Hey guys I just bought my car about two months ago. I really don't like my car being stock so I got a downpipe and installed that and next comes the intercooler I think. I was thinking of getting one of the small ones off e bay. I was wondering what you thought of it. What it would do to the performance of my car. Should I put fans on one side of it. I'm really on a budget I can't really afford this car in the first place hahah. It's like a dream though so I had to buy it. I really need to start blowin off on these fools on the street though. I really don't want to turn this car into a race car. I drive it everyday to work. I just want to make it sick.



this is the intercooler I was thinking of buying



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/jdm-FD-FD3S...014015443QQrdZ1



or I could buy a pipe kit



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-5-BLK-INT...017990320QQrdZ1



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FMIC-GREDDY...016944410QQrdZ1



and some $80 intercooler and try to rig it out myself but I don't know how confident I am in that. I want it to come out perfect or not at all if you know what I mean and the small one looks really easy.



I don't really know much about these cars and how things will work out.



thanks for the help though



-matt

 

id do other things prior to spendin the cash on an ic... like a bigger rad

the stock ic is fine for stock boost levels.. do the typical maintenance on her first as well...

swap all the fluids.. diff..tranny..motor oil.. coolant.. new fuel filter and plugs etc..

if you still have the plastic ast.. change that too..

 

I agree what you should do first are the durability mods especially cooling. definetly get a new radiator and also finish off the exhaust system and do the intake first then get a some tuning done when you buy the IC

 

stock ICs are fine if you are boosting in short bursts or low boost (10PSI max). You have to realize, if you don't get air to the IC, its no better than stock. I would go and say its probably worse as its all metal, no air, heat soak, and run even hotter. At least good thing about stock ic is that it has an air duct, end plastic tanks that doesn't retain heat as well as thick aluminum ends, etc..