^ very simple and original!! i thought only the FD's were able to rock the IC piping on top of the radiator support... this stuff is breakthrough!!

sweet. i wasn't aware of that... i actually found an old greddy fmic kit for about $400 shipped... and that's the same ball park figure as doing a custom IC (so i read)... if i ever ditch the ol' greddy fmic kit, i'll definitely try to "fab up" something nice and functional...

That diagram does help, although i kinda wish they had a shot from the U.S. passenger side view...



I circled that same "tube" that comes out under the BAC... i wonder if this guy's car was running the way pictured?? is it okay to leave that "unplugged"?

 

^ it doesn't seem like the car was "finished" in this picture... i say that because there aren't clamps on EACH end of every coupler...

anyway, i'm nearing completion of my FMIC install (just have to cut the rad support to fit a pipe), and pick up a BOV to stick on the piping...

still no answer to that tube under the "BAC"... any guru's wanna chime in?

 

alright! so i FINALLY completed the FMIC install today, and it's good to once again, have my daily driver running! HOWEVER...

the unexpected...

BAM! (picture taken under exhaust manifold, turbo hot-side)


Oil... why is there oil here?! that can't be good...

it seems to be smokey on top of the turbo mid-section at idle... it goes away for a few minutes, but finds its way back momentarily... all the lines are bolted down tightly/sealed, and there's not one specific region where the smoke is coming from... generally, it is above the hot-side and mid-section of the turbo. it could very well be that oil pictured above.

an "expected" issue i knew i was going to deal with is IDLE. that "tube" under the BAC remains OPEN, and i can feel a vacuum when i try to cover it, BUT it doesn't seem to affect idle speed. WHAT DO I DO WITH IT??

the car will idle FAIRLY (around 1k RPM), but after giving it a hard rev, idle will fall, sputtering below 800 RPM and eventually die if i don't stay on the throttle. i've even tried raising the idle (after it sputters) by "extending" the idle stop screw. it does work in raising the idle, but once a hard rev is applied, the revs drop down below where it was previously set.

things to keep in mind:

- my boost gauge wasn't hooked up, but will be 1st thing tomorrow.

- i re-used the couplers the previous owner used, and some look sketchy as hell.

- my cone air-filter doesn't fit onto the AFM because the e-fan/shroud is in the way. my old TID set-up won't work with the FMIC piping in the way...


i can't wait to be on the road... i need to have the car running properly for the most part before doing so. i'll probably post a "trouble shooting" vid up tomorrow... good night ya'll!!

 

i forgot to add on the "things to keep in mind list" (since i can't use the EDIT function because my SN is experiencing some inconveniences)

- the vacuum line that goes from the nipple on the compressor housing to the nipple on the internal wastegate WAS NOT connected. what can that NOT BEING CONNECTED do? the line got brittle from the heat and just snapped... like the boost gauge, it will be fixed tomorrow...