Street Imports FMIC

[CREEP]

There was some hype about these a while ago. I'm just wondering how everyone likes them, and if you have any install pics? I'm interested in the 21X9X3, $200.

 

[sids]

I got it, here you go


<img src="http://www.eclipseworx.com/intercooler.jpg">

flows a lot better than my old one which is a fabricated side side one and i get better mileage to boot due to less restriction

 

[DSMJim]

Those intercoolers only flow 490cfm, I have tested one myself. If you have any turbo that out flows 490cfm (like a 16g etc) then that intercooler will be not only a restriction but produce less HP vs a good intercooler. Honestly if your only looking for the FMIC look then thats a good choice but for going fast it's not.

You get what you pay for and those cores are cheeply made in taiwan for a lot less than $200. They are making money on them so guess how good they are?

They claim 800cfm however despite what they say thats not true. They flow 490cfm at 10psi which is what flow pressure all turbo and related parts are tested at. That intercooler will NOT support 500hp.

Want some extra proof?

Spearco's 2-216 intercooler:
3.5"D x 10.5"H x 28" W - Supports 530hp flows 790cfm

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

Here is a 2-216 on the front of an Eclipse.

As you can see the thing is HUGE and bar & plate design which is roughly 30% more efficient. It flows 790cfm at 10psi. Do you think that cheap ass street imports intercooler could honestly flow as much as the Spearco 2-216 which has roughly the same rating?

Street impots 21 x 9 x 3 = 800cfm with tube and fin design
Spearco 28 x 10.5 x 3.5 = 790cfm with bar and plate design.

You do the math and let me know what you come up with...

 

[CanadianTSi]

You get what you pay for

 

[CREEP]

Thanks for the input but I was wanting someone who currently has or has had one in the past to respond. While Bar & Plate is more efficient, it flows less, that's just a fact. Not saying that's not a great intercooler you have there. But only 490cfm huh? Interesting. Perhaps I should stick with the MKIV sidemount for a while. You pay for what you get sure, but some people don't have $800+ dollars for a proven front-mount. My math is $220 for intercooler + $130 for pipes, couplers, & clamps & afternoon in the garage = 350 for a good budget intercooler.

Sids, did you short route your UICP or did you utilize an existing UICP from the stock location?

 

[sids]

yep, i made a U turn on the driver side to route back into the UICP which I already got, no sense in making totally new piping.

And while I agree that $200 is far from $800, not everyone here will be running big fat turbos and a 16g is max of what i plan to run.


oh DSMJim, FYI, 85% of stuff is now made in china and taiwan, from seats to intercoolers to wheels. The technology is pretty basic and I suppose what makes the difference between $200 and $800 is how much the guy wedling it gets paid for

 

[Agent Ezzard]

He said he flow-tested one it it only and it sucked. What more proof do you want? I mean when people fabricate something and they said they replaced it with another not so good part and it worked wonders for them then that means the orignal piece of work wasn't all that great. Do it right once and it'll be the last time you'll have to worry about it. 99% of the time atleast.

 

[DSMJim]

oh DSMJim, FYI, 85% of stuff is now made in china and taiwan, from seats to intercoolers to wheels. The technology is pretty basic and I suppose what makes the difference between $200 and $800 is how much the guy wedling it gets paid for

Agreed however a tube and fin vs. a bar and plate is not a good example. I have worked closely with a company for two years who makes a lot of stuff in taiwan so I know first hand exactly how that works. You can get top quality stuff in Taiwan you just have to pay for it just like anywhere else, however these intercoolers are not a good example of that. They are very cheap cores with poor flow charastistics. Even a 16G will out flow that intercooler and be a restriction in flow and HP.

Listen guys Im just trying to help you out, not make you feel bad about the core you use. I'm here to share info I have first hand knowledge on with that exact intercooler. You can take my advice into consideration when putting together a FMIC using that core. It will work ok for a 300hp car and under. It will be a restriction to you after that. If your goal is 300-330whp kinda range then no worries, it's a great core for the money for that range.

I find typically we all start with goals of 300whp and end up with really trying for 400whp because our motors will take it easily. In that case your now buying a FMIC twice...

 

[CREEP]

DSMJim, your not hurtin my feelings. Thanks for your help. This is what I made this post for. I just wish I had more people respond with their experiences also. I'd REALLY like to hear from 1g's. I've taken your thoughts into consideration but I just can't tell myself to make a choice based on one person's opinion. FWIW I don't see my car making anything over 300whp.


...least not anytime soon.

 

[ZenkaiRacerDsM]

That thing has to be an upgrade over the stock sidemount though.

 

[sweet97]

There has been an awful lot of posts on intercooles lately. that johnny recacar has over 200 replies, maybe 300 by now.
If anyone has any info on the IC I just installed please list it. i went for the Dejon street FMIC. It is the bar & plate construction wich does not mean anything to me. It is 15.5" x 7" x 3" and I have a 50 trim. Dejon said it would support the turbo to 18 PSI. I need to dd that I a not gong to race at a track or on the street. I am not looking for a dyno figure either. I simply wanted to increase the power of a very nice car.It has been very well maintained in excellent condition, no rust or interior flaws except for some sun fade of the cloth. i only went with the 50 trim due to a great deal. I am going to do my homework to get the power this combo can make.
Back to where I left the mode of thought. Does the bar & plate make-up of the IC add to it's cooling capacity but with a loss of flow efficiency? Would someone who knows IC's tell it straight!!>> Mark

 

[CREEP]

There has been an awful lot of posts on intercooles lately. that johnny recacar has over 200 replies, maybe 300 by now.
If anyone has any info on the IC I just installed please list it. i went for the Dejon street FMIC. It is the bar & plate construction wich does not mean anything to me. It is 15.5" x 7" x 3" and I have a 50 trim. Dejon said it would support the turbo to 18 PSI. I need to dd that I a not gong to race at a track or on the street. I am not looking for a dyno figure either. I simply wanted to increase the power of a very nice car.It has been very well maintained in excellent condition, no rust or interior flaws except for some sun fade of the cloth. i only went with the 50 trim due to a great deal. I am going to do my homework to get the power this combo can make.
Back to where I left the mode of thought. Does the bar & plate make-up of the IC add to it's cooling capacity but with a loss of flow efficiency? Would someone who knows IC's tell it straight!!>> Mark

Please start a new thread instead of whoring mine.

 

[sweet97]

I apologize that you felt infringed upon. I found the discussion of bar & plate and tube and fin IC's to be a highly discussed topic lately and without excuse took liberty to join the discussion with a personal question that I am confused about. I ask for your forgiveness. I do however invite you to feel free to join any discussion I may have going in a post I started as I cannot afford to miss an opportunity to learn something about these cars even if I do have to share. Mark

 

[CREEP]

I apologize that you felt infringed upon. I found the discussion of bar & plate and tube and fin IC's to be a highly discussed topic lately and without excuse took liberty to join the discussion with a personal question that I am confused about. I ask for your forgiveness. I do however invite you to feel free to join any discussion I may have going in a post I started as I cannot afford to miss an opportunity to learn something about these cars even if I do have to share. Mark

The BAR & PLATE type has more pressure drop and a lower flow rate but usually has a higher efficiency. The TUBE & FIN type has less pressure drop and a higher flow rate at the expense of a lower efficiency and will be the lower priced of the two.

 

[sweet97]

Thanks for no hard feelings. Then it sounds like a Bar & Plate of similar dimensions as a Tube & Fin would be the better of the two?

 

[CREEP]

It's not a huge deal man. But yeah, thats the word.

 

[sids]

agreed on the adage of you get wgat you paid for. Ok time for me to 'fess up

the IC i got did not come from street imports, rather I got it from Taiwan directly, which cost me $250 landed. I only used street imports because it matches the size the guy was looking for. Here you can already see the disparity between the price, considering I live 1 hour away from Taiwan.

DSMJim, I'll snap some pics of the inside of the intercooler for you to see, as far as i can tell, the construction is not cheap, nor shabby and the core looks lke it flows really well (big open passages inside)

for the record, I'll be lucky to get 300 whp because of the 85 octane gas we get here

 

[sids]

here you go guys, here's the $250 intercooler core

<img src="http://www.eclipseworx.com/core.jpg">

here's an HKS core drawing

<img src="http://www.hksusa.com/images_products/1284.jpg">

well I get what I pay for but I'm pretty happy with it

 

[Mirage2LTurbo]

That core looks terrible.

 

[djpast]

it looks like every other extrude tub/fin core i have seen. greddy, hks, yonaka (street imports), apr, etc. all have had awesome reviews. they all have similiar core contruction on the internal fins.


i run the big yonaka (street imports) one (24x12x3), currently at 23 psi on a 14b with no heatsoak and no knock. im sure when i get a more efficient turbo, it will do an even better job.

heres a link to my install
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1181530

btw i ran a 12.9 @105 mph on my 14b@18psi, pump gas and stock injectors and STOCK intercooler. the car now hauls way more then it did with the stock intercooler and intake temps are always near ambient. the cooled sside of the intercooler and the pipe going to the tb are always cool, even after hard runs.

how much faster is it now? i havent been able to hit the track yet. but before, my roommates h22a civic kept up with me on the freeway doing 60-110 (his car is a 13.1 car). now, i walk him easily by 4-5 cars before shutting down at 110. thats a noticable difference to me.

ps - both of those runs were done without using the nitrous.

 

[CREEP]

it looks like every other extrude tub/fin core i have seen. greddy, hks, yonaka (street imports), apr, etc. all have had awesome reviews. they all have similiar core contruction on the internal fins.


i run the big yonaka (street imports) one (24x12x3), currently at 23 psi on a 14b with no heatsoak and no knock. im sure when i get a more efficient turbo, it will do an even better job.

heres a link to my install
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1181530

btw i ran a 12.9 @105 mph on my 14b@18psi, pump gas and stock injectors and STOCK intercooler. the car now hauls way more then it did with the stock intercooler and intake temps are always near ambient. the cooled sside of the intercooler and the pipe going to the tb are always cool, even after hard runs.

how much faster is it now? i havent been able to hit the track yet. but before, my roommates h22a civic kept up with me on the freeway doing 60-110 (his car is a 13.1 car). now, i walk him easily by 4-5 cars before shutting down at 110. thats a noticable difference to me.

ps - both of those runs were done without using the nitrous.

Wow. Make me some pipes! I can't make out how your lower pipes would be mounted though. In the picture it seems the bends are going the wrong way. Lemme take a closer look.

 

[djpast]

the lower and upper pipes run through the stock locations to a certain extent... here are how the pipes run... sorry for my horrible photoshop work.

 

[sids]

what's so terrible about that?