Not a good idea.

 

I'm also waiting for you to come back to Hawaii. I missed you the 1st time. Just make it around the time I get my STi.

 

Shiv said its what he would recommend. They have maps to compensate for the aps and its intake...

 

Me too. I will make the investment to help get you out here. Just come before Late June. Otherwise I may show up in the Bay area en route to Georgia.

 

Hi All,
I don't mean to chime in on an area forum i'm not apart of ... but I was under the same decision of FMIC vs. TMIC. After running several HPDEs i noticed that i rarely heat soaked the stock TMIC (110 degF in the shade). As long as the car is moving, all is well. I cannot speak from experience on drag strips, though. I ended up with the Vishnu TMIC and have not even come close to soaking this beast.

I did test drive a few different FMICs (including the Vishnu prototype FMIC) ... all I can say, is that I don't really like any of them. They add an unnecessary amount of lag to the entire system (since you've got to pressurize more tubing and a larger core - before getting the same amount of boost). The least amount of lag added was the Vishnu FMIC (tested MRT, Greddy, Blitz and Vishnu). I also believe a few of them require you to lose the fogs and/or cut into the metal supports. The vishnu one has a nice piping job, no serious cutting required (just two notches in the plastic stuff).

Now the last thing to consider ... is the bling-bling factor. If your goal is the "bling", then forget whatever I said above and take your pick of the litter.


Hope this helps,

Steve

 

Steve,

Thanks for the info. Fortunately the APS and TXS dont require metal cutting only air dam trimming. But like you said it takes longer to pressurize so lag. I might just go with a larger Vishnu TMIC and save cash and trouble. I do like the bling of the FMIC tho. =)

 

.... all this "lag" everyone speaks of is rediculous

 

Hi Dave,
I've seen some people do the rock guard thing in that middle, open cavity. They used a nicely polished diagonal screen and wire/cabled tied the piece behind the front bumper. (this was accompllished by going to the Hardware store getting some screen material and simply cutting in 45 degree angles). It looked very nice, but was obviously not a FMIC ... which in my mind, is a good look.

Steve

 

Hi Nolimit,
I can definately agreed with you in certain applications. It really depends on what you plan to do with your car ... street, street race, auto-x, road race, drag ... or any combination of all the above. I've had the previledge (thanks guys ... you know who you all are) of driving equally equiped cars, with only the only difference being intercoolers. FMICs created 400-700 more lag than the stock TMIC (in my opinion, its the fastest charging intercooler since it has the least amount of volume to pressurize ... but is also very likely to heat soak before any other ICs for that very reason).

In drag applications, the 400-700 rpm is definately acceptable ... since with most shifts won't put you down into the "wimpy" zone. For road racing, this is a little bit of a greater concern and in auto-x, its even more important. (again these are my opinions)

I think everyone who is going through this decision process, should really spend some time thinking about what their car will be doing in the next 1 to 2 years ... then make your decision. In any event, you'll be more statisified since you've educated yourself with the pros/cons of different options.

Ride on ...
Steve

 

Yes, it really matters what you want out of the car, .... it also matters what 'turbo' you decide to run.
The cars you've driven with front mounts, what turbo did they have??

for those with the vf series turbos, ... a big a$$ top mount provides plenty of cooling. But if a larger turbo is going to be used ........

As far as how the car drives, etc. As with almost any turbo'd car, especially when runnign a larger turbo, ... you just have to get used to downshifting to stay in the 'power band' if need be. To me, it's worth it, and the time it takes is neglitable. For someone who's used to driving a N/A car, that may sound like a pain in the a$$.
To each his own, ...... but I love turbo'd cars!!!!

 

Good! =) Im getting one then! =) I want the bling.

 

Yep after the FMIC goes in I want more protection so some open, but mesh screen will go there. So it also sorta hides the IC a bit.

 

Yeah Im not really going to ***** about a couple hundred rpms of lag. Im really just looking to get something different and I like the look so any lag is cool. I get ****, but I like a nice looking car as much as a nice handling car. I need to do some suspension/brake planning tho before adding the stage 2.