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Starion intercooler [Merged 9-7] FMIC front mount conquest

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I'd use it as a flogging device.

Go 1980's turbo technology! You do know that Aluminum corrodes over the years, right?
 
YES! Its better than the stock gsx intercooler, better than a supra intercooler....if you enlarge the inlet and outlet and run your piping the shortest possible route which is next to the radiator.
Unlike the naysayers who have never run the intercooler, I have and I picked up almost 3mph in the quarter over an upgraded side mount and over 6mph over the stock intercooler.

That being said, I wouldn't run much larger than a big 16g on it, but up to that size turbo it works great!

Be aware this is a custom fit. If you can't do the work yourself it'll run you $300-$500 to fit it and make the piping.
 
Originally posted by Hercules


Be aware this is a custom fit. If you can't do the work yourself it'll run you $300-$500 to fit it and make the piping.

For 600 dollars you can get yourself a DECENT used core and piping for a hell of a lot less work.
 
okay here is my cost......20 bucks for great like new core only 5 bent fins, extremly fixable. You have to buy ic pipes anyways so that wont be factored in. Endtanks are running 70 bucks so in the end Ill spend about 200 for a better cooling better flowing(better looking, but that def. aint what its about) intercooler.

I would say only go for starion if you get a deal like Im getting, other wise the prices Ive seen better off saving up the extra 100 beans and buying aftermarket.
 
It only will cost you about $150 if you do most of the work. If you pay someone to do the piping it'll run 300-500.
The only front mount that is close in price is the one in the group buy at dsmtalk that is $725.
I don't think other intercoolers will cool the charge of a 16g much lower than my modded starion to warrant spending another 500 bucks or so.
 
Its not cooling that makes the aftermarket better, as much as its flow rate. Yes aftermarket do cool somewhat better because it isn't bar and fin, its tube and fin. but like i said, if you can get a really good deal the starion is a decent deal for low end turbos.
 
Originally posted by Hercules
YES! Its better than the stock gsx intercooler, better than a supra intercooler....if you enlarge the inlet and outlet and run your piping the shortest possible route which is next to the radiator.
Ah, so the answer is that a _modified_ Starion IC is better.

But I don't think he asked about a modified one.
 
Yes, modified. If you don't enlarge the inlet and outlet, I don't think it would be much better than a stock intercooler and definitely not better than a supra or alamo sidemount.

But if you do, it works great...it doesn't heat soak, I no longer have to sit at the water box after a drag run cooling off my intercooler with water, I can now hotlap as the outlet is always cool.

Proof it works is in my trap speeds, 112-113mph on a 16g at 20psi, race fuel, stock '91 engine cams and all. Only port work is on exhaust, turbo.

If you don't have $800-$1000 to spend on a front mount, for $300-$400 this is a good "poor man" option.
 
Starion FMIC sucks! THATS ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID..... My friend did one on his Talon, and he lost HP, And Lost about .2 in the quarter mile. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!! If you spend a Total of 300-500 then why wouldnt you just save an extra 300 and get a nice one?
 
Originally posted by purplehazetsi
Starion FMIC sucks! THATS ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID..... My friend did one on his Talon, and he lost HP, And Lost about .2 in the quarter mile. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!! If you spend a Total of 300-500 then why wouldnt you just save an extra 300 and get a nice one?

:thumb:
 
I find it funny how the people who say it sucks probably have never even run down the 1/4, purplehazetsi, or have a big frontmount and are barely running in the 13's and are no where close to 12's let alone a low 12sec 1/4, boostineklipz. Yeah, that big frontmount sure helped you, much better than my Starion which carried me to a [email protected] and [email protected].

Look people, John Shepard ran a 11.78 on a modified stock sidemount. 2" inlet, 2.25" outlets I believe, so it stands to reason that a modified starion intercooler, which is larger than stock and mounted in front to have unimpeded airflow would perform even better, and it does. Period.

The reason other's haven't had success with it is they are using the stock inlet and outlet 1.78" pipes, use rubber hoses and route the piping all around the car. Take a look at the best front mounts, what do they have? Large inlet and outlets and short pipe routeing. I took those 2 things and incorperated them into the starion core. Results, no matter how hard I run and no matter what the outside temp, the outlet endtank and pipe are always cool. I have quick spoolup, no overheating problems and I can still use my stock foglights.

Is it the best intercooler? No. Simple bolt on? No. But its a good "bang for the buck" front mount for those who like to work on their car or are on a tight budget.
 
Originally posted by Hercules
I find it funny how the people who say it sucks probably have never even run down the 1/4, purplehazetsi, or have a big frontmount and are barely running in the 13's and are no where close to 12's let alone a low 12sec 1/4, boostineklipz. Yeah, that big frontmount sure helped you, much better than my Starion which carried me to a [email protected] and [email protected].

Look people, John Shepard ran a 11.78 on a modified stock sidemount. 2" inlet, 2.25" outlets I believe, so it stands to reason that a modified starion intercooler, which is larger than stock and mounted in front to have unimpeded airflow would perform even better, and it does. Period.

The reason other's haven't had success with it is they are using the stock inlet and outlet 1.78" pipes, use rubber hoses and route the piping all around the car. Take a look at the best front mounts, what do they have? Large inlet and outlets and short pipe routeing. I took those 2 things and incorperated them into the starion core. Results, no matter how hard I run and no matter what the outside temp, the outlet endtank and pipe are always cool. I have quick spoolup, no overheating problems and I can still use my stock foglights.

Is it the best intercooler? No. Simple bolt on? No. But its a good "bang for the buck" front mount for those who like to work on their car or are on a tight budget.

I agree. I have a nice core now but a year ago I just had a Starion ic with modded ins/outs. It pushed my gvr4 to a 12.8 with a 16g which is pretty good considering the gvr4's are usually slower than a similarly modded DSM. If you can do the work yourself and get a good deal on the core......it's worth it. It got me by for awhile until I could get a nicer core, but I was also able to make the RRE piping I used for the starion core work on the new core.
 
Originally posted by turbowop
I agree. I have a nice core now but a year ago I just had a Starion ic with modded ins/outs. It pushed my gvr4 to a 12.8 with a 16g which is pretty good considering the gvr4's are usually slower than a similarly modded DSM. If you can do the work yourself and get a good deal on the core......it's worth it. It got me by for awhile until I could get a nicer core, but I was also able to make the RRE piping I used for the starion core work on the new core.

agreed, good for what it is....there is always bigger and better.

ok herc no bashing...
 
I'm not going to get dragged into the argument, I'm just going to say what I've seen.

One of the local DSM guys I've met is running a modded starion IC on his 91 GSX. All hard IC pipes, new end tanks. He payed $70 to have the end tanks welded and did his own piping, and payed less than $40 for the IC out of a scrap yard. He runs high twelves on it with his big 16g.
 
Originally posted by Goblin

One of the local DSM guys I've met is running a modded starion IC on his 91 GSX. All hard IC pipes, new end tanks. He payed $70 to have the end tanks welded and did his own piping, and payed less than $40 for the IC out of a scrap yard. He runs high twelves on it with his big 16g.

I know 2G's that have gone high twelves with stock injectors, a 14B, and the stock side mount.

They're not really that hard.
 
Oh ok, it didnt help me at all.:rolleyes: Did you fail to realize I AM FWD. I ran a 13.9 @ 105 at 18psi. I do not think that is too bad considering, I have no LSD, I have crappy Kumho tires and I tuned the car myself which I am brand new too. What is a 105 trap for a AWD car???? Prolly somewhere in the upper 12s. I am not sure why have to try and clown me, but since you made it work good for you. I on the other hand I would rather spend the extra money.
 
Originally posted by boostineklipz
Oh ok, it didnt help me at all.:rolleyes: Did you fail to realize I AM FWD. I ran a 13.9 @ 105 at 18psi. I do not think that is too bad considering, I have no LSD, I have crappy Kumho tires and I tuned the car myself which I am brand new too. What is a 105 trap for a AWD car???? Prolly somewhere in the upper 12s. I am not sure why have to try and clown me, but since you made it work good for you. I on the other hand I would rather spend the extra money.


plus it looks absolutely sick, starion ic's look terible and have broke ass fins on them, i dont like them, Since i have a 2g i could give a shit about spending the extra money for looking nice.

If someone gave me a starion intercooler thats been proven in the 12's for free i still wouldent put it on for the sheer fact there ugly :thumb:
 
Ulgy?, I think mine looks pretty good, although its pretty small looking once its installed. But then again, personally, I find the 2nd gen dsm ulgy so to each his own.

Look, I'm as surprised as others that this intercooler is working as well as it is, I did not expect it to be any better than my upgraded sidemount...but it is...and all I'm trying to pass on is how to make it work if you want to use it. Personally I would much rather have a Buschur Racing front mount or a Spearco core, but in the meantime this starion front mount is working well for me.


boostineklipz, sorry I missed you were FWD and no doubt your spearco core front mount is much better than a starion, but I will say you have some tuning issues as you should easily be running 110+traps and probably closer to 115.
 
Originally posted by cait sith
I know 2G's that have gone high twelves with stock injectors, a 14B, and the stock side mount.

They're not really that hard.

:confused:

So what? They aren't doing it on 91 octane @ 2700 feet of elevation. I've seen plenty of "beer canned" cars run high twelves... nothing impressive like I said, "I'm just going to say what I've seen".
 
Originally posted by Airpoppoff
plus it looks absolutely sick, starion ic's look terible and have broke ass fins on them, i dont like them, Since i have a 2g i could give a shit about spending the extra money for looking nice.

If someone gave me a starion intercooler thats been proven in the 12's for free i still wouldent put it on for the sheer fact there ugly :thumb:

haha thats funny ..most are messed up but mine is like new from the factory:D plus it looks alot better than sidemount.

Boostin I remeber a while back when you said you were running kumhos...didnt I say at least gett 225s? whats the hold up LOL with traction and your mods you should be dipping in the 12s.:thumb:
 
Originally posted by Airpoppoff
i still wouldent put it on for the sheer fact there ugly :thumb:

A face only a mother could love:OMG

6219fc429841.jpg
 
I am thinking about buying a Starion intercooler for around 100 without any piping. i believe the dimensions are 22" long, 8" high and 2.5" thick. I have a 16g, exhaust, 2g manifold and O2 housings ported, and walbro 255hp. I just had some questions on if this would be good enough? How hard is it to make my own pipes or about how much it would cost to get some made for the car? Thanks for the input.
 
From what I've read/heard, the biggest problem with the Starion FM's are the endtanks and their small inlet/outlet. If you get some new endtanks welded on, I think it'd be OK. Someone correct me if I am wrong, though.

If you have access to a welder, custom pipes shouldn't be all that hard. Just buy some mandrel-bent tubing and go from there.
 
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