Mounting Pressure

There is a lot of pressure these days to have the best of the best. But does the best of the best relate to the best for the chosen application. As far as intercoolers are concerned, there is considerable choice out there, but it can be broken down into three main areas. Original Mount, Front Mount and V-Mount. All have advantages and disadvantages and should be considered when tuning your FD.

The original mounting position is quite good as so if you are after a light tuned machine for cruising then there are simple replacement options that are 2x, 3x and 4x more efficient than the OEM part and do not impede on the function of the standard engine components. They also keep the intake track short so throttle response is not compromised either.

If you are more adventurous but don’t have a truck load of money then the next option is the FMIC or front mounted inter-cooler. This huge chunk of alloy sits in front of the radiator and usually requires a huge hole in the front of the car. This is usually facilitated by a replacement bumper. So the Intercooler is a mile from the throttle body, It blocks cool air to the radiator and weighs a ton. Is there any Advantage? Well the sheer size equals efficiency and the position means that they get the full face of airflow therefore getting the lowest charge cooling temps possible. However it is most recommended that the radiator is also upgraded to improve cooling required from more horsepower and blocked airflow. Fujita engineering still favour this setup and is a proven technology. You can also use a huge front splitter under the car effectively so down force considerations also come into play.

Finally the V-Mount has the ultimate reputation. With its’ expensive price tag comes the requirement to replace a bunch of componentry and reposition the battery and other bits and pieces. Air-con may also have to be sacrificed in the chase for ultimate power. Some smaller designs still allow for these luxuries but at the offset of performance. The V splits air equally between radiator and Intercooler and some of the flow goes beneath the car and half over the engine. For these systems to work efficiently, a vented bonnet should be combined to allow for maximum airflow to escape or be drawn out and an accommodation should be made beneath the car to extract radiator heat. Thus the aforementioned splitter under panel should be kept short near the radiator section or quality fans be used. Not only should response and horsepower benefit, but the cooling factor of the radiator will allow for sustained low temperatures, even on track.

So whatever your choice, weigh it up and think about all your options before embarking on an upgrade in this area.

Russ