JamesyThompson Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 (edited) Hi folks, The OEM SMIC has seen better days on my MKIV, and I was going to replace it with another SMIC as the car is only BPU and I preferred to keep it OEM looking (although I'm warming to the idea of and FMIC). Contacted Whifbits about their SMIC and they are unsure when they'll be getting any more in due to covid delays, I've also heard @Chris Wilsondoes an SMIC - going on the Google hits! Would running an FMIC on stock turbos increase lag if I can't source an SMIC? I'm guessing an FMIC in decent condition will be better than my rotten SMIC though Edited March 23, 2021 by JamesyThompson typo (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noz Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 Doubt you'd notice a 3" core really. Sure that would be fine for BPU. I had a cheap ebay job with no issues in my single turbo at 417hp. Trick is keeping cooler as small as possible but satisfying the hp target and not over sizing the pipework. Don't whifbitz also sell front mount kits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 It has similar internal volume to a stock side mount, but better flow, so if anything lag will decrease, and most definitely not INCREASE. These are made to order, with about an eight week lead time. Thanks. intercooler.zip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesyThompson Posted March 23, 2021 Author Share Posted March 23, 2021 18 minutes ago, Noz said: Doubt you'd notice a 3" core really. Sure that would be fine for BPU. I had a cheap ebay job with no issues in my single turbo at 417hp. Trick is keeping cooler as small as possible but satisfying the hp target and not over sizing the pipework. Don't whifbitz also sell front mount kits? Whifbitz do have a reasonably priced kit with a 4" core which they also supply as part of one of their BPU kits, so presumably it's BPU friendly - I'm leaning towards this at the minute as I believe they've stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesyThompson Posted March 23, 2021 Author Share Posted March 23, 2021 14 minutes ago, Chris Wilson said: It has similar internal volume to a stock side mount, but better flow, so if anything lag will decrease, and most definitely not INCREASE. These are made to order, with about an eight week lead time. Thanks. intercooler.zip 2.64 MB · 0 downloads That's a work of art Chris. Noticed they have been going for around £500 used on here, so a new one will likely be more than I'd budgeted for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rider Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 For the matter of waiting 8 weeks you may as well go for a SMIC rather than go to the effort of fitting a frontal unit. My very original intercooler fins were all corroded to powder after 15 years and I really did notice quite a difference in pickup with the replacement intercooler. How much of that improvement was down to better air flow and how much was down to not cooling through aluminium oxide fins I wouldn't know. It was one of those purchases you can class as a good investment with the added bonus that it is a straight swap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noz Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 Would love to see what a very original cooler would look like vs a normal original intercooler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayr Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 Don’t you have to cut the stock bumper for an Fmic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPG Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 14 minutes ago, tayr said: Don’t you have to cut the stock bumper for an Fmic I’ve never had to trim the bumper, but the bumper support brackets need a little modifying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisM Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 24x12x4" Greddy for 20+ year and no lag on standard jdm turbos 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burna Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 (edited) 19 hours ago, JamesyThompson said: That's a work of art Chris. Noticed they have been going for around £500 used on here, so a new one will likely be more than I'd budgeted for. Personally I'd avoid an FMIC if I was you for BPU. I would definitely go for the Chris Wilson SMIC. I've just sold my old Chris Wilson SMIC, but I do know of a near perfect condition OEM SMIC for sale if that's more within a tight budget. Edit: Just checked and he wants £200 posted, which I think is too cheap and a bargain! Edited March 24, 2021 by Burna (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rider Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 19 hours ago, JamesyThompson said: That's a work of art Chris. Noticed they have been going for around £500 used on here, so a new one will likely be more than I'd budgeted for. It might be worthwhile doing a relative comparison when deciding what to do, a new intercooler from Toyota is around £1,400. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesyThompson Posted March 24, 2021 Author Share Posted March 24, 2021 Thanks for the advice folks. The look of an FMIC behind the standard front bumper started to grow on me and I pulled the trigger on a Whifbitz 4" FMIC kit, bit more of a pain to fit but it's not like you do it everyday. jamesy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rider Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 If you are ditching a TT airbox to accommodate the plumbing then you would go a long way to recouping your costs. Bags first dibs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesyThompson Posted March 26, 2021 Author Share Posted March 26, 2021 21 hours ago, rider said: If you are ditching a TT airbox to accommodate the plumbing then you would go a long way to recouping your costs. Bags first dibs. I've got all my OEM parts in the shed in case I ever want to put it back to standard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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