Hey guys.

I have a Greddy V spec FMIc kit with pipes that has been in the shop for a few weeks, we took the car apart and took some "install" pictures and checked fittment. But didn't run the car with it.

I recieved a Spearco/turbonetics "direct bolt on" FMIC core today to test out as well.

We have 264 cams to test out but they won't be installed untill wed the 20th.

so this leaves me open to test a FMIC this weekend at the track. Which one would you guys like to see a test on of 1/4mile #'s as well as HP/Torque (ems calculated) and air temp/pressure change from stock ic to test IC.

Price is pretty different as well.
Greddy Vsped is $790 retail with the pipes
The Spearco is going to be like $899 core only

Spearco is 24 x 11.5 x 3.5
greddy is 24 x 10 x 2.75

 

test the spearco, id like to see how a core that big performs, also are you running the stock turbo?

 

The car in questions has:
AEM EMS-speed density
2.5 cold air intake
3" exhaust
boost controller
act clutch
stock turbo, cams, fuel system

test will be on 116 racegas at the dragstrip at 22psi of boost for a direct comparason with last weeks runs at the same boost/track/tuning/fuel.

 

I think im going to put the spearco on first as noone has used this FMIC core yet.

 

I'd be interested in seeing how the cast end tanks of the greddy intercooler affect spool up and transient boost response.

Do you have a picture of the spearco core?

 

This should be interesting. Can't wait to see the results. Alot of threads have already discussed the greddy FMIC, id like to see the spearco. Maybe you could do both and compare and contrast??? (wink wink)

 

I already though of that one, but honestly...I think the greddy and spearco will perform within 95% of each other on my specific car. It's not pushing the fmic that hard for flow with the stock turbo @22psi. Andit's so cold here that the Ic is already very very efficient.

I would get at most 6 or 7 runs in at the track on friday night (if I don't get kicked out for running 11's with no rollbar). Taking an hour+ out to remove and replace with another fmic isn't really an option since they use different piping. If I can get the stock piping to work with both cores, and can swap them without taking the bumper cover off, Im in for testing both on the same night.

I honestly don't think the upgraded fmic will be worth more tha 10 or 15hp under these conditions.

that's what im more interested in finding out...
"Is the stock FMIC worth upgrading at this stage of modification?"
and
"Would my $800+ be better spent on something else right now"

Im leaning twards the spearco now only becuase it uses the stock pipes and noone else has it yet that i know of, so it's at worst, a better photography oppertunity.

 

Good call! Since the Spearco is freaking huge, im assuming it has a pretty good max HP rating, do you happen to know its max? Since your using stock piping it sounds like you have a recipe for a nice experiment with a good control. Thanks for taking the time to do this. "I say this with an unblemished record of hederosexuality: 'its Fabulous'"

 

I have tested both, and the Greddy V-spl sux. not much better than stock. The internal rows are too large and do not offer sufficent cooling. IMO the HKS, ARC, AMS, are the best. All have test with very low pressure loss from core sides with a great thermal efficency. OH and yes they do go it that order.

 

I love that HKS FMIC but its just so dag nab expensive (insert NC accent).

 

I did notice that the internal passages of the greddy are much smaller than the spearco core. And the spearco core is 3.5" true thickness, while the greddy has a 2.75" outside thickness, but is a bit smaller than that for "internal flow passages"

AND the spearco has thin internal fins, while the greddy has extruded thick walls.

The other issue is the greddy has the inlets pointing AT each other, my gut feeling is that is going to cause the bottom half of the IC to heat up quickly and the top half of the Ic to not see much airflow.

The spearco endtanks, while kinda goofy looking, might distribute airflow move evenly through the core.

starting to look like I gotta try both back to back.

Ok decided to do the spearco first. if that shows little differance/gain over the stock core...Im not going to even bother with the greddy. I think the spearco should be the better intercooler in every way, so if that isn't a big improvement, the greddy should be the same to a lesser degree.

 

Like I said I have tried, Greddy v-spl and R-spl, HKS (on my car now), AMS, Buschur, Perrin, and ARC. All test were used login air temps from the outlet of the intercooler, Also test were done with a pressure sensor on both the inlet and outlet of the intercooler. I used the EMS and set up additional inputs on it to use while logging. And my conclusions are that the HKS was the best followed by the ARC, and then the next one was the AMS (spearco core if I am not wrong custom made for them) which when compared to the other high dollar units is hard to beat.

Edit: I would like to add all tests were done during the summer when the outside temps were much greater and any type of change is air temps from the different intercooler would be noticed greatly. It is very likely that now during the winter times and cooler weather you will not notice as much of a difference.

 

Excelent. Id love to see those logs. I was thinking today about how I really should wire up another air temp and map before the ic to take proper measurements, but i really should be more worried about tuning the car than spending time worrying about the ic.

Since you tested these cores before, and lets just say the spearco is most similar to the AEM, What would you expect in temp/pressure change and power gain/mph gain by swapping the stock ic to the spearco on my car (12.0 @ 113...about 340whp)

 

With the outside air temps now, not a whole lot. Probably around a tenth and two mph. So lets say 20hp. But most of the gain you will get will be from the fact that the boost pressure will hold better on topend.

 

But when summer comes around and its hot as a pita outside you will see huge gains. I have seen a car drop 4 tenths and gain almost 6mph from a intercooler. But of course that was here in Georgia during tha summer when it was almost a 100 degrees outside