Just curious, what kind of (minimal) power gains do you guys think one (like myself) would make using a bigger, more efficient fmic core ASSUMING that all variables are equal to the previous setup? Basically, I'm going to get my AEM map re-tuned soon and am wondering what you guys think changing JUST a FMIC will do for power gains if I run 19 psi like I have been. I was making ~403-405whp with the old fmic core (Inline Pro's 600hp core) and am now utilizing their 800hp core. I know I'll make more power, just curious how much more.

I made this thread b/c I was bored, I'm obviously not looking for exact numbers, just estimates from those that have done something similiar, so please don't flame with comments like 'wait until you get tuned to find out' or 'how in the hell are we supposed to know what gains you make with x part until you dyno?'... It's just a comparison thread for the sake of pondering the future.

 

Are you getting airflow to it?

My intercooler is quite a bit bigger than the opening in the grill so I guess I'm not getting optimal efficiency.

 

Doubt you'll make much more. Your also going to need to run more boost to compensate for the larger core so you maybe bump the turbine (depending on size) out of its efficency range.

 

My core previously sat about 3" short of the top of the opening in my front bumper, this one sits slightly above it. So yes, I am getting airflow to it. Also, it'sts 3" taller and I forget how much wider/thicker....so basically its a lot more volume than the previous core and makes the setup more efficient, "the question is, how much?".

Another thing to consider is that I'm getting it tuned by Mase/2NRWerks (depending on certain variables), and I'm pretty sure that they will tune it a wee bit more aggressively than IP did, since IP tuned it for a good street tune that would have the utmost reliability and make sure I got back to FL from their shop just fine...so I may end up running 20 psi instead of 19, timing may be advanced over previous places where it wasn't as much, etc.

 

I have a pretty huge IC and everyone told me that it would lose power or was too big and the last guy who had it made 500hp @18 psi and you can see my power in my sig.

For reference it has a 4" core.

 

who makes your cooler ?

 

Thats perfectly good and well, but I'm trying to compare just swapping out a core for a bigger one and seeing how much power can be gained. I'm only thinking about 15whp at the same psi.

 

i would try datalogging your IAT's before and after the intercooler, also try looking at the pressure drop pre and post intercooler. With that information you should be able to make some assumptions on the efficiency of the two intercoolers. Its going to be hard to do that on a dyno though, considering the amount of air that flows over the intercooler on the street compared to shop fans.

 

lol, if anything the amount of air flowing over the IC would be more on the street when I am doing pulls b/c I usually hit upwards of 100mph when doing pulls in 4th. How do I log the IAT's and pressure drop with an AEM EMS?

 

I don't think i explained myself. What i meant to say is that it is going to be harder to see an increase in horsepower on a dyno, considering the CFM's that are needed to replicate real world driving.

With an EMS, you should be able to monitor IAT's, but to do pre intercooler, you would need to buy some sensors. You can get one that was originally used to measure water temperatures for like 25 each, then run the wires into your cabin. (the guys on the mini forums would use them to measure decreases in temps on different intercoolers.) It won't be super pretty, but it would give you an idea of the temp drop across the intercooler.