SMIC comparison thread

[jurgs01]

I think we should have more threads comparing parts from different manufacturers so we can weigh our options without searching around for hours. Here is all of the info I could pull about our options for SMICs. I would like to keep this thread to debates over which options are best and facts I missed about the products. The numbers are from the manufacturers (ie HP/torque), so they are in no way validated by myself. I will update this as people post valid info that I missed. Hope to see more of this with other products.

Turbohoses SMIC
-available from www.**********.com (under production)/PM **********
-Dynoed vs. stock car gained ~18whp & 20 ft lbs of torque
-0.5 psi pressure drop across IC
-bar & plate design
-50% increased channel size
-will fit with turbohoses hardpipes or stock piping
-$595

Circuit sports SMIC
-available at www.jspec.com /PM Spicy MSP
-dynoed after exhaust upgrade & gained 8whp & 14 ft lbs of torque.
-bar & plate design w/ CNC machined alum endtanks
-1.5 psi pressure drop across core
-93 deg F temp drop as opposed to 75 w/stock IC
-core size 14 x 5 x 3.5 in.
-May have fitament issues with hardpipes
-$550

AMS SMIC
-available at www.apexr1.com (under mazda protege performance)
-tube & fin design w/CNC machined alum endtanks
-15whp/ 10 ft lbs of torque gained
-$550

Custom MSP's SMIC
-PM Custom MSP for info
-dyno at 9psi gained ~20whp and 15 ft lbs of torque
-Griffen core 12 x 6 x 3 w/aluminum endtanks
-$465


Oh, and I'm going for the Turbohoses one because I believe it will have min. pressure drop and that's the main problem with our stock IC (it is the most expensive, but with current info I'm thinking the best).

 

[Mark-MsP]

Nice work. I agree, more comparison threads would be awesome!

 

[jeffmsp]

good work (yes)

 

[4001]

I know the stock pipes arent the best for holding boost, but getting hard pipes also increases temp significantly compared to the stock ones. Also hardpipes have the problem of denting up due to banging against things in the engine. What do you think is better the stock pipes or upgrading to hardpipes? What SMIC between the Circuit sports or the Turbohoses would work better with the stock pipes or are they going to work just as good with the stock pipes?

 

[EnjoyMinuteMaid]

How does the tube and fin design found on the AMS smic differ from the bar and plate design utilized by the other smic's? Is tube and fin worse?

 

[jurgs01]

I know the stock pipes arent the best for holding boost, but getting hard pipes also increases temp significantly compared to the stock ones. Also hardpipes have the problem of denting up due to banging against things in the engine. What do you think is better the stock pipes or upgrading to hardpipes? What SMIC between the Circuit sports or the Turbohoses would work better with the stock pipes or are they going to work just as good with the stock pipes?

They (or any SMIC stock replacement), will work with stock piping. If you are not planning to raise your boost, then there is nothing wrong with keeping the stock piping. It would also be better to get hardpipes if you are getting a BOV. I think between the two SMICs you mentioned the best performance one is the Turbohoses, and the price goes to Circuit Sports. I always buy the better product regardless of price, but it's really up to you which one you get knowing the options.

 

[jurgs01]

How does the tube and fin design found on the AMS smic differ from the bar and plate design utilized by the other smic's? Is tube and fin worse?

The only thing I have read on this is that a bar and plate utilizes more surface area for cooling than a tube and fin, thus a bar and plate will provide better cooling with the same size IC. I don't know much else, so anyone who knows more about this subject feel free to chime in.

 

[rahrcr]

I know the stock pipes arent the best for holding boost, but getting hard pipes also increases temp significantly compared to the stock ones. Also hardpipes have the problem of denting up due to banging against things in the engine. What do you think is better the stock pipes or upgrading to hardpipes? What SMIC between the Circuit sports or the Turbohoses would work better with the stock pipes or are they going to work just as good with the stock pipes?

FYI. I have the CS SMIC. I have been using it with stock everything including boost for a few months. Its makes a slight improvement over stock with no mods at all. I recently bought the turbo hoses hardpipes with HKS BOV and Injen intake. I am currently having all kinds of fitment problems. It seems that the CS SMIC does not place the openings for the IC in the exact same location as the stock piece. With our stock plastic pipes, its not a big deal but it is with hardpipes. I am still working through this issue but I think I will ultimately have to cut up the hardpipes to make everything else work. The moral of the story is to be careful when adding these parts because you may have fitment problems.

PS. If anyone else out there is using the CS SMIC, with turbohoses hardpipes and the injen intake, PM me.

 

[jurgs01]

I will definately add that to the first post. Thanks. Keep us updated.

 

[4001]

They (or any SMIC stock replacement), will work with stock piping. If you are not planning to raise your boost, then there is nothing wrong with keeping the stock piping. It would also be better to get hardpipes if you are getting a BOV. I think between the two SMICs you mentioned the best performance one is the Turbohoses, and the price goes to Circuit Sports. I always buy the better product regardless of price, but it's really up to you which one you get knowing the options.

Thanks for the reply and info. One thing though, I know Turbohoses has good products, everyone seems to be happy with them but besides having a tendecy towards TH (for you) why is their SMIC better than the CircuitSports. Are you just going on the point that the TH has less of a pressure drop or do they use better material? Im not saying your wrong I would just like to have a good indepth comparison (if were gonna do one better go all or nothing) I would like to understand why one is better than the other. And the 550 Price for the Circuit Sports was for a Group buy I believe that ended the 7th, does anyone know or can verify if the price of 550 is still set as such?

 

[4001]

One other thing. I was thinking about how to remedy the boost leak/expansion of the stock IC pipes and thought about the turbohoses hump hoses to help the problem. Does anyone think it would help or be beneficial in someway for the stock IC pipes?

 

[jurgs01]

Thanks for the reply and info. One thing though, I know Turbohoses has good products, everyone seems to be happy with them but besides having a tendecy towards TH (for you) why is their SMIC better than the CircuitSports. Are you just going on the point that the TH has less of a pressure drop or do they use better material? Im not saying your wrong I would just like to have a good indepth comparison (if were gonna do one better go all or nothing) I would like to understand why one is better than the other. And the 550 Price for the Circuit Sports was for a Group buy I believe that ended the 7th, does anyone know or can verify if the price of 550 is still set as such?

Same materials I'm sure, but the less pressure drop is a really big deal. Really, the two things you want performance wise out of an innercooler is cooling and minimul pressure drop. The dynos revealed that the turbohoses core did better HP and torque wise also. I don't know what cores either use so and can't say whether one core is better than the other. I know they are both bar and plate though. I do go a lot on company reputation and what I see from their other products quality wise to guage things, so I have no first hand knowledge of their SMIC. I will in a couple of weeks though, so I will be able to give a better opinion then