upgrade intercooler or exhaust
 

I have an 8x10x2.5" intercooler on my car right now. That's just how I bought it. I also have a full 2.5" catback exhaust. Since I couldn't find very many threads on intercoolers, i wanted to ask you guys. Do you think i should upgrade the intercooler? I know in the sticky it says that bigger intercoolers can give you no advantage if you dont need all that air. I'm sure i could find a good sized intercooler on here for about $300 used that could work around AC. But I was also wondering if I should save that money and try and get a full 3" catback exhaust first and upgrade the intercooler second? If i would even need to upgrade it. I don't think I'll be doing anything to make my car look better for a while since it would cost so much so that frees up a lot of money. For now, I'm just going to focus on making more power.

If it's crush bent exhaust, I'd definitely save for 3", make it breath better from the back to the front, that's what I've always heard. Otherwise any benefit from a better intercooler will only be bottle necked at the exhaust again.

If it's a mandrel bent 2.5" system, It's ok as is, but I'm not sure you'd benefit from an upgraded intercooler, for the reasons you already mentioned.

So basically, go with the 3" exhaust.

oh sorry i forgot to mention its a mazdaspeed exhaust. But that doesnt really change anything i suppose. I think i could find a used 3" exhaust on here for 500 or 600 dollars wouldnt you say so?

Buy mandrel bent 3" tube sections from jegs or summit build your exhaust from scratch. Just cut and weld them together, thats what I'm going to do to replace my el cheapo muffler shop exhaust.

I dont have any welding skills though, and unfortunately i dont know anyone who does. I'd have to take it to a shop and have them do it. Do you still think thatd be cheaper?

Mig welding is super easy to learn the basics or enough to weld exhaust tubing, and as a plus of learning to weld you get godly feeling of joining two pieces of metal together.

If you want a shop to do it ask around find out who does performance exhaust work in your area. Most legit shops will want to install a cat, they might make you exhaust without a cat if pay cash.