Does anyone know what a MY99 (280ps version) standard WRX top mount Intercooler is good for (bhp wise)?

What have ppl had out of theres?

Thanks ya'll

 

you could probably get 320 or so before it starts to lose out.

They are quite small IIRC?

 

ya quite small, and black, i have been looking for an STi one...

What are STi 4,5,6 TMIC's good for?

 

a little more but not too much, the volume just counts against really....

FMICs are so cheap nowadays its almost worth considering...

 

yup i heard also there are good till about 300+bhp with the standard sti top mount

 

i do love the fmic's and would love one, its just i cant bring myself to cut any of my car away or the bumper to fit one, otherwise id buy one tomorrow

 

if its done right it can look as if its supposed to be there, but i do agree with your reasonings!

 

i agree, i think they look the nuts personally!

 

bear in mind the whole point is the intercooler gives you no direct performance increase as such. the whole point is to prevent heat from cause performance/power loss.

Top mounts will limit you wether you run 200 or 500bhp, once heat soaked there crap. 1 degree looses 1bhp iirc.

def want to go down the front mount route, top mounts just arn't effective enough

 

So if I have a STI 5 & remap to say 330bhp should I be thinking of a FMIC then ?

 

if you can run to the cost of it, yes.

the whole point is it brings air temps down, the cooler it can get the the less performance is lost on hot days.

 

The best advice I can give is either leave it alone and put up with your standard TMIC, OR get a FMIC off ebay. They're so cheap nowadays it's not even worth debating about replacing with a different TMIC. You'll find loads of threads with details of how to retrofit an STi8 TMIC, the pros and cons of £800 fancy-brand TMIC replacements etc. but thes was when prices were very different and you couldn't always keep your foglights/aircon/etc with a FMIC. All the hassle and expense of fitting an STi8 TMIC was the best bang-per-buck. Nowadays, a £250 Hong Kong made FMIC will fit right and do a good job. IMHO from what I've heard.

 

STI intercoolers aren't that much better than UK ones!

I have a flow test at home I will put the link up when I get home.

Personally I like the STI 7/8 Intercoolers.

Damo

 

As promised

AutoSpeed - Top-Mount Trial - Part One
AutoSpeed - Top-Mount Trial - Part Two

The main difference came from fitting the STI alloy Y pipe.

Damo

 

Cheers for that m8, thats an awsome read!

Looks quite pointless getting an STi intercooler. Shame it didnt test the STi8 tmic, im guessing thats the good one?

 

jap performance mag (iirc) did a test and the ebay intercoolers were no better than the standard ones

 

sooo would i be right in saying.... according to that write up, that a version 3/4 STi tmic would be the one to go for (as i cant find a 7 and a 3/4 i guess will fit better)?

or am i js stupid

 

??

 

hi terence i have a vers 3/4 97-98 tmic for sale also have a vers 5/6 99-00 tmic i think it could be a vers 7 not sure with a blank plate for bov, bought them before i had fitted a fmic if you are interested was going to put them on ebay along with a few other bits

 

but shouldnt the sti be better at cooling since it is made from aluminium instead of the black 1 off the wrx? different metal conduct heat differently and so the metal sti should infact be better because it will conduct the heat more and transfer it through the fins better and therefore cool quicker?..........