Front or side mounted?

Care to give a bit more detail as to the question LOL.

I think side mounts are the more popular option, but front mounts look very cool

Current are standard, but i want to upgrade. front mounted look good but will stop air flow to the radiator, larger side mounted will need a new bumper and there is no where for the hot air to flow to behind the intercooler. So my question is this, which gives the best performance increase? I'm thinking that the larger intercooler to a point, will also reduce in airflow efficency and may reduce performance....

Current are standard, but i want to upgrade. front mounted look good but will stop air flow to the radiator, larger side mounted will need a new bumper and there is no where for the hot air to flow to behind the intercooler. So my question is this, which gives the best performance increase? I'm thinking that the larger intercooler to a point, will also reduce in airflow efficency and may reduce performance....

 

Your right about FMIC blocking more air to the radiator and engine, however to my knowledge nobody has ever actually reported that this has caused any temperature problems. They are more complicated to fit, requiring fitting of new pipework and usually modifications to the Bumper support bar and bumper itself. You will also need to relocate engine oil cooler. They can suffer with larger pressure drops depending on the size and design.

 

SMIC's retain the improved airflow to the radiators and engine. They do not require a new bumper to fit. The stock undershields has ducts at the bottom for airflow to exit, some add extra ducting in the wheelarches, although airflow pressure may negate that method. I guess the disadvantage is that as they are hidden so you cant show them off sticking out the front of your bumper like a fmic.

 

Performance differences,none really..providing both are of adequate size and quality you wont benefit from fitting one over the other in terms of maximum cooling. The most powerfull car in this club is running aftermarket SMIC's

Edited March 6, 200916 yr by Yowser