Evo 9 vs. VR Speed Factory FMIC

[zxrider_sa]

I have a Evo 9 intercooler in good shape that I recently bought for my DSM. It is just the intercooler and I obviously have to get a piping kit for it. I'll probably have to custom fab it with a universal kit. I just found a VR Speed Factory FMIC kit for $309 brand new. Should I go with the Evo 9 I have and run the pipes or go with the VRSF one? Pros and cons of both?

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[95dsmgsx95]

I got the VR speed fmic and so far so good.The only bad part I see is you have to cut your front core support alittle.

 

[zxrider_sa]

What was your gains?

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[Xeiros]

Depends on how comfortable you are spending the time to do all the custom piping yourself.

I personally would just get the VRSF unit and sell the Evo intercooler on ebay or something, and save yourself some headache.

 

[zxrider_sa]

What would be the better performer? If there is a noticable difference.

 

[Xeiros]

The VRSF is going to have the least amount of piping, so that will help with overall spool. It's also 3.5" thick which is thicker than the Evo unit, so it will be able to cool better. VRSF's got a dyno sheet of them picking up about 30hp by using their intercooler over a competitors, though it doesn't list what all other modifications the car had. If your car is stock(ish) and is going to be that way for a while, it's really not going to matter one way or the other till you start upgrading. If you have any aspirations of making 400whp or more (like everyone that buys one of these cars), my recommendation would be the VRSF as it IS an upgrade over the Evo unit and will serve you better in the long run.

 

[flyineagletsi]

^ There are other factors when it comes to the cooling ability of an intercooler other than its thickness. Internal fin design for example plays a major role in its efficiency and yet most people don't even mention it.

 

[Xeiros]

I'm aware, and yes you are right, it does play a major role in it. I don't have both cores in front of me to give a blow by blow on the specs, so I have to go with what is provided. The Evo core is generally ditched when they start making 350-400whp because it starts becoming inefficient for them at that time. The VRSF or SSAC knock off is being used on some DSM's pushing over 500, so it's pretty safe the VRSF is comparable or better in terms of fin design.

 

[MI48UR8]

Vrsf!!! Do it!!!

 

[dsmtun3r98gst]

Yes a VRSF fmic would be a better option since they can handle alot more that a stock evo IC can. I run one myself a I have 0 complaints o the VRSF kit

 

[blkonblkawd]

I have to say as well to go with the the VRSF kit. The evo 9 intercooler would be good for a stock turbo-18g and you planned keeping it that way. Which once the power bug bites you, you will upgrade even further, thus making your evo 9 one inefficient.

 

[josh408]

I have a VR speed FMIC and I love it, can't go wrong with it in my opinion.

 

[Imback]

Use the evo9 and save some money plus you will be able to use after market evo cores.

 

[zxrider_sa]

Good deal. I'll save up a little and go with the VRSF.

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[Ludachris]

What would be the better performer? If there is a noticable difference.

What you need to understand is that you're not likely going to feel much difference unless you're pushing the maximum possible power with your setup on a dyno. A better/larger core will offer better cooling, which will result in a little more power and less heat soak (which is the main advantage), but it's not like you're going to feel a major difference between the two cores in question like you would an exhaust upgrade. But it likely would be an upgrade over the Evo core when/if you start making big power.

I think the decision will have more to do with fitment and having to deal with custom piping - which can be a pain in the ass and can get expensive quick if you are having someone do welding and bending. Custom piping could also make the engine bay look like a chop job and may result in boost leaks due to poor fitment.

The VRSpeed kit is very nice and fits well. The one I put on my 2g had me pretty impressed.

 

[zxrider_sa]

Fitment is a big deciding factor. Thats one of the main reasons I am deciding to go with the VRSF

 

[project_skyline]

What you need to understand is that you're not likely going to feel much difference unless you're pushing the maximum possible power with your setup on a dyno. A better/larger core will offer better cooling, which will result in a little more power and less heat soak (which is the main advantage), but it's not like you're going to feel a major difference between the two cores in question like you would an exhaust upgrade. But it likely would be an upgrade over the Evo core when/if you start making big power.

I think the decision will have more to do with fitment and having to deal with custom piping - which can be a pain in the ass and can get expensive quick if you are having someone do welding and bending. Custom piping could also make the engine bay look like a chop job and may result in boost leaks due to poor fitment.

The VRSpeed kit is very nice and fits well. The one I put on my 2g had me pretty impressed.

I would disagree sir. There is a big difference in the stock evo IC and a decent aftermarket one. Air flows better through most aftermarket ones, better PR drop and core area.
The stock IC is decent to 400HP after that and its not going to work well except maybe the first dyno pull, 1/4 run, or 5 minutes around the track.

When I switched a ETS 3.5" IC from the stock one I noticed that the car breathed easier and spooled better. Hot weather and you'll notice a big difference in the cars performance. The long run efficiency is night and day.

IMO the stock evo IC isn't a huge upgrade over the stock side mount.

 

[V8killer23]

I agree that the evo 9 one isnt that great when compared to an aftermarket one, but you have it already and its not to hard to do the piping, and not that expensive either. That way you can save your money for an ets one later.

 

[Ludachris]

I would disagree sir. There is a big difference in the stock evo IC and a decent aftermarket one. Air flows better through most aftermarket ones, better PR drop and core area.
The stock IC is decent to 400HP after that and its not going to work well except maybe the first dyno pull, 1/4 run, or 5 minutes around the track.

When I switched a ETS 3.5" IC from the stock one I noticed that the car breathed easier and spooled better. Hot weather and you'll notice a big difference in the cars performance. The long run efficiency is night and day.

IMO the stock evo IC isn't a huge upgrade over the stock side mount.

You went from stock to an ETS - of course you're going to notice a difference. Going from an Evo 9 core to something a little larger, probably not going to "feel" much of a difference on the butt dyno. Intercoolers aren't like exhaust upgrades. As I said, once you start making more power, or get to the point of heat soak, sure. But if he was making big power, he probably wouldn't be asking this question in the first place. In his situation, it's not going to be a big difference, whatever FMIC core he steps up to will be a big improvement over stock.

 

[Limegrntaln]

Looks like the site vr site is down. We might not be getting anything.

 

[zxrider_sa]

I seen that. Hopefully its only temporary.

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[MaNGiNa24]

Site's back up

We just put the same core (fin density/design) as the 2g kit on our shop Evo and it eliminated the heatsoak issues we were having after just 1 pull & allowed us to be a bit more aggressive with the tune which gained about 42whp @ 480whp. Obviously not the same car, but the stock evo FMIC sucks. One of the first mods evo owners do is replace their restrictive FMIC's.

Is it better than the stock SMIC, hell yeah but at the same time you could easily do better for very little cash.

 

[zxrider_sa]

Thanks

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