terence

Im really close to buying a nice STi 3/4 tmic and just wondered if there will be any fitting issues with my MY99 WRX...

I decided to go for this intercooler after reading the AutoSpeed tmic tests carried out (good read)

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

Sooo, just wondered if anyone else has done this conversion, im assuming its not a straight swap ? but the units do look quite similar!

any advice would be mucho appreciated!

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

All you will need is the dumpvalve and dumpvalve pipework from a MY97/98.
Apart from that, it is a bolt on job.
Make sure you get the alloy hardpipe with the intercooler, as without it, there isn't much point in the upgrade.

terence

cheers for the reply m8

wont my MY99 HKS dump valve fit ?

or should I say can I mod it to bolt onto the side of the intercooler like it would on a MY99?

Damocell

iTrader: (1)

Out of interest why are you doing this mod? As flow isn't everything, both of these intercoolers will suffice upto approx 350bhp, you won't see much difference in the cooling ability as the V5 intercooler has a denser core as stated in the article, that is also the reason why the flow is less, but conversley the surface area for cooling is larger. You would see a larger advantage by getting an alloy y pipe or samco hose.

Or if you want to go ahead save your money and get a UK98 intercooler!

Personally I would save your cash for an STI7/8/9.

Damo

terence

fitting an STi 3/4 tmic?

Damocell

iTrader: (1)

Edited my original post

Damo

Damocell

iTrader: (1)

Why?

Damo

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Sti 4 intercooler

Sti 5 intercooler


Here the difference between the intercoolers and pipework


You will have to get the correct fitting kit from HKS

I have recently fitted the sti 5 intercooler and alloy hardpipe to my MY99 UK Turbo. There is definately a difference. Have noticed a 1psi rise in boost.

Damocell

iTrader: (1)

Did you fit the new intercooler and hard pipe at the same time? as the 1 psi rise possibly came from the hard pipe as stated in the article.

Damo

terence

because Andy F is mapping my car at the beginning of feb

ive already got a full afterburner vortex decat system, a simota panel filter, a walbro 255 fuel pump, a few other bits n bobs iirc and Andy recommended if I wanted circa 330bhp figure to either get an STi tmic or a APS/Typhoon CAI system.

Ive kinda given up on the intake thingy as I dont have time to wait for products to come into stock, so i decided why not il js get an STi tmic it will surely be better then what ive got anyway!

Soooooo... after reading those 2 pages on the AutoSpeed TMIC test, it was clear than my99 wrx tmic is quite pants and the STi 3/4 tmic performed well (315 flow as opposed to mines 285)... so unless i got it all wrong I just thought I'll go for this tmic.

Thats the plan anyways!

ps id luv a FMIC but im too much of a wimp to have any of my car hacked away to get one fitted - they look the nuts but just dont want the hassle thats all!!

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Yes, plus it looks a lot nicer!
It does a larger end tank though aswell.

terence

chrispurvis100 - cheers for those pics m8, thats much appreciated!

Damocell

iTrader: (1)

I understand exactly what you are saying but being able to flow more air is not the be all and end all of an intercooler.

Imagine an intercooler with one fin (I know hard to imagine).

Now imagine an intercooler with 5 fins.

The intercooler with 5 fins will be able to to transfer the heat to the air more effectively. However due to more metal the air flow rat will be less.

Re-read the paragraphs before the test starts on the mass of the core, also the last paragraph of page 2 outlines this.

By all means get an STI intercooler if you want but in this instance maybe an STI 5 would be better, due to a larger core mass.

The bit about the core even mentions that it is extremely important on a road car to have a large mass (I haven't cut and pasted for copyright reasons).

Damo

Damocell

iTrader: (1)

By STI top mount, did andy mean classic or newage or both?

Damo

robertgraham

iTrader: (2)

a proper on car test of a legacy single turbo water to air would make a good read

terence

i see what you mean damo... andy did recommend a newage tmic but i struggled to find any, kips has one on ebay at the mo but i think thats gone so i just opted to settle for something that was available... i would of preferred a sti5 one but just havnt seen any forsale or id have one!

so dont you recommend fitting a sti3/4 tmic to mine? its the 280ps 99 wrx version... cheers for the info m8!

Damocell

iTrader: (1)

I just don't think it will be worth it for the increase if any, you could ask Andy, at the end on the day he will be the man in the know.

I bought an STI 8 intercooler for £130 and the undertray for £50. Put into google "subaru breaker" there is a site that lists them, I just sat one saturday morning and called through them till I found one.

The place I got it from is called "Central Subaru" in wolverhampton, google it for ther number.

Damo

terence

I'll give that a go m8, cheers for that! Doh so i could be back to the drawing board

silent running

I can't see how changing the later MY99 intercooler for the v3/4 STi is any improvement apart from the metal Y pipe. In fact I can tell you without any doubt that it's a backward move. Just get a set of Samco hoses for your existing TMIC and you've done everything you want for £50. The v3/4 WRX and STi TMICs are the same core - and I mean identical - except for the Y-pipe and the black paint. Hence to change a v5 WRX model for a v4 STi is pointless unless you simply want to spend a lot of money on a metal Y-pipe.

KIPS

THE STI8 HAS SOLD BUT THE OTHER ONE IS STILL GOING FINISH'S SUN NIGHT

KIPS