The MKIV guys usually boost very high on the stock motor like 25+ psi, and this is when the big intercooler really helps. The single Supra guys are sort of forced into it as part of the upgrade (they also boost very high). A well designed intercooler may allow us to boost to almost 18psi w/o any AI to cool the charge, but I think thats the end of its ability in terms of anti-detonation capabilities whereas the AI has been proven to help fight detonation all the way to 25 psi in a stock motor. I think in the long run, instead of getting Y-pipes and hard lines and upgraded sidemounts, its better to just go all out with a front mount unless you are heavy into open track. I have been told that some guys overheat when they use front mounts with our cars after many laps. This is when you need to decide what the car will be used for. If your drag racing, Matt and Jack T have already proven its not necessary to do 10s. If cost was no object then we wouldn't be discussing the efficacy of a front mount, but when cost vs gains comes into play, I don't see how you can lose just going with AI.
I am still trying to absorb all the info everyone has gotten through modifying so I am by no means an expert, but I think trying to compare a Supra to our cars is a poor start. The two cars are so different and our needs are definitely different. Guys talking about introducing a laggy large single to our cars defeats every positive attribute our motors have over the competition. Our weight needs solid low-end torque and our AWD driveline system CAN NOT take the hard hit of power that comes from a clutch drop at a power peak from a big single. If we made the quality of power that a Supra makes, we would be in serious need of a tranny replacement. Having a large broad power curve is what our cars are all about. Also huge piping and intercoolers does nothing but force the turbo to work harder to maintain and reach peak boost levels. Also, I take Trevor as a good example of lo-buck proven performance. I believe he is still on the stock coolers and piping doing 11s at relatively low boost settings in street trim and pump with AI. Anybody with a front mount doing any better right now?? I think Jack T has a 94 with front mount and 17gs and he has done low 11s at higher boost levels then Trevor with race gas. Ask him if it made a huge difference with the front mount.
Sam