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2G Custom SMIC with a Treadstone Core?

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I DSM KILLA I

10+ Year Contributor
120
1
Jan 11, 2009
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Hey everyone,

So I luckily was able to hold on to my car since I found a storage place that was the same price as my regular storage unit but can fit everything! That means in about 18 months, I can get her back on the road (paying DD's off first).

I am beginning initial research into parts and the biggest thing I have found lacking is good SMIC options. It seem the only prefabbed ones (Hahn, Dejon, etc.) are long gone. I know the next thing is a Supra intercooler but if I am rebuilding her properly, I am willing to spend the money for a custom intercooler that would be a better fit.

I have read DSMunknown's thread on the Supra SMIC (http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/supra-smic-install-guide-long-version.234172/) and it seems stock core dimensions are about 7.3125"H x 8.125"W x 2.6875"D. The Supra intercooler which is the most common SMIC swap out there is about 9.25"H x 10.375"W x 5"D. Treadstone has the two following cores that I would get custom endtanks made for (including mounts for stock location attachment), but not sure on size. The one glaring issue that I saw in DSMunknown's original post is the bulging of the bumper cover due to the position of the intercooler. I want her to look completely stock but I don't know if that was caused by shear size or the fact that you are hooking up an intercooler that doesn't line up due to not being a "bolt on".

The two cores are as follows:

C300 300zx Intercooler Core

This one is 8"H x 9.2"W x 4.5"D and is stated as being able to handle 500HP at 700 CFM.

Rated-R Intercooler Core CV810R
This one is 8"H x 10"W x 4.5"D and is stated to support 526HP at 789 CFM capability.

Both are smaller than the Supra SMIC with the CV810R having tighter fins which would probably be better for a side mount location I would have a custom air intake duct as well using stock screw locations and would retain the wheel well cover. My HP goals are to use the EVOIII 16G to reach about 380HP and I am trying to go OEM with everything except the trans upgrade (though technically EVOIII gearsets).

What are your thoughts?


Thanks a bunch for all the support past, present, and future!
 
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I think you're on the right track. FWIW on a stock 2g sidemount I was able to trap 114mph on a 16g. It was horribly inefficient but it was done. With that said, I was seeing 240 degree intake temps at the top of the track. With a better intercooler in the stock location, I'd expect a significant reduction in temperatures and thus more power. If it were me, and sometimes I regret making a front mount for my car though I have a much larger turbo, I'd do the smaller core and focus on fitment of the cooler. The ducting, mounting, and inlet/outlet locations will be the most critical items here.

FWIW, I think side mounts on a dsm are awesome. You'll never have to worry about your cooling system if you maintain the stock ducting and a cast exhaust manifold with heat shields.
 
I think you're on the right track. FWIW on a stock 2g sidemount I was able to trap 114mph on a 16g. It was horribly inefficient but it was done. With that said, I was seeing 240 degree intake temps at the top of the track. With a better intercooler in the stock location, I'd expect a significant reduction in temperatures and thus more power. If it were me, and sometimes I regret making a front mount for my car though I have a much larger turbo, I'd do the smaller core and focus on fitment of the cooler. The ducting, mounting, and inlet/outlet locations will be the most critical items here.

FWIW, I think side mounts on a dsm are awesome. You'll never have to worry about your cooling system if you maintain the stock ducting and a cast exhaust manifold with heat shields.

Yes I love the SMIC design. The car is already flashy with the wing and stock GSX body kit so why would I want a FMIC that makes it look more flashy. I have debated using the stock ducting just for restriction reasons but that's another thing to consider!

I think this will be one of the harder things to do along with a proper bi-xenon retrofit and deciding on keeping the beautiful Emerald Green Metallic or to do the BMW Dark Graphite Metallic II paint color (look it up it's amazing).
 
I'm not sure why you think an intercooler makes the car look flashy. If your car is fast and needs a fmic then it is what it is. You don't have to get it stenciled and anodized pink. Nice cars have nice parts.
 
I'm not sure why you think an intercooler makes the car look flashy. If your car is fast and needs a fmic then it is what it is. You don't have to get it stenciled and anodized pink. Nice cars have nice parts.

It just draws more attention to your car by both cops and thieves. I live in NJ which is a Mecca for both. I'm not building anything crazy here but want the stock look. Even the gauges are going to blend into the gauge cluster of possible. If I can get the same power out of custom SMIC as a FMIC, then I'm willing to pay for it which is something I see a lot in other SMIC posts. If it's a $400 FMIC or an $800 SMIC, I'm going to spend the $800.
 
If you are going to do a smic, I would be getting a Garret core. If your anywhere near Illinois I can make you a nice fitting one using a Garret core.

I was considering Garret but did not see a core of similar size and I don't want to cut anything. I will look some more though! I just want a bolt-on-esque mounting system so I don't have to jimmy-rig anything...

I have also heard great things about Treadstone.
 
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Having had a Garret and treadstonenside by side, I can assure you a treadstone is not even close to the same class as a a garrett

Garrett has 2 6x12 cores that would work. You could probably shorten one to 6x8.

Maybe even better would be doing a a2w in place of the smic.

I wanted to keep it like stock with air-to-air. I think the 6x12 would be too big and as stated previously, I don't want to cut it.

How old was the Treadstone you had and were they exact matches (size, airflow, outlets, etc)?
 
The other company I have seen that has good reviews is Bell Intercoolers. Any thoughts on them?
 
Look at the fastest turbo cars out there. They all run prescion, Garret, ets. You will have a very small IC, you need a really really good one.

That is what I am trying to find but I don't want to cut a core down to size. I want a good core to use as a SMIC that is already the size I need. I have seen plenty of people running the 16G on the stock SMIC but with heatsoak. I just need something with better airflow to take it's place without heavy cutting. I will be welding it myself after I get some cast end caps made.

Also just because the high HP or fastest DSM's run them doesn't mean they're the best for my application.
 
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Im on the water-to-air boat. But past that, a garrett or bell core should do it. Garrett has the name and design, idk enough about bell, but the "look" quality. At that point, id go garrett and fit the biggest core you can, with good ducting.

As for end tanks, any reason youre wanting cast tanks vs sheet metal/fabbed? Is it to lessen popping a weld? Id think a formed sheet metal end tank would be sufficient with minimal welding.
Look up Chiseled Performance for an end tank idea, they make w2a setups for outlaw and others going into the 3-4k hp range with 100+psi.
Guess it comes down to cost and what you want.
 
I had a custom sidemount made from a Bell core. I passed it along due to some other personal things in life at the time that came up, but I will be having another one made. I believe the core was 6" thick, 9" wide and 11" tall, IIRC. Flow rate was just over 1200cfm and it was made to fit in the stock location with 2.5" inlet/outlet.
 
Im on the water-to-air boat. But past that, a garrett or bell core should do it. Garrett has the name and design, idk enough about bell, but the "look" quality. At that point, id go garrett and fit the biggest core you can, with good ducting.

As for end tanks, any reason youre wanting cast tanks vs sheet metal/fabbed? Is it to lessen popping a weld? Id think a formed sheet metal end tank would be sufficient with minimal welding.
Look up Chiseled Performance for an end tank idea, they make w2a setups for outlaw and others going into the 3-4k hp range with 100+psi.
Guess it comes down to cost and what you want.

Unfortunately Garrett doesn't have a core without cutting, unless they take custom orders, which I haven't found that they do. I want cast or milled end tanks due to an issue I had with the stock one. I hit a cone (BMW hit it under me) and that broke it at the the bottom at the flange. Cast or milled allows it to be a little thicker at the base just in case something like that happen again. After all I'm going to spend the money, I want it to last.
 
I had a custom sidemount made from a Bell core. I passed it along due to some other personal things in life at the time that came up, but I will be having another one made. I believe the core was 6" thick, 9" wide and 11" tall, IIRC. Flow rate was just over 1200cfm and it was made to fit in the stock location with 2.5" inlet/outlet.

Did you actually use it or sold it before you got the chance? Those dimensions sound amazing if it fit with no modifications. 6" sure is thick!
 
IMO, getting a slighty longer garrett core and trimming it to exact dimensions will be better than finding the closest fitting treadstone/bell etc. Then you will be able to maximize IC size for the given space.
 
Why do you guys think you need a 1200cfm intercooler. Even the baddest DSms on the planet don't move much more than 300cfm.

I never said I did. That's why I was looking at the 700 range. It's a big improvement over the stock flow but not overkill. I am again going for 380HP not anything higher...
 
IMO, getting a slighty longer garrett core and trimming it to exact dimensions will be better than finding the closest fitting treadstone/bell etc. Then you will be able to maximize IC size for the given space.

I just don't like the thought of cutting a core down to size. Besides I have yet to hear any major real life data between the different companies mentioned.
 
Well theres your answer then :)
As far as real world data, you could try finding any shops that use the respective cores, or just ask them their opinions on both your top choices.

Idk how much more info youll find on here as the majority are fmic and not making custom side mounts due to cost and functionality.
 
L
Well theres your answer then :)
As far as real world data, you could try finding any shops that use the respective cores, or just ask them their opinions on both your top choices.

Idk how much more info youll find on here as the majority are fmic and not making custom side mounts due to cost and functionality.

Yea I know it's a small segment of us SMIC guys out there. 
 
Yup very few of us. SMIC's are GREAT if you use them correctly. Like anything you need to redo the ducting to make use of the area it's in (vacuum on the wheel side and pressure from the front). The use of water injection (no need for meth unless you really need to) is possible to help out as well for "spirited" driving. They also help in quick acceleration (boost a little bit quicker) as they aren't as big to fill.

Both my builds are like you mentioned. T28 and dejon super smic for 2g and 18g with supra smic for the 1g. Love both setups. :). There's also bullseye smics if you can find one.
 
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