The factory Subaru top-mount intercooler on the 02-07 WRX and 04-21 STI was built to a stock power target. The tube-and-fin core is easy to damage on the road and undersized for what these cars actually run when driven hard.
The OVERTAKE Top Mount Intercooler replaces it with a substantially larger all-aluminum bar-and-plate core, cast aluminum end tanks CNC machined and welded to a soldered and pressure-tested core, and inlet geometry designed to match the OEM Y-pipe flow path. This TMIC fits the stock location, stock Y-pipe, stock intake manifold, and stock bypass valve. No tune required.
Why Upgrade to the OVERTAKE TMIC?
Bar-and-plate construction, cast end tanks, and purpose-shaped inlet geometry hold up to the road better than the OEM tube-and-fin and give the TMIC more thermal capacity on back-to-back pulls:
Cleaner Look Under the Hood
Bar-and-Plate Core Holds Up to External Debris
More Thermal Capacity, Less Heat Soak
Fits OEM Y-Pipe, Intake, and BPV
Key Features:
Bar-and-Plate Core, Substantially Larger than OEM: Louvered ambient fins and serrated charge fins, stronger construction, more thermal capacity than the OEM tube-and-fin, engineering datalog shows 10-15°F outlet at the same boost and inlet conditions where stock reads 25-35°F
Cast Aluminum End Tanks: CNC machined and welded to a soldered, pressure-tested core for a clean finished look and a leak-tight assembly
Inlet End tank Shape Designed Around the OEM Y-Pipe: Two-sided internal geometry matches the Y-pipe's dual outlets, guiding flow across the end tank the way the factory piece never did
Outlet End tank Funnel Design: Smoothed internal shape encourages clean flow into the outlet
Durable Powder Coat Finish: Holds up underhood, no effect on heat exchange
Stock-Location Install: Bolts to the factory mount points with slotted mounts for OEM bushings, fits OEM Y-pipe, intake manifold, and bypass valve
The Results:
With all other factors the same, the OVERTAKE TMIC was able to maintain ~16°F lower peak intake air temperatures when compared to the factory intercooler. This shows that the greater surface area of the thicker OVERTAKE core is much more effective at mitigating heat soak than the factory unit.
