just throwing this out there, thought of it today: would a top mount intercooler fit inside the lancer engine bay ? I know that with enough money anything is possible, but I'm talking about a simple install (not lots of fabrication).
I was thinking about it because I thought about how sleeper a non-ic turbo would be (btw: any numbers on non-ic turbos ?) and then the next logical stealth step is a top mount intercooler, like the STi (but maybe without the hood scoop ?).
Any thoughts ?

 

Without a hood scoop it'd be useless. I wouldn't be surprised if a setup like that would produce less power than a simple non-ic kit. Think about it, without a scoop how is the intercooler supposed to get cooled (the whole point really)? You'd be better off painting an intercooler black (I believe there is paint specifically for stealth intercoolers).

 

eh.. the lancer engine isn't really set up correctly and sitting low enough in the engine bay. Once you strap the turbo kit on the car, that makes not enough clearance in the front to mount a top-mount. Toward the rear of the engine, there isn't enough clearance between the valve cover and intake manifold either, so its kinda a dead option. Front mount is the way to go, or non-ic like me if you want a stealthy look.

I don't have any numbers on my non-ic kit yet, but I'm dyno'ing soon. It should be in the range of 180-200whp @ 5 to 6 psi on cooler days when its in the 50's or 60's. You really shouldn't boost over 7psi max with the non-ic kit because the air gets too hot. Its decently quick though right now set at 5psi stock. Due to the lack of intercooler, on these 95 degree humid days, you can definetly feel it lacking performance, maybe dipping into the range of 160hp or so, feeling just barely quicker than my brother's ralliart. On cooler days though, its really quick. I should be picking up an intercooler this summer pretty soon and running some custom piping to it. This weekend I'm getting boost gauge, pulley, and solid motor mounts installed, so hopefully I can set up an appointment for a dyno run.

 

Alex - until the point that I install it, you're welcome to come try my WRX TMIC and see if it'll go on. But given the fact that the Lancer IM is side-feed (rather than Subaru's top-feed), it probably would lead to some WEIRD piping...

PS - without the hood scoop, the TMIC is gonna be close to useless. Gotta have airflow over the fins (hence the FMIC on most cars and Subaru's hood scoop).

 

i would like to see someone rig one of those up to an engine.
That would be some really weird piping in there

 

yea, I know the ic needs air over it, that's why I asked if it would be more effective than the non-ic kit How about using an aftermarket hood to get more air in the engine bay (like the evo hood) ?
Again, just throwing an idea out there, might be far fetched, but hey, someone's gotta ask

 

Just as another alternative for you... RPW are setting up my Turbo with a water/air barrell type intercooler on it this will mean that nobody will even know that the car is turboed and that the front bar won't be touched... they have pics on there site which will help you to understand the basic layout of it and how it will work...

like I said just another alternative for you

http://www.rpw.com.au/Customer%20/CU...57mainpage.htm

 

two words: heat soak

 

try getting a DSM side mount... i little more stealthy then the FMIC

 

yeah get some side mount intercoolers and you will be set. it will be stealthy like you want and it wont absorb all the heat from the engine and turbo like the top mount.

 

hm, never really seen a side mount, but I will look for more info. thanks for the tip

 

they basically mount behind where the side panels are on the front bumper.

 

SMIC is smaller than FMIC right ? Or are you supposed to have 2 SMICs ?
I found this pic which helped me figure out exactly where and how it's mounted:

 

wow that makes really close to the tires i would just go with fmic!!

 

thats the point..u don't see them. at low boost(5-7psi) it should be plenty efficient enough to cool the charge