i think i was confusing myself as far as reducing the risk of detonation versus optimum intercooler performance. i have stock twins and of course it gets very hot under there (dp going on soon https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683664.gif ) and although i'm sure all setups would work more than adequately to cool the charge, wouldn't an intercooler removed from the engine bay be ideal from an intercooler-performance standpoint? https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/dunno.gif but again, i'm sure a good smic would do me fine.

[quote name='Signal 2' date='Jun 29 2005, 04:25 PM']SMIC vs. FMIC vs. VMIC

The debate seems to be second only to Synthetic vs. Non-synthetic oil. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/smile.png



I've read alot of the posts on both sides. I think you really have to be careful and read between the lines.

No matter what kind of IC a person is running... it's always the best, is immune to heat soak, doesn't contribute to heating issues, it cools so well you could frost a beer with it, and rather than have a pressure drop, it actually makes PSI https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/happy.png


[/quote]



Yes there is a lot of that, but there are some fundamental failings of the front vs vmount that I believe cant be refuted that are the main points of the heat exchangers.



If you look at a properly ducted Vmount from a thermodynamic change in temperature standpoint the Vmount is best for a car that habitually has cooling problems. Temperature differential is the driving force for any heat “energy” transfer so if you can keep cool air flowing over each core the transfer is greater per unit of air.



(this is something I theorize no data to support it)

There is also a issue of resistance of air being pushed through the cores fins, with a stacked front mount radiator combo the resistance for air has to be greater than a vmount which first lets the full amount of area flow through into the cavity and then push through the full width and length of each core creating less hot spots and wasted core area. The front mount has to force the air it does get first through the area of the nose minus the area of the fins and core, which can be substantial. And then through the radiator core after it is heated.