doesnt come with a new bumper beam and there is no flange for a bOv unless you get one welded in. So please feel free to shoot any advice or comments on what I should go with, thank you all.

 

i would go with the APS DR500. it is one of the biggest you can get, comes with its own bumper beam, and it leaves most of your front bumper intact which i think is one of the best parts. and the stealth black is awesome.

 

Yes, more lag with the 650.

 

with any intercooler you have to weigh the pros and cons.
Bigger intercoolers remove more heat, but add to the total volume which gives the turbo more to compress and therefore more lag. Too much lag results in a smaller power band and therefore, while peak HP might be higher, it is just that; a peak. This reduces the "area under the curve" and creates driveability problems and efficiency losses.

the 650 is huge, therefore it should be used on cars that move more air. For example a 2.5L car or a 2.0 with big cams and a huge turbo. Will you see a gain with a 650 on a stock WRX? Maybe a little. A mildly modified WRX? a little more. A highly modified WRX? Hell yeah.

BTW a turbo timer, boost controller and a VF30 don't consistute as highly modified.

bringndefinitio's setup is mildly modified. So I would think, key word is think, that a 500 would be a better choice than a 650.

However, I have no dyno sheets or personal experience with these intercoolers. Just a little engineering experience to help out.

 

Finding an intercooler is easy.
Finding good plumbing to go with it is a whole different experience.
I have a great Spearco bar and plate FMIC.... but it isn't plumbed yet. I've been working on the plumbing for a week. I am stuck using 2.5" mandrel bend exhaust piping. I dont have access to all that fancy silicon hose. I have one bend and some welding for the BOV then I'll be done.
I got the intercooler for 500, but the pain in the a$$ for the plumbing is almost worth the extra 800 bucks.

 

bends aren't really a big deal if they maintain a constant diameter. Silicon piping is nice because it won't get real hot and heat up your intake charge. However there is some flex from expansion and contraction and it'll affect the turbos lag.
I'm a fan of metal pipe for most of the runs, but it is ugly.