Bar & Plate or Tube & Fin?
 

I have seen nothing that explains the pros and cons of these two tyes of FMIC. If anyone could provide some feedback that would be cool.

This is one I'd really like to see the vendors (builders) jump on... I'm holding my spin on the subject due to my affinity for durability from the daily driver's view.

Go check out the PWR website. I think thet explain the differences between the two. I do know bar and plate construction is more durable but I believe tube and fin are slighly more efficient.

Shane

is it really that much of a concern on a street car? even if you are pushing 400whp, i believe either type of intercooler would be sufficient

True, but I always wanted to know the difference.

That's what I was hoping for.

In a bar & plate the thickness of the metal of the bars and plates themselves helps promote the transfer of heat from the charge air into the metal itself this is a more effective way to cool the charge air especially at lower speeds. The downside to a bar & plate over tube and fin is B&P takes longer to cool once it gets hot

From my personal experience, bar and plate intercoolers are way more durable compared to tube and fin. I've had both kinds on my 2g. The fins on my greddy (tube and fin) intercooler core was thrashed after about 50k miles. All the fins were bent pretty bad. I replaced that w/ a spearco and drove another 30k miles and there were only minor dings on the fins that could easily be straightened out w/ needle nose pliers. Most of those miles were spent on the highway and my car was pretty low. There was probably only 3" between the ground and the bottom of my front bumper and I had no screen to protect the FMIC. I would say the intercooler was driven under pretty harsh driving conditions.

After 11k miles on my EVO, I have about ~10 noticeable dings on my stock fmic. I only had minor dings on my spearco after driving 30k miles.

As far as efficiency goes, I'm not sure. Most tube and fin cores aren't as thick as the Spearco bricks.

{thumbup}

Just to double check the oem IC is tube and fine correct?

OEM is tube and fin.

This site explains it very well http://www.are.com.au/techtalk/intecoolersMR.htm#ENGINE%20DESTRUCTION%20%20!%20!% 20!%20!!

I feel stupid. I meant to say tube and fin. The only IC I can think of that is bar and plate is AMS off the top of my head.

Buschur is bar and plate... ALso bar and plate is a better heatsink absorbing more heat on the hot side...

Ive had my buschur intercooler for 5000 miles and have put my hand at the inlet and outlet... Always a huge difference and getting nice cool air...Haven had it heat soak even after a long freeway run..

Bar and plate is a popular choice with DSM tuners. It seems it has a superior design over tube and fin.

I just putthis intercooler on, this thing is AWESOME to say the least. FIt like a GLove and looks MEAN {thumbup} now.