intercooler question for my legacy

subydude22 · 01-13-2007, 07:32 PM

im building a 2.2turbo for my obw. I am definately going to add an intercooler but I dont know whether or not to get a tmic or an fmic if they make one for the legacy. what do you all think.

trevor~

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morrocco88 · 01-13-2007, 07:50 PM

What year OBW? If you are looking for cheap, you could always use a stock wrx IC, but how much power are you shooting for, as this could hold you back. I have an 03 wrx cooler on my 97 legacy, but I'm in the stock wrx power range. I had to do some trimming to get it to fit, but it can work and the price was $75 used compared to hundreds of dollars for a new aftermarket unit from a variety of companies.

subydude22 · 01-13-2007, 08:13 PM

thats the same thing I was thinking. I was gonna try to find a stock wrx ic but I didnt know if some company made fmic for them. my car is '97. im not shooting for high power. something similar to a stock wrx, maybe a little bit more.

ten80 · 01-13-2007, 08:29 PM

I have a forester intercooler + bov + hoses I'd part with for cheap!

PS. there are lots of factors that come into play for optimum power. A properly tuned engine can make good power on even a small intercooler. My friend's V2 EJ20G swap made 249whp (~5000ft elevation) on the stock, tiny, JDM intercooler. We were in the process of installing a FMIC, however, it was too much of a pain in the rear and we went back to stock

. I'd guess that a forester/wrx oem intercooler is good for up to somewhere near that power range, which is nearly impossible to attain with a TD04 or VF8 turbo.

morrocco88 · 01-13-2007, 08:53 PM

I'm running the stock EJ20G from an auto tranny JDM legacy, and it has the VF10 turbo. I couldn't get past 13 psi before it was making more heat than power. Is the TD04 larger than the VF10?

I would go for the top mount since it is easier, and think that you would have less lag for a street car, but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe someone who has had both can chime in on this?

jey · 01-13-2007, 09:44 PM

Go for the TMIC. It's simpler and you can use a bunch of different OEM setups. I've got a WRX IC on my 98 Legacy - hard to beat OEM reliability too.

rougeben83 · 01-13-2007, 11:53 PM

How much boost are you planning to run? For a low boost application (like less than 1 bar), the WRX intercooler is plenty fine; it also reduces pressure loss since the IC is right at the TB, and helps the pressurized air get into the engine quicker (less tubing it has to travel).

A FMIC would only be worth it if you're going to be boosting that engine above what a WRX engine does (14psi), or you're in a lot of stop and go traffic in hot,hot weather and worry about heatsoak.

xcntrk75 · 01-14-2007, 09:20 AM

Obviously your OBW has a hood scoop already which you can open up?

FWIW I have both a WRX and STi top-mount IC’s FS including all hoses & lines…

ten80 · 01-14-2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morrocco88

I'm running the stock EJ20G from an auto tranny JDM legacy, and it has the VF10 turbo. I couldn't get past 13 psi before it was making more heat than power. Is the TD04 larger than the VF10?

I would go for the top mount since it is easier, and think that you would have less lag for a street car, but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe someone who has had both can chime in on this?

Sorry, I should have elaborated. TD04's are the stock turbos on WRX's and are really very small. I beleive that kbahus, my friend, is running VF10 and he made maximum power somewhere near 18psi. IMHO, FMIC, unless done right, results in lag, heat soak through long pipes, poor air flow, a PITA installation, weakened bumper beams, and the potential for excessive front-end accident damage. I'm all for TMICS, using hood scoops and the apropriate splitters.

xcntrk75, we'll have to thumb-wrestle or something for the sale

rougeben83 · 01-14-2007, 02:28 PM

IIRC TD04 is good up to around 16-18psi before it starts choking on itself.

Also, it's better to match your turbo to the displacement of your engine; that is, if you actually want a driveable, fast car, rather than a dyno-queen that you can brag top end HP numbers with.

A TD04 is a pretty good match for the 2.2l, should give you a nice torque curve and little lag.

xcntrk75 · 01-14-2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ten80

IMHO, FMIC, unless done right, results in lag, heat soak through long pipes, poor air flow, a PITA installation, weakened bumper beams, and the potential for excessive front-end accident damage. I'm all for TMICS, using hood scoops and the apropriate splitters.

Might want to note that on the BD/BG model, the STi top-mount is really the largest IC that will fit under our low hoods. I ran a sti tmic on mine and it still rubbed all over the place. Sometimes front-mounts are unavoidable especially when considering turbo cfm.

But I agree, a 2.2l with a sub 500cfm turbo, TMIC FTW!

01-13-2007, 07:32 PM	#1
subydude22 Scooby Newbie Member#: 108043 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Waitsfield, Vermont Vehicle: 97 legacy outback navy	intercooler question for my legacy im building a 2.2turbo for my obw. I am definately going to add an intercooler but I dont know whether or not to get a tmic or an fmic if they make one for the legacy. what do you all think. trevor~ * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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01-13-2007, 07:50 PM	#2
morrocco88 Scooby Specialist Member#: 104098 Join Date: Jan 2006 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Eastern WA Vehicle: 1997 LGT 2.1 stroker Rotated S200SX-56 6speed	What year OBW? If you are looking for cheap, you could always use a stock wrx IC, but how much power are you shooting for, as this could hold you back. I have an 03 wrx cooler on my 97 legacy, but I'm in the stock wrx power range. I had to do some trimming to get it to fit, but it can work and the price was $75 used compared to hundreds of dollars for a new aftermarket unit from a variety of companies.

01-13-2007, 08:13 PM	#3
subydude22 Scooby Newbie Member#: 108043 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Waitsfield, Vermont Vehicle: 97 legacy outback navy	thats the same thing I was thinking. I was gonna try to find a stock wrx ic but I didnt know if some company made fmic for them. my car is '97. im not shooting for high power. something similar to a stock wrx, maybe a little bit more.

01-13-2007, 08:29 PM	#4
ten80 Scooby Specialist Member#: 53625 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: WA Vehicle: 00 EJ205 LGT LTD 97 LGT Wagon	I have a forester intercooler + bov + hoses I'd part with for cheap! PS. there are lots of factors that come into play for optimum power. A properly tuned engine can make good power on even a small intercooler. My friend's V2 EJ20G swap made 249whp (~5000ft elevation) on the stock, tiny, JDM intercooler. We were in the process of installing a FMIC, however, it was too much of a pain in the rear and we went back to stock . I'd guess that a forester/wrx oem intercooler is good for up to somewhere near that power range, which is nearly impossible to attain with a TD04 or VF8 turbo.

01-13-2007, 08:53 PM	#5
morrocco88 Scooby Specialist Member#: 104098 Join Date: Jan 2006 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Eastern WA Vehicle: 1997 LGT 2.1 stroker Rotated S200SX-56 6speed	I'm running the stock EJ20G from an auto tranny JDM legacy, and it has the VF10 turbo. I couldn't get past 13 psi before it was making more heat than power. Is the TD04 larger than the VF10? I would go for the top mount since it is easier, and think that you would have less lag for a street car, but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe someone who has had both can chime in on this?

01-13-2007, 09:44 PM	#6
jey Scooby Specialist Member#: 32503 Join Date: Feb 2003 Chapter/Region: TXIC Location: Johnson City, TX Vehicle: 2011 Tribeca 1995 Legacy Wagon	Go for the TMIC. It's simpler and you can use a bunch of different OEM setups. I've got a WRX IC on my 98 Legacy - hard to beat OEM reliability too.

01-13-2007, 11:53 PM	#7
rougeben83 Scooby Guru Member#: 115154 Join Date: May 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: NYC Vehicle: 2003 Legacy L Turbo silver	How much boost are you planning to run? For a low boost application (like less than 1 bar), the WRX intercooler is plenty fine; it also reduces pressure loss since the IC is right at the TB, and helps the pressurized air get into the engine quicker (less tubing it has to travel). A FMIC would only be worth it if you're going to be boosting that engine above what a WRX engine does (14psi), or you're in a lot of stop and go traffic in hot,hot weather and worry about heatsoak.

01-14-2007, 09:20 AM	#8
xcntrk75 Scooby Specialist Member#: 60224 Join Date: Apr 2004 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: NOVA Vehicle: 2008 FXT Sports 2.5 Dark Grey Metallic	Obviously your OBW has a hood scoop already which you can open up? FWIW I have both a WRX and STi top-mount IC’s FS including all hoses & lines…

01-14-2007, 02:28 PM	#10
rougeben83 Scooby Guru Member#: 115154 Join Date: May 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: NYC Vehicle: 2003 Legacy L Turbo silver	IIRC TD04 is good up to around 16-18psi before it starts choking on itself. Also, it's better to match your turbo to the displacement of your engine; that is, if you actually want a driveable, fast car, rather than a dyno-queen that you can brag top end HP numbers with. A TD04 is a pretty good match for the 2.2l, should give you a nice torque curve and little lag.