Assessing skill level needed to. . .

[gone_fishin]

but will it actually make it FASTER or just less slow when it heats up? do you know what I mean? because the midpipe will actually make it legitimately FASTER than stock.

I've heard great things about the aftermarket SMIC-- very noticeable gains. It will improve performance, both initially and after heat soak starts to set in due to its greater surface area. A more efficient design will result in greater efficiency at all times.

There is no escaping heat soak when an intercooler is inside the engine bay. The only way to avoid it all together with an air to air intercooler is to provide a constant flow of air over the intercooler shrouds-- thats the principle behind an FMIC, or IC ducting.

 

[PlatinumMSP]

I've heard great things about the aftermarket SMIC-- very noticeable gains. It will improve performance, both initially and after heat soak starts to set in due to its greater surface area. A more efficient design will result in greater efficiency at all times.

There is no escaping heat soak when an intercooler is inside the engine bay. The only way to avoid it all together with an air to air intercooler is to provide a constant flow of air over the intercooler shrouds-- thats the principle behind an FMIC, or IC ducting.

for his mods and goals a smic would be the way to go. I've had both a fmic and a smic. I personally like my smic way more than i ever liked my front mount. The turbo seemed to take forever to spool up when i had a front mount on my ride.

 

[gone_fishin]

for his mods and goals a smic would be the way to go. I've had both a fmic and a smic. I personally like my smic way more than i ever liked my front mount. The turbo seemed to take forever to spool up when i had a front mount on my ride.

turbo lag and pressure drop is definately a legitimate concern-- one of the reasons why I'm going the custom route and designing my own air to water intercooler setup-- no lag whatsoever, and with the smaller cores no pressure drop.

 

[PlatinumMSP]

I don't think your really getting that much hp from an intercoolr. It just brings back what heat soa takes away they just dyno a HOT car then throw on the intercooler and theres where the big difference is. The stocker heat soaks quick. I think most of the power is hiding in the dual cat mid pipe. my 2 cents

the stocker does soak quick but the upgraded smic makes huge gains, very noticeable. I have a 1 psi or more increase with it.

 

[orng1]

I gained a bit of boost from doing the exhaust as well, it's just personal preference I guess. I like the look of a car lowered and with an exhaust so that is what i did first. If I would to do it all over again I'd go exhaust first again. You'll notice a huge difference when you get rid of that stock mid pipe. What I noticed wth the FMIC is that the car drives like when you first start it up all day. Flip a coin their both great upgrades.

 

[msp35]

but will it actually make it FASTER or just less slow when it heats up? do you know what I mean? because the midpipe will actually make it legitimately FASTER than stock.

You gain effeciency with an upgraded SMIC. fairly consistent temps, plus
less pressure drop, thus the *increase* in boost. the stock smic sux ballz.
Your combo of midpipe and smic should yield your ~20whp gain. however I don't know if it'll put you up to 190whp.

and as far as installation goes....well if you can turn a wrench/rachet and use pb blaste then you can do these.