FMIC or TMIC

[1320wrx]

I am planning on upgrading the stock intercooler on my 02 WRX. FMIC run very high in price, can i get similar results by upgrading to a better TMIC.

[sisforsurfing]

I'll start...

What turbo are you planning on running? Odds are the top mount will be just fine, but you won't get the bling (or lag) of the front mount. It depends on how much air you plan on moving. I hate to say it for fear of sounding like a snob, but searching nasioc.com or clubwrx.net , maybe even this site, will yield TONS of info on TMIC vs. FMIC.

[wrxman60]

^^^^correct, the front mounts dont have a problem wth heat soak, but create ALOT of lag, the top mount are def way better if you are looking for less lag, but you have to worry about heat soak if the car just sits and idles

[TROLL]

well since everyone has an opinion, here's mine...

there are many nice TMIC choices out there and they are slightly less expensive ($700-$900) than FMICs and dont require that you remove/cut your bumper beam or cut your bumper cover. the install for the FMIC is probably about a half hour as opposesdto a full FMIC install which would take a half day if you're taking your time with cutting the bumper cover carefully. most agree that for a VF34, VF22, 16G, or other similarly sized turbos that a TMIC is more than enough.
of course the other question is what do you use your car for? judging by your username i'd guess you're a 1/4 mile guy, in which case a TMIC will suffer from heat soak while you're in the staging lanes getting ready to run.

if you go with a FMIC then you're going to spend a bit more ($900-$1200) than a TMIC. you'll be making permanent cuts to your bumper cover, and most likely removing your bumper beam which is an important part in crash safety.
the lag will increase, but a negligable amount. in my opinion the increased lag is really played up too much on forums, when in actuality its 100-200 rpm which in a real world situation most people wont notice at all. the FMIC will have the capacity to flow more than a TMIC and therefore will usually hit higher peak HP numbers. It also shouldnt have any issues from heat soak because of its location. oh, and dont forget the bling factor... unless you're painting it flat black say bye-bye to sleeper status. most agree that an 18G, 20G, Superzilla, and any other large turbos like the FPs or APS turbos would benefit from a FMIC.

hope that helps...



and with all of that new info, i wanted to tell you i've got a v2 TurboXS/Hyperflow TMIC for sale for $450... great shape . i've got a Super 16G turbo and i personally decided to go with a FMIC, although it could really go either way.

[D Money]

Tmic>fmic

[1320wrx]

my car is completly stock and this would me my first mod. sould i go with the Cobb Accessport or the turboXS TBE before i get an intercooler. i know exhaust is a very common mod and it could be a good starting point for further mods. also Turboxs claims the kit adds 25 whp

[RyanG]

TBE, Upipe, Utec and be done with it. great power gains! then AND THEN go further as the boost bug bites

[D Money]

Originally Posted by 1320wrx

my car is completly stock and this would me my first mod. sould i go with the Cobb Accessport or the turboXS TBE before i get an intercooler. i know exhaust is a very common mod and it could be a good starting point for further mods. also Turboxs claims the kit adds 25 whp

Def. get a turboback and up pipe, the some sort of tune (Utec, EcuTek, or Cobb). It doesn't matter what turbo back you get as long as it's 3", I actually have a blitz nur spec cat back for sale, $400 and it's yours. let me know

[WRXD]

I personally dont understand why so many people love the front mounts. Yeah they look cool and scream 'I'm Fast' but on a car the like WRX where the turbo is mounted BEHIND the engine, its just doesnt seem to make sense to me. You have to route piping all over the engine bay in a way, that IMO, looks awkward. I've never driven in a FMIC wrx, but I can't beleive that the lag increase is negligable with that much piping. What I do think may be negligable is the amount of heat soak difference. Again, what do I know.

Virtually all modern turbo cars that have a FMIC have the turbo mounted up front, like the EVO.

Plus, with the FMIC you lose the functional hoodscoop which is WRX and subaru tradition. Without it, you are just an outback sport

[D Money]

Originally Posted by WRXD

I personally dont understand why so many people love the front mounts. Yeah they look cool and scream 'I'm Fast' but on a car the like WRX where the turbo is mounted BEHIND the engine, its just doesnt seem to make sense to me. You have to route piping all over the engine bay in a way, that IMO, looks awkward. I've never driven in a FMIC wrx, but I can't beleive that the lag increase is negligable with that much piping. What I do think may be negligable is the amount of heat soak difference. Again, what do I know.

Virtually all modern turbo cars that have a FMIC have the turbo mounted up front, like the EVO.

Plus, with the FMIC you lose the functional hoodscoop which is WRX and subaru tradition. Without it, you are just an outback sport

Yes, you are correct. The lag is very noticable over the tmic. I would say if your running stock turbo or any vf series turbo you should stick with a tmic whether it be stock, sti, or aftermarket. If you go with something along the lines of a 16, 18, or 20G or any of the superzilla series turbos than a fmic is going to get you the most power. The reason I like my fmic is the fact that kids think it's faster than it really is and they tend not to want to race me, other than that I hate the way the car drives with it and the lag I get from it, but there is a possibity that my turbo is causing the additional lag also.

BTW, don't compare an evo to a wrx, an evo is a much more mod friendly car and has much more potential that any pos wrx.

[WRXD]

Originally Posted by subwrxkid

Yes, you are correct. The lag is very noticable over the tmic. I would say if your running stock turbo or any vf series turbo you should stick with a tmic whether it be stock, sti, or aftermarket. If you go with something along the lines of a 16, 18, or 20G or any of the superzilla series turbos than a fmic is going to get you the most power. The reason I like my fmic is the fact that kids think it's faster than it really is and they tend not to want to race me, other than that I hate the way the car drives with it and the lag I get from it, but there is a possibity that my turbo is causing the additional lag also.

BTW, don't compare an evo to a wrx, an evo is a much more mod friendly car and has much more potential that any pos wrx.

I wasnt comparing it...just making the point of Turbo position compared to what cars have a FMIC.

FWIW, I disagree with your EVO>WRX equation...unless you were being sarcastic..

[D Money]

Originally Posted by WRXD

I wasnt comparing it...just making the point of Turbo position compared to what cars have a FMIC.

FWIW, I disagree with your EVO>WRX equation...unless you were being sarcastic..

No sarcasm. Drive an evo with cams, tune, and tbe and you will feel the same way. They have so much more power and it would take a sti with a turbo on it to make the same power as it, you do the math.