what is the max bhp, the top mount Intercooler on a 03 reg wrx will run on?

thanks Tim

would it be ok on 320bhp??

 

i would think so

 

There was a brilliant feature in Jan07 edition of Japenese Performance where they tested 4 different intercoolers on an 03 WRX. Slighty modded.
See if you can back order an issue or check ebay. Or steal or borrow someones wortha read. Basically they ran 4 different intercoolers first off using stock boost levels then by using the maximum safe level the ECUTECK computer calculated and they measured the temp.

Heres a brief summary of what they did, lifted straight from the mag.

The standard Subaru
Cheap aftermarket
Hyperflow top mount
Scoobyclinic front mount

Results

The standard intercooler
Max Power 307.8bhp
Max Torque 284lb
Peak Temp 60.0deg

Cheap Aftermarket (£300 ebay special)
Max Power 307.9bhp
Max Torque 275lb
Peak Temp 51.1deg

Hyperflow Top Mount
Max Power 313.5bhp
Max Torque 288lb
Peak Temp 26.5deg

Front Mount
Max Power 322bhp
Max Torque 302lb
Peak Temp 16.3deg

The Verdict
'So what did we learn? The standard Impreza WRX intercooler is marginal on inlet temperature when the boost is turned up beyond stock levels so replacing it should be a priority.However, swapping it for a larger low budget top-mount unit looks to be a complete waste of time: although it pegged back the inlet temperature slighty it had such an inefficient core that power and torque were actually worse than standard'.

Bacically they say a front mount is best but if you want a top mount one don't be cheap as you get what you pay for. Pretty obvious really.

Hope this helps

 

Shame they didn't test the STi intercooler as it's quite a bit bigger the the WRX one and a popular upgrade

 

Thanks you for that :-)

Front Mount it is then

 

well that hyperflow tmic was hardly better off and the intake temps was alot less than the standard tmic, i have a 02 wrx tmic fitted to my catalunya but have the added advantage of alcohol flowing through her vains

when i got it remapped by paul he said it nearly halved my intake temps and when he last mapped it he made it cut in at 11psi where as before it was coming in at 15 psi, when fitted with some headers and an up pipe (heat wrapped) i got an extra 18 bhp and around 9lbs of torque but an extra 25bhp at the wheels, but im sure the torque reading aint right but hey ho