FMIC or Alcohol Injection?
 

I have the following mods:

BNR Stage 4
3" single exit turbo-back exhaust
750/1000cc injectors
3" TID
Walbro 255
SQV3 BOV
etc

I would like to run 18psi on this turbo.

I am running the stock radiator and fan. Currently, I have not seen temperatures over 195degF even on a 95degF day.

I was looking at the Godspeed FMIC kit on ebay, or a DevilsOwn AI kit.

Which would you pick and why?

Well it's two different approaches. With a stock intercooler and AI you better know what you're doing in terms of tuning and have safety precautions planned. With only a FMIC you could probably go up to about 17psi by conventional wisdom, and you won't have to worry about the AI failing. But you will still need a good tune. There are some decarbonization benefits of AI that you will be missing out on though. But then you have the cutting to deal with and you may need an upgraded radiator to keep temps in line. You may also have to relocate the battery and you may want an efan conversion depending on fitment. Plus don't expect your A/C to work as well with an FMIC (if it still works at all).

One way to look at it is that you're pretty much trading one hassle/risk for another. It depends on your preferences. You still need good tuning and quality parts, and you can still blow your motor either way. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. What are you using for engine management?

both

you won't get to 18psi on pump gas without the methanol injection or race fuel

FMIC makes it easier to get to 18psi and make better power.

Wow. Fast, excellent replies.

Rtek 2.1 I also have a wideband that I use in conjunction with it. I posted some logs over in the Rtek forum. I'm a bit on the risky side when it comes to tuning cars, and in all honesty my engine should have blown already.

I have used your afr maps in tuning, and am getting better fast, at it. I can match your maps pretty closely, at least on my wideband.

I think that I will need to buy an EGT gauge if I really want to push the car. I studied BDC's threads over at teamfc3s.org and think I can do something similar.

One thing I wonder is that can my IAT read the lowered intake temperatures if I mount the nozzle at the throttle body elbow? If not, should I relocate the sensor to the intake runners. Or should I just do a small nozzle pre-turbo along with a larger one at the TB elbow?

I only have the money for one right now, and want to take the car to the drag strip this summer.

then you won't reach your ideal goals.

yes you can push the stock TMIC past 14psi but it becomes a serious bottleneck in power.

next, you can't push past 16psi safely on pump fuel without a high risk of detonation taking out the motor.

anyways, if you really want to push onward start with the methanol injection, it is safer than a FMIC heat soaking your car after each run.

I'd run BOTH.

Keep in mind a front mount is going to block air flow to your radiator somewhat.

If you can cheap e-fan it and mod your hood to run a v-mount, do so. It sounds like more work than it is but the rewards are great.

CWynn, the stuff I do on my Turbo II isn't meant to be a standard bearer for others in as much as "hey we can all do these things now! BDC figured this out and it's normal for everyone else!" goes. I do some out of the box, experimental stuff. The hot-air thing for instance is one of them. I know it works but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone as a way of running a street car reliably. While I'm not a fan of FMIC's, I'd still say use that plus some form of AI. The top mount really isn't terribly good, unfortunately. :(

B

Top-mount with AI. I have tried various intercooler set-ups. No intercooler. Just the stock intercooler...ect.

What worked best for larger turbos is very short piping front mount (intercooler goes where the AC condensor would normally be right in front of the radiator) and AI.

Or for stock/hybrid turbos. would be top-mount (modified a bit) and AI.

Either way, inject something...

Interesting... I'm restoring A/C and going front mount on the stock turbo. But I've got a koyo, and an e-fan I'm gonna install hope temps don't get too crazy

Thank you for personally responding to my thread Brian. I don't want anyone to think that this should be standard procedure for upgrading the TII either. I'm looking at hitting 300whp, which should be completely do-able with the parts I have. I am just lacking a way to cool down the compressed air. If you could pick one over the other for my setup, which would you choose? Eventually I will have both. I'm still on the fence.

sen2two, how did you modify the stock TMIC? Do you have any pictures of what you did?

If I had my choice, I'd say top mount with alcohol.

It's funny you bring this up. I've been thinking about how to attack the turbo setup I want to do on my convertible (still a 6-port NA motor) and I've come to the conclusion, based on my tests with the Turbo II setup w/ the T70, that I'll mimic it and do another hot-air thing (no intercooler) and use alcohol as both the charge cooler and the chamber coolant.

While I think water has a place, I'm not a fan of it in this particular case. I think you should invest your money in a good alcohol setup and do either the top mount or a hot-air setup with the injection point up-stream. It will work. You can keep the boost low and the piping run short.

B

search my name, its in my RHD swap thread. I only post a few pics of it, but you get the idea from the pics i posted...

Never mind, i made a thread for it...

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/modified-top-mount-907746/

You'll be fine... I'm running stock turbo on 12psi, microtech lt10s, greddy fmic, koyo rad, 94 octane, walbro pump, stock clutch fan, 750/1000cc. And did I mention no undertray or radiator panel? .. 87-89C is the highest i've seen.