| Here come the flames but fact is fact. They are not worth spending a dime on when installed on a Z32. As I've said in earlier posts that get buried by crap posts, it's actually quite simple: The Z32 was designed with a cross flow intake manifold which is quite different from the other cars we're used to seeing FMICs on. What this means is that the left turbo feeds the right side of the engine and the right turbo feeds the left side of the engine. The reason for this is that when the exhaust exits one side it then pushes the turbo that is feeding the opposite side since it has the intake valve open to fill the cylinder for the next compression stroke. There's a reason they used Cray supercomputers to design this car, even back in the late 80s. Nearly every FMIC is reversing the way the intake manifold was designed and makes it no longer a cross flow manifold. Now, talk to anyone on the "FMICs are worth it on Z32s" camp and they will either A) gloss right over this FACT or B) state that the "gains" are worth this loss, which is a crock in my opinion. If it didn't look cool NO ONE would put it on a Z32. Those that do put them on fight tooth and nail to justify it without really understanding why they aren't an improvement. A dyno or two that show a few more peak ponies or the fact that every other car on SCC's cover has one is does NOT automatically mean they are perfect for the Z. That's flawed reasoning. However, there are a few people that have been able to show that a proper FMIC setup customized for the Z32 can work but there's a caveat. Before I get to that, I can't even count those people on my fingers that have done it right. And here's the kicker, of those that have bought the good parts and designed it properly the results are, at best, about equal to a good set of upgraded sidemounts in nearly every category. So you've spent ~$1,000 + labor + other materials/relocation kits/etc to get roughly the same performance (again, at absolute best).
So what debate? I'm sure people will still want to give it a go while I catch some Zs, sp here's my original post on it. I'm no expert but really, if they were that spectacular, wouldn't we all embrace it? There's a reason those good at math and understanding design stay away from it. There are people on this forum that know a hell of a lot more than most of us and their words are in some of the past threads. They all agree. Even so, intercooler design and proper application isn't as rocket science as the long debates on some forums make it out to be. There are just some extremely touchy people out there that think because they work on OTHER turbo cars, they have to be god's gift to modification on the Z. Money better spent. http://www.twinturbo.net/net/viewmsg.aspx?forum=general&msg_id=1342800
"When I rev the engine, I want people to think the world is coming to an end." - Homer Simpson
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14:31:40 01/28/05
