Interooler... FMIC or Stock Location?

[Adam Connell]

Ok, Im investigating intercoolers. What are the pro's vs. cons of the different location intercoolers. They are both relatively close in price for new aftermarket units, and price is usually the deciding factor for me. I would like an easy clean looking install and performance is ALWAYS a huge factor. Im looking at the ones from Buickgn.com but please make suggestions if there are better ones.

 

[chrisgarrett]

I bought the PTE stock location from Mike at Full throttle and really like it. It looks good, fits well and is much bigger than stock. It looks like a massive oem ic.

 

[87we410877]

RJC megacooler. You'll never need another intercooler. Installs easy as pie.

 

[nailheadpowered]

second it on the RJC megacooler one time purchase plus it frees up all that space in the engine compartment which is nice also especially if you have to do some work on the heap.

 

[phillyturbosix]

IMO IC's all depend on what your doing with the car. I just talked about this with some boys at Kirbans open house yestersday. If the car is going to be raced more then anything then front mount is the way you might want to go. If your going to cruise the car on the streets and do shows something like the stock location thunderfab IC might be the way to go. My temps on the streets with stock 100K radiator are 168 to 172. The boys I talked to at Kirban's run 190 to 210 with their front mounts. Ad some hot weather and run the AC and your gonna run hot. OR forget all that get a front mount and a high end radiator like the Becool and you'll be fine. So it all depends on what your going to do with the car. I run the Thunderfab and love it!

 

[TR Custom Parts]

I had my choice of running either the front mount or stock location intercooler that we sell and went with the stock location. My racing days are over so I wanted something that would not affect cooling for the street. No need for a radiator and/or fan upgrade and I like the way it looks too. Ours are fully polished.

 

[ScottyRegal]

i have a front mount, im in Florida. My coolant temps are consistantly 187- 195, sometimes ill see 203, but thats if i really get on it a lot, plus i dont even have the correct radiator , i have a v8 regal radiator with a oil cooler and tranny cooler put into it and re welded. the flow isnt as good as a Gn radiator. if your running alcohol injection you dont even need a front mount, thats why im going back to a stock intercooler.Im a daily driver as well. if your car is track and garaged, a front mount is fine.

 

[Grumpy]

like Philly6 said what are you doin with the car ... mine are drivers/racer's ..I would never use a front mount because we sit in hour long traffic at the beach ect ect.... I run a stock stretched (CAS V4) .. Melissa's car just ran 10.64@129 in street trim ... put over 700 miles on it in a week

 

[phillyturbosix]

like Philly6 said what are you doin with the car ... mine are drivers/racer's ..I would never use a front mount because we sit in hour long traffic at the beach ect ect.... I run a stock stretched (CAS V4) .. Melissa's car just ran 10.64@129 in street trim ... put over 700 miles on it in a week

There ya go! proof is in the numbers! 10.64 with a stock location.. can't ask for more then that out of a stock location IC! I still think guys go for that front mount look cause they think it's cool lookin!

 

[Rodney87GN]

I still think guys go for that front mount look cause they think it's cool lookin!

I resemble that remark. I have a PTE front mount, and quite honestly I think a stock location IC would work just as well. I almost bought a Thunderfab but I got a good deal on a PTE F/M so that's why I got one.

But damn that front mount sure looks sexy!

 

[Adam Connell]

Ok guys thanks! I got the info I needed. Im going to go with a stock location IC.

I dont want anything faster than a low 11 second car, and my car is almost purely street driven. It is my primary mode of transportation, but like everyone it will see a little bit of track time for fun. I want a true sleeper car, so a fmic sorta gives me away to people who know what to look for.

Thanks yall!

 

[phillyturbosix]

I resemble that remark. I have a PTE front mount, and quite honestly I think a stock location IC would work just as well. I almost bought a Thunderfab but I got a good deal on a PTE F/M so that's why I got one.

But damn that front mount sure looks sexy!

Seee I knew it was true about you front monunt guys!!!!

 

[RobV6]

Have a Kenny Duttwieler front mount if your going that way.
All plumbing also....just .02 cents put in............Looks cool haven't gotten a motor yet....

 

[tracer]

I took off my stretch stock location to go with Cotton's front mount and couldn't be happier. With my setup there is zero lag and no heat soak. I hated the heat soak on the street. Now I can stay on the loud pedal all I want and not worry about it. I would never go back to the stock location. Also have to plug my alky injection from Julio. 26#'s boost on pump gas and I've never had so much fun with the car.

 

[84BuickGNYorkPA]

Jim,
The main reason that I went with the RJC front mount, was because of heat soak, I only want to buy this item once.$$$ Even though right now I don't hang at the track, one day I might... and the intercooler will be ready(no heat soak).
Of course I gotta tell you, I had the car repainted last year and the 2" strip that goes around the front was wasted from a old kenne bell ram air kit. I was going to get a new one, but I like the look for now of them two, three inch dia. pipes hanging there. I'm sure that I will get tired of it one day...
Chuck