should i go with a fmic or a tmic, i love the look of the stock engines in their original format but if you guys advise against for various reasons i may be pushed more towards getting a fmic, also do you know if/what aftermarket brands make decent tmic , just so i can have a geeze around to see whats out there.

 

It depends on what you want to do with the car. If you keep the stock turbo and run close to stock boost you will be okay with a TMIC. If you want to raise the boost or use a larger turbo a FMIC would be a good idea.

 

Don't bother with an "upgraded" TMIC. Either keep the stock TMIC, or convert to a FMIC.

 

TMIC is a no go due to heat soak if you plan on modifying the car. Not trying to jack the thread, but how do the FMIC's perform on daiydrivers. Do the FCs overheat at all

 

The ONLY reason you would go for TMIC is for space, which, you have a 13B and an FC so thus, you have plenty of it. If you do happen to run out of room for FMIC, you may want to reconsider your tuning setup.

 

just get a fmic

 

FMIC ... hehe

 

no offence man thats the complete opposite look im going for, i want to keep the front bumper bar in its complete original condition if possible, and have it hidden as much as possible, around where i live its all about sleepers because there are so many w*nkers with their huge fmic hanging out of their car nearly hitting the ground, i want to be as different as i can be , in saying that i don't want to have it hidden so much so that it is pointless even having one. has anyone had the same train of thought as me or am i alone??

 

then get a smaller intercooler

 

obviously

 

ditch your intercooler and use water/alcohol injection, or keep your stock intercooler and use water/alcohol injection.

My FC has a 13b-rew swap, but if I had a car that was an original T2 I would have kept the stock or put it back on when installing AI.

Preferably with a good intake that doesn't suck air from directly behind the radiator (stock airbox is better than most after market intakes)

Best of all worlds, and FMIC equipped cars do have problems overheating on hot days especially if you like air conditioning. My no intercooler equipped car sees intakes temps in the range of 30 deg above ambient under load, with a huge intercooler (24 x 12), it was at about 30 deg above ambient, so no change in charge temps, except now there is 6 feet worth of tubing and intercooler that the air doesn't have to pass through resulting in much better throttle response, a much simpler intake track with stock external look, and about 25 pounds removed from the front of the car.

Added benefit: a water/alcohol system even a good one is cheaper than just about any intercooler (with piping, fittings etc) that you are likley to find.