miko_supra Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 My side mount is fooked. So I'm after a front mount, I can't see the point it buying some top end branded one as I'm only going to be BPU. So wondering what low end fmics people are using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 I'm using a Whifbitz own-brand one, not sure if they still make them but mine is still going strong. In fact, it's outlasted 4 turbochargers, an engine, a radiator and several other bits and bobs. Fairly good value really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris and Alana Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 This one looks very good value for money and is the one I wanted a while ago but they ran out of stock http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOYOTA-SUPRA-FRONT-MOUNT-INTERCOOLER-KIT-JZA80-2JZGTE_W0QQitemZ170388303744QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item27abef2f80 This is the one I ended up buying and it is a very good fit, had no problems with installation and sit's very well behind my top secret front http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FMIC-TOYOTA-SUPRA-2JZGTE-FRONT-MOUNT-INTERCOOLER-KIT_W0QQitemZ200406957484QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item2ea92f7dac and heres another cheapy http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOYOTA-SUPRA-JZA80-2JZ-GTE-FRONT-MOUNT-INTERCOOLER-KIT_W0QQitemZ350254318294QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item518cc8c2d6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luxluc Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Paul Whiffin had a 2nd hand GReddy 3 row for sale not too long ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 I used a 4" XS-Power for quite a while and it performed as well as you could want, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 why not just go for a new SMIC (whifbitz or CW for example) and stick with a far more efficient solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukenukem Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Why is there such a massive difference in price from these ebay FMIC's to GReddy, HKS etc.? Is there really that much difference in efficiency or weight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a98pmalcolm Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Why is there such a massive difference in price from these ebay FMIC's to GReddy, HKS etc.? Is there really that much difference in efficiency or weight? Alot of it is paying for the name ..... As far as i know there great FMIC but not worth the thousansds they are. Im using a £300 one, it looks great and does the job well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Why is there such a massive difference in price from these ebay FMIC's to GReddy, HKS etc.? Is there really that much difference in efficiency or weight? Not all intercoolers are created equal, things to consider are core density, bar and plate versus tube and fin etc and i suspect a lot of the cheaper crop are produced in China (along with everything else on the planet at the moment ) a high quality intercooler core is expensive (have a look inside a stock Toyota one), however unless you are chasing every last horsepower at the higher hp levels a cheap IC will do a job and some effective ducting coupled with our crap climate will help make the most of it, the only thing i would do with a "cheapo" is have it pressure tested by an auto radiator specialist. As already mentioned the Greddy, HKS, Blitz tag will come at an inflated premium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 I used a 4" XS-Power for quite a while and it performed as well as you could want, it ended up in my blue supra ran 500 Ish bhp without a problem. Nice intercoolet and well built too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Unless you're going for a mid sized single in the future an SMIC would be a much better option than an FMIC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Unless you're going for a mid sized single in the future an SMIC would be a much better option than an FMIC. i think from the original post this chap possibly doesn't want to pay Mr Whiffin and Mr Wilson prices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Why is there such a massive difference in price from these ebay FMIC's to GReddy, HKS etc.? Is there really that much difference in efficiency or weight? Intercoolers may all look similarly shiny, but I personally think you get what you pay for in terms of efficiency, fit, finish and design. Cheaper IC's tend to use less efficient cores and poorly designed end tanks. The quality of the core and the design of the end tanks determines how efficient the IC will be at cooling the charge air temps. Ideally the end tanks should flow the air evenly across the entire core with minimal drop in pressure. Some of the cheaper kits do not have swaging on the ends of the hard pipes and use thin single layer silicon connectors, which can make them prone to blowing under pressure. I've also seen some where the hard pipe between the turbo and FMIC fouls on the stock airbox, requiring the fitment of an aftermarket induction kit (budget an extra £100+). The Japanese branded FMIC's also include relocation kits for the PAS cooler and all fittings required for installation. Personally if I was only going to run at BPU levels and don't want to spend too much, I would fit a brand new OEM Toyota SMIC. If I was buying a branded FMIC for BPU levels, I would fit a 2 row GReddy or Blitz kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miko_supra Posted December 4, 2009 Author Share Posted December 4, 2009 Unless you're going for a mid sized single in the future an SMIC would be a much better option than an FMIC. There is that possibility that I might go single towards the end of next year. I might go for the xs power one as a couple of you have recomended it. Do you know if this will work ok with the stock airbox? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukenukem Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 (edited) This is interesting. I have a small boost leak and suspect its coming from my old SMIC so Im looking for an upgrade. With an aftermarket front bumper with a big opening at the front combined with an FMIC, which I assume generally have larger surface areas, would this not be more effective than replacing with another SMIC? Also, if Im only interested in BPU is it possible to get an ovrersized FMIC or is it generally the bigger the better (comparing for example a good quality GReddy 2 row with a GReddy 3 row) if only running say 1 bar on stock twins? And is there any preference over pipe sizes? Edited December 4, 2009 by dukenukem (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 There is that possibility that I might go single towards the end of next year. I might go for the xs power one as a couple of you have recomended it. Do you know if this will work ok with the stock airbox? The XS power IC pipes, as they are supplied, do not fit over the stock airbox (bad design as usual). The IC itself is fine and will be an improvement on a knackered side mount. It's not a good design, nor has a good core, but will work. Personally I'd pay a lot more cash and get a side mount if you're not looking to go past 600bhp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 (edited) Intercoolers may all look similarly shiny, but I personally think you get what you pay for in terms of efficiency, fit, finish and design. I couldn't disagree with this more. I payed well over £1500 for my 4 row & payed about £150 for my XS-Power. Do I regret getting a 4-Row, not at all, it's part of the "I must have the bets bits for my car" program I'm currently running. Is it 10 times better than an XS-Power? Fuck no, I doubt if it's 1.05 times better in terms of bhp gained. and use thin single layer silicon connectors, which can make them prone to blowing under pressure. Have you seen what comes with a 4 row? I chucked all silicone pipes & shit jubilee clips away, they were so poor, & replaced with my mikalor clamps & hoses. Edited December 4, 2009 by jevansio (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miko_supra Posted December 5, 2009 Author Share Posted December 5, 2009 The XS power IC pipes, as they are supplied, do not fit over the stock airbox (bad design as usual). The IC itself is fine and will be an improvement on a knackered side mount. It's not a good design, nor has a good core, but will work. Personally I'd pay a lot more cash and get a side mount if you're not looking to go past 600bhp. I think I'll like the front mount for filling up the empty space in the front of the bumper too. I couldn't disagree with this more. I payed well over £1500 for my 4 row & payed about £150 for my XS-Power. Do I regret getting a 4-Row, not at all, it's part of the "I must have the bets bits for my car" program I'm currently running. Is it 10 times better than an XS-Power? $#@! no, I doubt if it's 1.05 times better in terms of bhp gained. Have you seen what comes with a 4 row? I chucked all silicone pipes & $#@! jubilee clips away, they were so poor, & replaced with my mikalor clamps & hoses. £150! They charge £300 now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 I use a CW SMIC on my setup and its been great, last dyno was 592hp TLicense also uses the same SMIC on his twin Blitz kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieP Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Ive seen lots of high power cars run the xs fmic, they seem ok to me, would i run one? no but thats just me being a snob. On the note of ic pipework, i run a cheap ebay ic pipework kit, the mikalor style clamps and silicon connectors looked very good quality to me, nice and chunky. My ic pipes dont have swaging on the ends and ive never had a boost pipe pop off, i run 1.8 bar daily and have run 2 bar in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefgroover Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I'd be game to try a good quality SMIC, the weight saving would be massive over my HKS type R. If Wez can get 592bhp on a small single, maybe it will let me keep all but a few BHP of my current figure?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j1mb0b1 Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 The thing with buying low end intercoolers off the net is when you come to fitting them. Most of the ones you get of the net they are a pig to fit due to the pipes not being right, I got a Gready 3 row for around £400 and fitted like a glove . Gready for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris and Alana Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 (edited) The one I put a link to that I fitted (2nd one) had a perfect fit, even got the stock rad expansion bottle just about in its stock location above the cooler. The only thing I had to do was slightly move some of the A/C hoses which is normal and fabricate some brackets for the intercooler. £200 delivered is a bargain to me. If some people are so concerned that a 'cheap' ebay cooler isnt as efficient as a £1000 greddy or blitz (or even a £400 greddy 3 row) why not buy the 'cheap' ebay cooler and then buy a pressure regulated water/meth injection system for about £200 which will cool down intake temps more than any sized intercooler could. Even if you dont map for it it will offer further protection to the engine running high boost at BPU or whatever. Iv even read it helps keep the engine, valve's, seats etc clean over time. Edited December 6, 2009 by Chris and Alana (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I got a Gready 3 row for around £400 and fitted like a glove . Gready for me. Thats a rip off.....might have saved up and gone for the genuine article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSK Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 I'm BPU and after asking for advice I ended up opting for a new Whifbitz uprated SMIC unit. Nice fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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