Scarmiglio

I pulled the intercooler info off of Fmiata's website. They said that they chose to place the intercooler in the factory (mazdaspeed) location. This location looks to be partially obscured by the fog light/front air dam. I believe you when you say that it is more efficient than the factory intercooler, and I'm sure that it is sufficient for 6 - 8 psi, however a front mount intercooler is more in line with the direct flow of air. I can only assume that a larger, front mount intercooler will do a better job of cooling the air. I agree with you when you say that only testing can really tell the difference. It looks as though the spool kit makes more power, however it does it without the first catalytic converter.

StuttersC

The portion of the front bumper cover that hinders air flow is the part that covers the acrtual bumper.

This picture is the best head on that shows where the intercooler is covered by the bumper.

http://www.gvii.net/dlralt/protege/i...81402_nose.jpg

Scarmiglio

I see. It's not quite as bad as I thought. I was under the impression that it was practically vw 1.8t style. I still prefer the look and potential performance of a larger front-mount intercooler. Of course, it's easier to get seen and pulled over with a front mount too.

SedanMan

Why would you get pulled over for having a front mounted intercooler?

Scarmiglio

Because in the state of California, you can get busted BIG time if you've modified your emissions equipment/engine. People around here get pulled over just for having shiny exhaust systems, let alone a huge front mount intercooler. One pop of the hood and if you don't have CARB E.O. numbers on EVERYTHING they will start writing fix-it tickets or worse. At the very least that means you have to uninstall the turbo system. At the worst, if you removed your primary cat, you can get huge fines.

I know a guy who got pulled over because the cop could supposedly hear his AEM air intake. The cop popped his hood and wrote him a ticket for the intake (no CARB # on it) but that was it. I'm sure the cop was hoping for more. The dudes P5 has Chrome exhaust, big chrome rims, and splitters so he was definitely advertising. People here paint their exhaust systems flat black so that they won't attract unwanted attention.

Believe me, a highly visible intercooler is a cop magnet.

PinkMX-3

You guys are talking about a manifold out flowing another when you're dealing with a low boost [under 1 bar] on an FSDE?!? The FS isnt' the best motor as far as flow goes, partially due to it's incredibly low rod ratio, making it die in the upper RPM's no matter what you do to the head/valvetrain. A cast manifold is going to retain heat more, which increases pre turbine pressure, which brings the boost threshold lower in the RPM's at WOT. And, since I know all you guys professing to be turbo experts have read Maximum Boost by Corky Bell, you know that the intercooler will be most thermally effecient when a small percentage of it is blocked from direct air flow.

Scarmiglio

I'll have to read it so that I, too, can claim to be a turbo expert

StuttersC

Did you have to look that up?

PinkMX-3

Heh, I haven't seen my copy in a year or so. Lent it to a friend of mine who now has a turbo 1.6L Miata. Thanks for reminding me though...I'll have to snag it next time I see him.

StuttersC

I was just teasing anyway, but as long as something good came out of it. Go get the book back!!