OK, I am little bit of the purist and like the stock look of the FD, and trying to make a sleeper. Spanked a Z06 yesterday, but different story.



so now i am looking at an aftermaket IC, but not really interested moving the battery, or the intake (i mod'd my intake using the stock box, Excellent flow for cheap). so i was looking at teh GReddy that FMIC, seeing a lot of FMIC.



If you mount a FMIC doesn't that put more hot air on the radiator? Is there a good FMIC for the stock front end? How much of a pain in the ass is it to mount? Can i get hard pipes for FMIC? Bottom line is there that much a of difference for a FMIC in stock front vs using the greddy SMIC?





BTW, i alreayd have an upgreaded ECU, downpipe, catback, and noted above intake.



Thanks



RazerX

What no one knows if a FMIC is better than SMIC? no one know what the impact of a FMIC is on the radiator? come on, we just do it cause it is cool? https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683358.gif

you beat a z06 with just those mods? noice.



kevin.

This has been an ongoing debate with not enough facts but more of a personal choice and driving style. The SMIC can get heat soaked from the engine bay (vented hood can help offset that) and the FMIC can heat up the radiator (bigger radiator to offset). Pick your poison? You will have to decide by size needed for your boost level. Then there's bar&plate vs tube&fin - haha. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683664.gif

The only true solution has been the new V-Mount combo.

Here is the way I look at it. Its just like mentioned above. SMIC will heat soak while sitting in traffic. FMIC will block air to the radiator.



I personally feel the radiator is much more important than 10C degree extra air temps. Especially when the air temps go up in stand still traffic when it wont even matter cause your not running boost. The FMIC however does its most damage at high speeds and hard driving, when the radiator is most needed.



I think a lot of people choose the FMIC cause its cool.



Oh yea, also the only SMIC I think I would run is the M2med.



STEPHEN

i know i am a little behind But what is the difference between the FMIC and the SMIC these are types of air intakes?

thanks









http://www.rx7.com/pics/in520001.jpg

i was thinking of buying this one ^^

FMIC= Front Mount InterCooler SMIC = Stock/Side Mount InterCooler. FMIC is placed right behind the bumper. SMIC is placed where the stock intercooler is

i say go with either VMIC or SMIC.



FMICs just look cool, that's all. Another downside to the FMIC is that even though it looks like it's catching all the cold air from the front, it's actually catching all the hot air coming from the radiator.



the only problem i can think of really with VMIC and SMICs are that most of these setups require you to relocate the battery, but that might not really be much of an inconvenience based on your personal preference.



oh yeah, i've seen some SMIC setups where you do not need to relocate the battery..trust makes one i think...you might wanna look into that.

oh yeah, but they're also not cheap. expect to spend AT LEAST $1500...but i really think it's worth it

Thanks BoOost, and GoRacer, really appreciate the feedback. Being an engineer (air flow specialist), my logic went the same way you stated. Want the engine cool first, then bigger boost. Otherwise you just stuff more boost/HP into a very hot engine = rebuild.



I was looking at the Greddy, M2Med, w/ hard pipes.



Thanks

Go with the M2med over the GReddy. From what i hear its worth it.



later



bobby

Think about this. If the car is sitting still, then your not getting any air flow to the radiator, so it wouldn't matter if it was in front or behind the IC...it's still not cooling your car.



I used to run a HUGE stock mount intercooler with basically all the bolt ons. Then I went FMIC and watched my air intake temps closely to see if it was really worth it. Guess what. IT'S REALLY WORTH IT. The cooling system works fairly well in the FD, but it's not the radiator that's the problem(It IS a problem if the radiator/AST crack, but that's another point of discussion) but the temperature at which the fans turn on. With the PFC and datalogit, I adjusted my fans temps to turn on much lower when I got my FMIC and guess what....no cooling issues AT ALL.



vmount is the way to go. But for the price, I chose to go with FMIC instead. I will NOT go with a SMIC. I have a daily driver car and sit in 95+ humid Okinawan Heated traffic. My water temps stay cool at roughly 90c sitting still and 85c~ cruising. I've noticed that when I rail the car, my water temps go DOWN... https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683329.gif

Hey... I relocated the Battery for my FMIC today... it's not a hard job really.



I had an auto electric place run the wiring for $150 labor.

FMIC... what the hell was I talking about... I mean SMIC



I'm putting in an M2 large.



You can go with a M2 medium but you're still going to have to remove the stock airbox.

wheres the best place(price) to get the M2 large?

I'm running the Greddy small. I don't recomed it for more then 12lbs. For 14-15lbs go M2/ASP Med. The M2/ASP large requires a battery relocation instead of the mini battery. Without a vented hood, I think the FMIC is a better choice. The V-Mount is the best of both but will run close to $3k and like SMIC I think it would work better with a vented hood. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/BURNOUT.gif

Everybody seems to charge about the same for the M2 intercoolers. I got mine used.

Hmm, so it's just how you do each IC? Sorry to sound stupid but, what is V-Mount? (pics or links please)

http://www.rotaryextreme.com/vmount.html



http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/IC_install.html

Oh, nice! Does anyone else besides Rotary Extreme make them?

Not at that price. That will cost you https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...O_DIR#>/37.gif https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...O_DIR#>/37.gif 's.

Knightsports, RMagic, Panspeed, not sure who else but now you are over $3k. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...DIR#>/ohmy.png

Does Rotary Extreme make products comparable to Knightsports, etc?

so are you saying, the V mount is the way to go? Provided money is no object? I am keeping stock front end unless i get a 99 spec.

v-mount is the way to go. the ONLY problem you will find is the AC condenser. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/boink.gif

Don't 99s come with stock FMIC? What wrong with that one?

I have the rx-7 fashion fmic and I have'nt had any cooling problems.

NOPE

i have no cooling problems with my greddy 3row fmic. it works great no problems yet https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/bigok.gif

So if you run a FMIC, the best thing to do is to keep the fans on to cool things down?

so how do you set the temp when the fans come on? Aftermarket ECU?

Well, I have heard that aftermarket ECUs like the PFC can be tuned to allow the fans to run on lower temps

but it's not a good idea to have the fans on all the time..i.e. while racing, or under high boost, you lose power...and that's also when you need your intercooler the most.

My V mount works with A/C. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/smile.png



Chuck Huang

YOu don't have to relocate the battery with my V mount.



Most FMIC requires you to get a smaller battery and mine is the same.



http://www.rotaryextreme.com/vm/vm-1.jpg



Chuck Huang