[Mikaeldarer]

Originally Posted by feuer

Why not ARM 5" stepped IC for $350 shipped:
http://www.armmotorsports.com/N54-N5...p/335-fmic.htm

This looks to be the best bang for your buck option by far as long as everything lines up during install and no leaks.

[bbnks2]

Originally Posted by Mikaeldarer

This looks to be the best bang for your buck option by far as long as everything lines up during install and no leaks.

They go on sale for $297. I have it and my results are positive. Pretty much dead on with what titium said, and dead on with just about ever other 5" intercooler available. I've compared them all and they all perform about the same despite the massive disparity in price (er does better but is expensive). It's definetly not as good as a 7", but it gets the job done without trading off excessive weight, velocity loss, and spool. 7" might be better for 180+ load tunes (stage 2+ or e30 mhd ots maps) though.

Fyi, look at a log. You'll see iats really don't start to rise until 4500rpms to 7k. Arguing about when the log was started, below 4500rpms, is a moot point. You really only care about what rpms the run was ended... 6500? 6200? The difference can be 5f+ right there...

I'd love to agree with Tiago, but he has 0 data to support enlarging the intercooler connectors benefits a stock turbo car. He's using that feature to sell his product. Saying the stock connectors leak is just a flat out lie as well. The c-clip design is by far more robust than a silicone coupler and a worm gear clamp. Also, from the logs I've seen, the vrsf 5" is no better than any other 5" core.

Anyone paying a 2-3x price premium for a name brand intercooler is getting ripped royally. With a stock turbo, you can't go wrong with Arm 5" or the wagner evo1 equivalent (their cheapest intercooler and the only 1 comporable). They both retain the stock c-clip. I think there may be 1 other intercooler using the c-clip design.. AA? (currently on sale).

If you can deal with having to use a silicone coupler, you can't go wrong with vrsf 5"/7, Phoenix, or on3 intercoolers. They will all keep you at <150f up to the top of 4th with an agressive tune... if you want to pull into 5th (mt) than maybe the 7" is for you... but I wouldn't do that on the street and I haven't had to on any track I've been to in the NE (~135mph). Sometimes shifting into 5th on the straight actually increases lap times because of the extra shifting...

[FL N55]

I have a Pheonix FMIC and am happy with it for the price. Here is a link to the thread I posted about it.

Pheonix FMIC Thread

Here is a short pull from today. IAT's are ok, but I'm not thrilled. Remember I am in Florida, it is currently​ 82 degrees and over 60% humidity.
short pull

[Tiago@VRSF]

That intercooler isn't meeting your needs if it's already in the 135 F range on a short pull 3000 3rd gear pull.

The DME starts pulling timing in that range which results in a loss of power.

[FL N55]

Yeah I am not enthralled with the iats. May have a boost leak that is keeping me below targets and causing higher iats?

Maybe your downpipe I have coming via FedEx will help take since strain off​ the turbo and lower iat? I doubt it.

[Tiago@VRSF]

The removal of the cats will lower temps overall in the engine bay but you're going to struggle with an intercooler that small in that humid heat.

There's no magical 5" intercooler that's going to cut it in a very hot and humid environment. The only solution is an increased surface area which can only be done by a larger volume intercooler with denser fin pack.