Top mount intercooler

[bivery]

Why would you go through so much trouble to get a Top mount made?. I mean wouldnt it be easier to just do a fmic ?

the top mount is no more trouble. The shop owner wants to do it, and at no extra charge. The only decision for me is to stay "tmic" or "fmic", so im trying to figure out which would actually be better for the pro. and i want to give you guys all the details so we can come to the best conclusion

[itzkcatz]

the top mount is no more trouble. The shop owner wants to do it, and at no extra charge. The only decision for me is to stay "tmic" or "fmic", so im trying to figure out which would actually be better for the pro. and i want to give you guys all the details so we can come to the best conclusion

Well i would go for a fmic inless you wanan be a sleeper, I think someday if you ever wanna put the battery back in it would be a pita

[elscotto80]

I would think that the car would look pretty goofy with the hood scoop to the left of the car. I would much rather have a FMIC, you can get em really big and I would want to show it off also.

[Kelly]

it only makes sense that the further you get the ic away from the engine and the more air flow you have going across the ic, the cooler the air is going to be going into the intake.

haha thats what i learned with this thread, yehaww

[OCD-SPEED]

I am going to use a top mount for my Pro. Basicly doing the same thing he is talking about. relocating the the battery and all. It will be slightly less efficient, but i will make up with heat sheilds and very well mapped out air flows. I just want to keep it sleeper, i dont want everyone seeing a huge ass frount mount.

[ProtonPants]

sleeper...

I am going to use a top mount for my Pro. Basicly doing the same thing he is talking about. relocating the the battery and all. It will be slightly less efficient, but i will make up with heat sheilds and very well mapped out air flows. I just want to keep it sleeper, i dont want everyone seeing a huge ass frount mount.

Nothing against top mount ICs, but I don't know if 'sleeper' is the first thing the comes to mind...

[OCD-SPEED]

LoL, Think about it. If someone looks at a car that is not normally turbo and they see a huge ass front mount, they go "oh its turbo". However with a hidden top mount, they would not know its turbo unless you have a BOV(instead of a DV) or are dumb enough to open the hood. I dont see how you couldnt understand that. But whatever.

[Identity_X]

Instead of getting a less efficient top mount, you can always go for a smaller front mount that will not be THAT visible.

[ProtonPants]

LoL, Think about it. If someone looks at a car that is not normally turbo and they see a huge ass front mount, they go "oh its turbo". However with a hidden top mount, they would not know its turbo unless you have a BOV(instead of a DV) or are dumb enough to open the hood. I dont see how you couldnt understand that. But whatever.

I guess it depends on how well you hide the top mount. If you have a WRX-style scoop, then people would get suspicious, but if you do something a bit more subtle, then I can see how it would be less noticable. You might also think about painting an FMIC black and maybe putting a black 'chicken wire' grill over it.

[bivery]

i do kinda want the sleeper effect but not at the cost of over 5-10 hp do you guys think that i will lose the much hp with the top mount. How much more hp would the front mount have over the top mount "interheater"
thanks for all the post thus far.

[OCD-SPEED]

You might also think about painting an FMIC black and maybe putting a black 'chicken wire' grill over it.

Thats a good point.
to you others Top mounts are not necessarily "interheaters". Its like everyone on these boards have a one track mind and dont take things into account. It all depends on boost levels. Yes, if you are gonna push mad boost you need a front mount, but with reasonable boost you dont need one. Now, yes i have seen interheaters before, there are guys running around my town with top mounts and no scoop. all the heat from the engine is destroying the purpose of their intercoolers. The most important thing about an intercooler is air flow to it! So long as you have good air flow it doesnt matter top mount or not. Also with the use of heatsheilds for the TMIC you can completely cut out heat getting to the IC so long as you are not sitting still. I agree if you ghetto rig a top mount it wont be worth the metal its made of, but if you do it right it can be just as effective as you need it to be for reasonable boost.

[DeanSweetP5]

I had a show car 5 years ago that was a '91 Isuzu Impulse RS Turbo AWD that had a top mount intercooloer that was located in the engine compartment but it wasn't directly over the engine. I have no idea if a front mount intercooler would have been more effective but the train of thought you could use is grab 2 straws, cut one about an inch and breathe thrugh it, now, use the full straw and try to breathe thru it?! Closer to intake the better. I understand heatsoak and yes, it is an issue under certain conditions but I don't know if this would be one of them. The cool factor is to put it in the front end and show it off. Don't forget that makes them liable for road debris also regardless of screen used or not. If it were my car I would go with top mount.
Found a picture of what the RS engine bay and scoop looked like on Cardomain.

[bivery]

the shop owner told me that the top mount will be very efficient because:
1) he said it will not be over the engine but where the battery is.
2) the piping from the innercooler is like one foot (very responsive)
3) hes installing an ic heat shield
4) hes installing a fan for the ic
and the entire project is costing $1900

i think the top mount has me.
are there any other downsides that im missing?
this should be great.
Someone make a protege meet for the the NC area, it almost time to show off.

[itzkcatz]

the shop owner told me that the top mount will be very efficient because:
1) he said it will not be over the engine but where the battery is.
2) the piping from the innercooler is like one foot (very responsive)
3) hes installing an ic heat shield
4) hes installing a fan for the ic
and the entire project is costing $1900

i think the top mount has me.
are there any other downsides that im missing?
this should be great.
Someone make a protege meet for the the NC area, it almost time to show off.

Besides the fact you can buy a intercooler for 400 pipes for 200 and a bov for 200.? And im sure for 400 you can get a nice fmic so whatever floats your boat 800 or 1900

[txmzdspd2gen]

hey guys im not sure for what vehicle is this top mount going but if its for the second gen, i believe theres a diesel version of this in japan that has top mount...thats why you see some 2nd genners here (including myself) has that hood scoop on their hood...im looking of getting that if i wanna go turbo but might as well just use it for air intake for ram or cold air....kinda not thinking abt the turbo..one turbo i think is enough for me..(03.5 msp)...