I was reading a thread on the single turbo post about eBay intercoolers. I found some nice ones, along with matching piping sets...

Who has done a FMIC conversion on their FC? What size piping did you have success with? Did you cut your stock front bumper out to fit the core?

I dont want to shell out over a grand to get a kit - or do custom piping. Let me know if anyone has whipped up a homemade setup using a big FMIC and pre-bent piping and elbows.

Thanks a lot guys

-Jeff

 

Lots of us have done FMIC conversions. Its all dependent on your fab skills. I have a homemade kit done by my fabricating friend Ryan Shook.

 

get a greddy kit. i see them for 850-900. complete bolt on..

 

yeah but i think there's cutting involved

 

basically any IC you buy will envolve cutting

 

i dont like the greddy kit cause it makes your front bumper all out of round...looks rediculous! i went custom..... you need a little hands on skill..but other than that, its kinda a no brainer...... have you ever played the old nintendo game "pipe dream"..... if so, there you go..... make the pipes go from a 2 b! you have a few u-bends, and 45 degree anglers, and make em' work!

 

thanks for the advice guys. what size piping have you used? the ic im interested in had 2.5" in and out.

 

would anyone be so kind as to post some pics of their turboII with the fmic? Possibly minus the bumper/hood open so i can check it out

 

i feel the same way as quiggs i will be doing this in the summer when i install my t60

 

2.5" is fine unless you plan on running some major boost..then id go w/ 3"

 

it's about a 2 day job for the average person including cutting and welding.

about a 3-4 out of 10 on the difficulty scale.

 

the only thing I am concerned about is the fitting in my gp sports front... I am afraid it will block off too much of the oil cooler and the rad and my car will run too hot any suggestions?

 

I would rate in along the 7 of dificulty scale. Not meany people can cut round pipe properly or have the tools or a aluminum welder and know how to weld aluminum or prep the work. To add to it most of the ebay kits have a coating on them making them neer imposible to weld :-(.

If you dont have proper tools or fab skilld get hte greddy or another compleated kit. Even with the kit it does cary is fair bit a dificultys. You will still spend $575+ on one that you pice together, so is the time worh that bit of money if your application can utalise a prefabed unit.

I did mine in 3in pipe b/c I planed on going large single turbo. Plans changed slightly and they were I want a different FMIC location and size and pipe rought so I will redo it in 2.5 to 3 or just 2.5

 

Why not use Silicone piping in the first place, then buy bends and lengths to match up the way you did teh silicone later on down the line, or keep the silicone if youre not so worried about everything being blinged out?

 

I had my piping done at a shop, but that was on my old car. I didnt really like how they did it, plus at that time my car didnt have foglights, or powersteering rack, and they relocated the battery to the back... By routing the piping this way, I kept the accessory rack, the battery in stock location, and am able to keep the foglights... Anyways here are soem pics.

 

hey martin, few quick questions if you dont mind, what are the dimensions of that intercooler? and were you able to retain the oem hood latch? the intercooler looks like a great fit! but i would like to retain the oem latch. also did you notice a temp increase due to the size of the intercooler?

 

I dont know the actual dimensions of the intercooler but its prolly the biggest youll want to go.. Its 4" thick and has 3" inlet/outlet. I kept the stock latch.. and I kept everything in its same location. I measure when I go downstairs

 

sweet thanks

 

goodluck

 

Will long pipes like that decrease boost pressure or air velocity?

 

I dont know but on conservative tune I got 4xx @ 20psi..

 

You must have a standalone then?

 

I did...

 

Longer the distance, larger the pipe, more flex, the more bends, the larger the IC, the more lag you recive.

The FMIC should not interfeer with the latch.

Yes your temps will increae highly. in meany enay users exsperiances including mine a upgraded RAD alone is still not enough. Custom Ducting work is needed.

 

3inch intercooling pipe should improve flow over a standard greddy intercooler kit that I have that is 2.5

Once i get my car on the dyno I am going to try a few different intercooler pipe size combos if I have enuff spool room. And don't get bent out of shape about lag problems until you have them. Lag is nothing but a down shift away.