Top Mount or Front mount
 

Changing my turbo from a 20g to a 321H on my 2005 Sti, do i stay with the top mount intercooler or go with a front mount?

Looking for early spool so not sure if changing to front mount will lose part of the early spool.

What do other 321H owners go with?

Should still be ok at 400bhp on an sti tmic

A lot depends on what your future plans are. I fitted a FMIC to my bugeye STi early in ownership, at that time I was unsure as to how far I would go. Now the car is over 400bhp so am over the Top Mount capabilities (as I understand).

I'd stay stick with the TMIC on a 321H. As said above, the std TM is good enough for 400bhp, perhaps a bit more. No point spending money unless you have to. Other items will be limiting factors before the TM. If you go for a bigger one though - SC42, SC46, 321T etc then I'd consider a change to FMIC to get the most out of it.

The TMIC is always subject to under bonnet heat and heat soak due to its position on top of the engine. Driven slowly or stopped after keen driving the car needs to be nursed for a mile or two before giving it the beans again. The FMIC has no such problems but needs a decent turbo to get the best out of it.

Modern turbo blankets help and you retain a quicker spool.

I love the look of fmic others hate it

A MD321H with the Standard STI TMIC should be a very nice setup

Think i will stick with the standard top mount and see how that goes, car is fast road car and i only do a couple of thousand miles per year.