Once my new turbos are in I want to uprate my intercoolers.

 

Couldn't find a good discussion thread about which is best to go for and why, so I thought lets get one going.

 

As a uneducated man on the subject by looking at them I was leaning towards a set of sides. There is a lot wanting an air surpply already in the middle will the air filter and both rads.

 

But what is everyone view on it?

Once my new turbos are in I want to uprate my intercoolers.

 

Couldn't find a good discussion thread about which is best to go for and why, so I thought lets get one going.

 

As a uneducated man on the subject by looking at them I was leaning towards a set of sides. There is a lot wanting an air surpply already in the middle will the air filter and both rads.

 

But what is everyone view on it?

Once my new turbos are in I want to uprate my intercoolers.

 

Couldn't find a good discussion thread about which is best to go for and why, so I thought lets get one going.

 

As a uneducated man on the subject by looking at them I was leaning towards a set of sides. There is a lot wanting an air surpply already in the middle will the air filter and both rads.

 

But what is everyone view on it?

 

Really? lol That subject's been covered as much as what oil to use mate. Couldn't say what's best though, personally I prefer SMICs as I'm not keen on the look of the FMIC hanging out the front bumper. Just my opinion though, based on aesthetics alone.

Once my new turbos are in I want to uprate my intercoolers.

 

Couldn't find a good discussion thread about which is best to go for and why, so I thought lets get one going.

 

As a uneducated man on the subject by looking at them I was leaning towards a set of sides. There is a lot wanting an air surpply already in the middle will the air filter and both rads.

 

But what is everyone view on it?

 

Really? lol That subject's been covered as much as what oil to use mate. Couldn't say what's best though, personally I prefer SMICs as I'm not keen on the look of the FMIC hanging out the front bumper. Just my opinion though, based on aesthetics alone.

Was discussed a week ago i think and i said the same then. Research was done in the US i think it was on a dyno run and the FMIC performed better plus there is also someone else over here that has done this as well i believe. Now a cheap FMIC might not do the trick but certainly a good FMIC like Greddy against good side mounts like ARC and the FMIC performs better.

 

As always though alot will claim its the other way round or simply say that SMICs are better but tests have been done.

Was discussed a week ago i think and i said the same then. Research was done in the US i think it was on a dyno run and the FMIC performed better plus there is also someone else over here that has done this as well i believe. Now a cheap FMIC might not do the trick but certainly a good FMIC like Greddy against good side mounts like ARC and the FMIC performs better.

 

As always though alot will claim its the other way round or simply say that SMICs are better but tests have been done.

Yep discussed a zillion times, however at the end still no definate and doubt there ever will.

No one og this forum has fitted both types to the same Zed and done dyno runs to see which worked best, either way your improving the intake charge temps no matter which one you choose as very much doubt any differene between the 2 types would really be that significant tbh.

All i would suggest is a decent one, again another can of worms lol but 2 things to consider.

1) Something that sells for just over a hundred quid and is meant to look like something that cost 5 times as much, you gotta ask yerself, how? When i was a trader years ago AutoBahn offered me trade on their Zed front mount at less than a 100 quid yikes!

2) There has over the years been the odd test in Jap magazines using different cars and coolers and never have I seen a cheapie perform as well as a branded one, infact in 1 test on a scooby the ebay cooler performed WORSE than stock!

 

Good luck

Oh btw for me it will always be SMIC, they can perform really well and you can easily make your ducts to suit so no loss of incoming cold air. Pipework is no longer than stock. Have you see some of the agressive bends in the Front mounts around, wowwww

 

Smithy

Yep discussed a zillion times, however at the end still no definate and doubt there ever will.

No one og this forum has fitted both types to the same Zed and done dyno runs to see which worked best, either way your improving the intake charge temps no matter which one you choose as very much doubt any differene between the 2 types would really be that significant tbh.

All i would suggest is a decent one, again another can of worms lol but 2 things to consider.

1) Something that sells for just over a hundred quid and is meant to look like something that cost 5 times as much, you gotta ask yerself, how? When i was a trader years ago AutoBahn offered me trade on their Zed front mount at less than a 100 quid yikes!

2) There has over the years been the odd test in Jap magazines using different cars and coolers and never have I seen a cheapie perform as well as a branded one, infact in 1 test on a scooby the ebay cooler performed WORSE than stock!

 

Good luck

Oh btw for me it will always be SMIC, they can perform really well and you can easily make your ducts to suit so no loss of incoming cold air. Pipework is no longer than stock. Have you see some of the agressive bends in the Front mounts around, wowwww

 

Smithy

I agree, though having said that Christian ('monster') achieved a proven 600 horses on an Autobahn setup, with the i/c believed to be one of the restricting factors for pushing it further. From what I understand the Autobahn is a copy of the HKS fmic and is effectively 2 x smic's side by side so whether the difference between Autobahn fmic and HKS fmic is in the design, materials or workmanship is yet to be determined I suspect

 

Personally having run both Pace and Toyo smic's on my current shortie TT and finally my Greddy 3 row fmic, I would not go back to a smic setup. It's very much subjective though as the Greddy was run later on in the build during a much colder part of the year, which could arguably account for the better running/sharper responsive feel *with a ****ed clutch and dodgy throttle bar*

 

The differences noticed (above and beyond those relating to air temperature) could have just been psychological (ie. the more aggressive look of the fmic in my mind naturally equated to an imagined power increase?)

 

No doubt the debate will continue forever...:biggrin:

I agree, though having said that Christian ('monster') achieved a proven 600 horses on an Autobahn setup, with the i/c believed to be one of the restricting factors for pushing it further. From what I understand the Autobahn is a copy of the HKS fmic and is effectively 2 x smic's side by side so whether the difference between Autobahn fmic and HKS fmic is in the design, materials or workmanship is yet to be determined I suspect

 

Personally having run both Pace and Toyo smic's on my current shortie TT and finally my Greddy 3 row fmic, I would not go back to a smic setup. It's very much subjective though as the Greddy was run later on in the build during a much colder part of the year, which could arguably account for the better running/sharper responsive feel *with a ****ed clutch and dodgy throttle bar*

 

The differences noticed (above and beyond those relating to air temperature) could have just been psychological (ie. the more aggressive look of the fmic in my mind naturally equated to an imagined power increase?)

 

No doubt the debate will continue forever...:biggrin:

If we make it more specific to my needs. Japspped do a

 

SMIC http://www.japspeed.co.uk/Nissan-300ZX/Engine-Tuning/Nissan-300ZX-Z32-Twin-Turbo-Side-Mount-Intercooler-Kit/p-18-73-1112/

 

FMIC http://www.japspeed.co.uk/Nissan-300ZX/Engine-Tuning/Nissan-300ZX-Front-Mount-Intercooler-Kit/p-18-73-240/

 

Both are about the same price I'm not running big power but am fitting some rebuilt and uprated turbos in the next few weeks and want something that runs them efficiently.

 

I have the 89 spec bumper so it doesn't look like there is much space for the front mount to get a decent air flow.

 

I feel this is about the same as most out there who are not chasing the big numbers but want everything running at a optimum rate.

Edited March 11, 201312 yr by Cyberbean

If we make it more specific to my needs. Japspped do a

 

SMIC http://www.japspeed.co.uk/Nissan-300ZX/Engine-Tuning/Nissan-300ZX-Z32-Twin-Turbo-Side-Mount-Intercooler-Kit/p-18-73-1112/

 

FMIC http://www.japspeed.co.uk/Nissan-300ZX/Engine-Tuning/Nissan-300ZX-Front-Mount-Intercooler-Kit/p-18-73-240/

 

Both are about the same price I'm not running big power but am fitting some rebuilt and uprated turbos in the next few weeks and want something that runs them efficiently.

 

I have the 89 spec bumper so it doesn't look like there is much space for the front mount to get a decent air flow.

 

I feel this is about the same as most out there who are not chasing the big numbers but want everything running at a optimum rate.

Edited March 11, 201312 yr by Cyberbean

It's down to your personal choice then mate. Both are probably just as good as each other but then they should also be better than stock.

It's down to your personal choice then mate. Both are probably just as good as each other but then they should also be better than stock.

Japspeed SMIC's are not in stock nor do they have a re stock date, they cost 299 GBP , Luke at Z centre also sells SMIC's , however he currently has no stock and is struggling to get any made, i have ended up importing Godspeed units ,

Japspeed SMIC's are not in stock nor do they have a re stock date, they cost 299 GBP , Luke at Z centre also sells SMIC's , however he currently has no stock and is struggling to get any made, i have ended up importing Godspeed units ,

How much did the godspeed ones coming at once through customs?

Japspeed SMIC's are not in stock nor do they have a re stock date, they cost 299 GBP , Luke at Z centre also sells SMIC's , however he currently has no stock and is struggling to get any made, i have ended up importing Godspeed units ,

 

I would be suprised if zcenrre japspeed or 2fast2cool ones are different products, theyre so simular an suprisingly go in out of stock at the same times.

If we make it more specific to my needs. Japspped do a

 

SMIC http://www.japspeed.co.uk/Nissan-300ZX/Engine-Tuning/Nissan-300ZX-Z32-Twin-Turbo-Side-Mount-Intercooler-Kit/p-18-73-1112/

 

FMIC http://www.japspeed.co.uk/Nissan-300ZX/Engine-Tuning/Nissan-300ZX-Front-Mount-Intercooler-Kit/p-18-73-240/

 

Both are about the same price I'm not running big power but am fitting some rebuilt and uprated turbos in the next few weeks and want something that runs them efficiently.

 

I have the 89 spec bumper so it doesn't look like there is much space for the front mount to get a decent air flow.

 

I feel this is about the same as most out there who are not chasing the big numbers but want everything running at a optimum rate.

 

you only need approx 33% of the intercooler to be opento the elements for it to be fully efficient ;)

 

you only need approx 33% of the intercooler to be opento the elements for it to be fully efficient ;)

 

Surely not, fully efficient?

Surely not, fully efficient?

 

you can always make improvments on vents etc but on the basis of it just sitting there unvented then pretty much yes

 

that particular statistic came from foreman for the tte group a celica rally team

as hes an old friend and back in the day when hacking bumpers out to get more on show he asked me why i was doing it when only quote 33% ish needed the airflow and i was wasting my time

 

venting though is a different element ad does make improvments