So i've been wanting to go for a more sleeper look and lose the hood scoop. Now's a good time since I the car's going to paint and am sure it wouldn't be too hard to find a scoopless hood.

But here's the dilemma. I have a vf48 on my 07 wrx. I hear that going with a FMIC on this small of a turbo results in huge lag. On the other hand, I hear the lag is very minimal and the increased power is nice along with less heat soak. I don't drive hard. Just use my car as a DD. I'm moving to so-cal to, so it will be fairly warm most of the time and definitely in stop-and-go traffic.

So I wanted your guy's (especially tuners...please chime in) input on if it's worthwhile.

And the fmic I would get is a Perrin from a friend of mine and I think it has afta-maf.

TIA!!!

 

I would stick with TMIC, you running a upgraded TMIC?

 

Just stock sti. The only reason i'm wanting a fmic is to go scoopless anyway.

 

You would have to get retuned if you go fmic so ask your tuner...

Friend of mine had 04 sti with a fmic on a vf48 and he made basically 300/300 with no problems with lag - eq tuned it

 

Go with a WRC type front mount/V mount!

 

I helped a buddy w/ a fmic install on an 06 sti, stock turbo and the lag was HORRIBLE!!!! Not worth it

 

Who tuned the car? That makes all the difference.

 

I would keep it the way it is....goodluck

 

go fmic if you plan on changing to a bigger turbo in the superfuture

 

Thanks guys. I'll talk to my tuner.

What do you guys know about reversing the intake manifold on my 07 wrx?

 

Then you are doing it wrong.

OP I ran a FMIC with my stock turbo for about a year+ and there was hardly any lag. In fact there was LESS lag on super hot days because I didn't have a heatsoaking TMIC sitting under the hood.

Just don't get a monstrous one and you will be fine. I would just get the scoop delete over a scoopless hood however, you still want to get that hot air out of there instead of trapping it inside.

 

+1 and the scoopless hoods are heavy. Not aluminum.

What year does the vf48 come on? 08+ STi?

 

My vote = go with a better tmic like a spearco.

 

Yes sir, 08+ turbo. I was thinking of getting a cf one and painting it actually. Weight is not a big issue though since it's not a race-car or anything and having one that's not aluminum will help reduce those pesky dings I always get from effin oak trees. lol

Thanks, this is what I hear from more knowledgeable people. A fmic runs very well with little lag if tuned properly. I like instant response and all, but I bet living down in a hot so-cal area in stop and go traffic is really gonna make a tmic no worse than a fmic. Even perrin's website has some dynocharts of a stock sti with their fmic and it has some nice gains with almost no lag increase.

The perrin one is fairly small looking. Doesn't even take up the whole grille and is stealthy black.
Ya, I understand about getting the hot air out, but I do have pretty good heat-shielding under the hood...as well as heat wrapped headers/uppipe and phenolic spacers to keep the manifold cooler. I really don't like the idea of having open mesh letting water dump into my engine bay.

Would be cool to reverse the manifold if it's not too difficult to have shorter piping.

Not doing this for performance gains so spending more money on another tmic is out of the question as I don't need to spend so much on a new one then a new tune just for a little performance gain.

I may get a bigger turbo, one day, so maybe I should get this fmic. Hmmm

 

any smaller fmic options? and who knows anything about this fitting with a jdm bumper beam?