Mr Footlong

iTrader: (7)

Hi folks, as the title says please don't flame me. I am doing searches on all this but simply haven't got tnough time today to go through all of it and have decided to grab a FMIC as soon as poss before fluffy goes in for a load of work and remap next week.

I have come across the Hybrid GT FMIC mentioned a number of times, then have seen people complaining about 'cheap' £190 etc ones being shoddy quality. I wouldn't dream of paying so little and expecting to get anything half decent, but am not in the mood for wasting loads on one.

I have come across a "Hybrid GTSpec Intercooler Kit For Subaru Impreza GC8" on a certain auction site going for £330 plus delivery, but if the picture is correct then it looks nigh on identical to the Apex Performance one: Apex Performance Parts Ltd | Nissan 200SX parts specialists | Innovate Motorsport Dealers I would be going with the Apex one as it seems to be cheaper.

My first question is are these perfectly good for my STI5?
My second question is does these require panel cutting?
My third question is will I be able to keep my big K&N Cone filter?
My last question is how do I fit the VTA dump valve back on and is there a preferred one? I have had Blitz and Forge BOV's in the past (I realise that the current VTA on the intercooler will not fit).

I won't trawl through the current upgrades on the car but she isn't standard so I believe will benefit nicely from a swap to FMIC.

Cheers,

Nick .

P.S. Sorry again for not 'RTFM'ing it enough, I just haven't got that much time today!

The rookie

iTrader: (1)

For anything off ebay its worth looking at subaru - Selling Leads for subaru - Manufacturers,Exporters,Suppliers,Traders,Companie s,Factories and you can find if its a generic part being marketed as something it not! Most stuff on ebay can be found here and comes from China at very low prices, in fact a bit of digging and you can find out exactly how low!

The external appearence of an intercooler bears little relatiuonship to how effective it actually is!

You may find the parts in this photo look familiar! Sell Intercooler Kits (Auto Sourcing International Co., Ltd.,Hong Kong)

I'm not saying don't buy it, but CAVEAT EMPTOR as they say!

Simon

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

Nick, have a look on Zen's website, they are around £350 and I doubt Paul sells tat! Comeback and help with any fitting issues / questions etc

Mr Footlong

iTrader: (7)

Plus the dreaded VAT then add on the delivery . I will bear them in mind though thanks . What about the actual Apex one?

Mr Footlong

iTrader: (7)

Anyone else got a sec to contribute? I realise I am being cheeky and rushing this but I think I need to buy one by the end of tomorrow just to make sure that it turns up in time. Muppet for deciding this so close tbh.....

Cheers,

Nick .

Andy.F

Looks like the same core as the earlier Hybrid. Budget build and the pipework lets it down somewhat but better than the OE TMIC for sure.

There are even cheaper units available that use the same design of pipework and a tube and fin core. Mapped one today on a 93 car, seemed to perform as well as the hybrid, the owner said he paid £188 delivered from some group buy apparently.

You also may want to consider the Sti 7 onwards TMIC if you are not aiming much past 400bhp. This will minimise lag after a gearshift and will reduce the chances of compressor surge.

Related thread here -

https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...tercooler.html

Andy

Mr Footlong

iTrader: (7)

Thanks for that. I am hoping to end all the work at around 450 and have held back on a fmic on the other scoobs, so thought it was time that I give it a go. when combined with a remap is this gearchange lag going to be a real pain compared with the overall power/performance benefit. Am I really better off going with a £4-500 fmic over say the apex one? Sorry to sound like a noob with this but I have never gone with a fmic before so never really researched them. If you could possibly point me to a trusted one that doesn't cost the earth that would be most useful. I guess that I wouldn't be able to tell if the 'lag' is unbearable or not until I try it.

Once again , sorry for the dum dum questions, I caught the thread that you linked to earlier today thanks and have been keeping an eye on it.

Cheers,

Nick .