An intercooler cools the charge air between your turbocharger or supercharger and your engine's intake. Compressed air is hot air — and hot air is less dense, which means less oxygen per cubic foot, which means less power and a higher risk of detonation. A properly sized intercooler drops charge temperatures by 100–200°F, dramatically increasing air density and allowing your engine to safely run more boost, more timing, and more fuel for significantly more power.

Front-Mount (FMIC) vs. Top-Mount (TMIC)

Front-mount intercoolers (FMIC) sit in front of the radiator and use ambient air for cooling. They offer superior cooling capacity for high-horsepower builds and don't heat-soak as quickly. The tradeoff is longer piping runs and slightly more turbo lag from increased volume. FMICs are the right choice for any serious power build.

Top-mount intercoolers (TMIC) sit directly on top of the engine, usually above the intake manifold. They use shorter, more direct piping for quicker turbo response, but they also absorb engine heat — which limits their effectiveness under sustained load. Common on WRX and EVO platforms from the factory.

Core Size and Efficiency

Bigger isn't always better. An oversized intercooler core increases volume — which means more charge air to push through, which increases lag. The right intercooler is sized to match your boost level, power target, and intended use. A 400whp street car and a 400whp track car need different intercooler specs for the same power level.

Top Brands We Carry

Mishimoto — direct-fit FMIC kits with proven dyno gains across popular platforms. AMS Performance — used on record-holding Evo and GT-R builds. Process West — WRX/STI specialist top and front-mount upgrades. Treadstone Performance — custom core sizes for builds that need specific dimensions. Perrin Performance — Subaru-focused kits with direct-fit installation.

All intercooler kits ship free. Need help sizing an intercooler for your power target? Contact us — we'll match the right core to your build.