What' the difference between bar and plate
and tube and fin designs?

Which is better?

I'm looking at getting this OBX or something similar:

Dimensions - 23" wide (31" with endtanks), 11.75" tall, 3" thick
Endtanks diameter - 3"
Universal mounts
Bar and plate design
OBX FMIC

It's bar and plate, but I've seen similar sizes with tube and fin at similar or lower prices.

In terms of quality and functionality, what do I need to look for in an FMIC (other that getting one that will physically fit) ??? This would be used with my s-trim and in conjuction with my alky injection. And I'm aware of the custom piping that will be needed.

 

Bar and plate will usually be more expensive, but more efficient than a tube & fin style. Spearco, ATI and OBX are all bar & plate. Greddy, HKS & Griffin (in addition to most radiators) are tube and fin.

 

Tube and fin designs are more susceptible (sp?) to puncture from debris.....

 

Is OBX generally though of as a quality manufacturer among the ones that make bar and plate FMICs?

 

Well... OBX isnt one of the top FMIC dogs thats for sure. Thing is many people have used the OBX FMIC on the F-bodies and the results are kick ***. Thats what really matters. Not to mention the price you pay for an OBX, round about $340, is killer...... and dont think they are cheap cause of the price cause normal retail is somewhere around $600 for the OBX. People selling them on ebay are taking a major loss on profit just to sell quantity.

 

OBX cores are made overseas...that's why they're cheaper.

OBX uses bar/plate cores.

 

Well thats a new concept. I'm sure those cores are not over $150, and it probably takes no more than $40 of aluminum for the tanks and inlet/outlet pipes, and probably less if they bought in bulk. It takes maybe an hour or two tops to weld it all up, and maybe less if they are good. Taking a loss?? I don't think so

 

When I said "loss" I meant taking a bigger loss on profit vs selling them at $600. They deffinately arent losing money on them, that I know.

 

I'm an OBX retailer and yes, full retail on them is $599. Up until about 4mo ago that's what they were selling for. I believe the OBX mass distributors are "secretly" selling them on Ebay accounts to boost sales. They are sold to me normally at $300-$275 my cost and when i found them on Ebay for $275-$300 I about flipped. Now the only people I can sell them to are friends so they don't have to deal with Ebay crap if they get a defective unit. LOL

 

im your friend..can you sell me one?lol
btw...do they have different choices? on looking for one with the endtanks?...on the passenger side and then on the top.(comin in through the passenger side and out through the center of the top)

 

Hell my friends could get them cheaper off eBay. LOL They just buy through me because they are cool like that.

The end tanks serve a purpose. If the design is changed then flow through the IC is going to change. There is a reason they make then so that they taper towards the top. It is to reduce eddy currents at the top of the tank which will decrease flow through the upper portion of the IC say if rectangular end tanks were used. OBX only offers 2 universal tanks the the other tank is shaped pretty weird and generally wouldn't work well on an F-body.