ToNy FD3S

How long does it take to install?
Thanks in advance.
Tony

Icemastr

iTrader: (2)

If you have never installed an FMIC before, or done much mechanical work, expect your car to be down at least a day or two. If you worked on it all by yourself expect 8-12+hrs. Some of the stuff is confusing to figure out unless you have someone helping you that has installed a Greddy FMIC before. For the 2 row with piping to stock twins the process involves removing the stock intercooler and air box, removing Y pipe and intercooler piping, draining power steering fluid and coolant, removing radiator, removing power steering cooler, removing front bumper, removing or cutting front rebar, installing intercooler to frame, moving a/c condensor, cutting battery tray and installing smaller battery, remounting radiator and a/c condenser vertically, reinstalling piping, cutting hoses for radiator, cutting hoses for AST, remounting battery. Stuff you will need that doesn't come with the kit : much smaller battery (hawker odyssey PC680) and Aftermarket air filters (2.5inlet). I had a midpipe when I did this, and I was able to make my Apex intakes fit with the airpump, but I should have removed my air pump when I did the FMIC install, if you dont have a midpipe, I highly recommend removing the air pump. Because i fried my alternator, and battery problems my car was down for almost a week and even with people helping I couldn't get the FMIC totally installed in one day (started at 9:00AM, worked until 8:00PM). But neither of us had installed one before and it took as a lot of time to figure some things out.

Shinobi-X

http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summ...ession.new=Yes

This tool will be your best friend. It will settle ALL of the cutting requirements, for $40 or below (got mine for $30 on sale).

I just finished installing mine, and while it's not too difficult, the instructions that come with the kit are a bit hard to follow. The more mechanical experience you have with the FD, the better, otherwise, prepare yourself for at least a weeks worth of figuring stuff out. I personally had replaced my fenders by myself, so it was rather easy to remove the body pieces. I also didn't have to remove my air pump, or efini Y-pipe, but I did get a smaller battery, and had to cut my intake piping to use my apexi units. Remember to keep your coolant and power steering fluid on hand for when you are done as well. Patience is the key with this install, as it's not easy, but able to be done with time.

tookwik

I'm in the process of doing mine right now.
Icemastr: how did you release your a/c gas? and was there anything special you did to take off the power steering and a/c lines. Its hard to tell what the freaking directions say in japanese.
(Its actually an HKS fmic)

Icemastr

iTrader: (2)

You dont have to remove the A/C condenser or unscrew any of the A/C lines, just bend them to fit and bend it so the radiator sits vertical behind it. The power steering cooler is held in by two clamps I believe, just unclamp them and install the new power steering cooler and move it back (for greddy at least). If you want to remove the A/C then you have to try and unscrew the piping or just cut it off. (which I will be doing soon since my car is being retired to mostly track use after this winter.)

manatecu

iTrader: (6)

When ShawnK and I did my Greddy we made some instructions in english with lots of pictures. If anyone wants them send me a pm with an email address.

Chris

ToNy FD3S

Thanks for all the replies guys. I'll let you guys know how it goes with some pics.

inis

i did mine in about 4 hours. i didnt think it was that bad. the greddy instructions suck, so below is a link of the ones i used. I also removed my a/c while i was at it, just cause i never use it, etc. hope the link helps.

http://flathat.woodstream.net/RX7/Docs/Greddy_FMIC.html

tookwik

Thanks man, perfect advice.

One other question, in my instructions it says something about removing the 2 stock connection pieces on top of the radiator and replacing them with the rubber bushings, on the side of the car next to the radiator, for mounting the radiator vertically. Any ideas on that? What did you guys use? did the greddy already have the pieces? Thanks again

Icemastr

iTrader: (2)

I didnt remove the bushings, I just mounted it as it was and it fit fine.

tookwik

thanks

roadsterdoc

I was under the impression that the stock turbos do not produce enough cfm for an FMIC. Does anyone have any dyno data? I sure like the though of fmic, and Jason has them at a great price.

manatecu

iTrader: (6)

I ran the Greddy FMIC on my twins for almost a year with no problems.

Icemastr

iTrader: (2)

The stock twins are capable of flowing 300RWHP of air @10psi and 350 @ 15 psi. I think thats more than enough CFM. Flyin Miata turbo kits come with a front mount, and they only make like 250rwhp. My miata uses a Greddy 2 row just like my FD does. Much more power and you would want a 3 row.

Batmobile

Hey Quentin,

You didn't mention your success of installing the Greddy Front was due to me supervising you, Poor College Student and Psychoblue

I have assisted Series7 and Icemastr to install the Greddy FMICs and I have to say that it is very tedious. I don't like the fact that you have to hack off some of the frame near the driverside headlight or the pipes coming from the turbo side won't fit correctly.

Personally, I don't like Greddy products but if you are willing to put in the time and dedication; then this FMIC is the best bang for the buck. I squeezed out a couple more $$ to purchase the Blitz FMIC which is bigger, better constructed and easier to install.

Nocab72 has done an excellent write up with pics :

http://flathat.woodstream.net/RX7/Docs/Greddy_FMIC.html

lost_rotary

Hey ice master....what did you do to your apex intake to have the ic piping fit? my friend told me to make the top filter hose shorter, is that what you did?

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

I'll post my set up when i get to work.. I'm using apexi piping for the primary with blitz intake and blitz intake and piping for the secondary.. It fits o.k.. I'm still working on it to fit it better..

Scrapiron7

I installed my own but I would not do it again. It was a major pain in the *** and took longer than I had planned.

Shinobi-X

Some pics...sorry to those with 56k



Excuse the battle damage on the front end.



I had to do some custom work on the piping, to get the Apexi units to fit, but they did.


This one is not mine, but it's another shot of the Greddy FMIC, w/ Apexi intakes.

Icemastr

iTrader: (2)

To get the Apex filters to fit with the air pump, I switched the top filter with the bottom one, and squeezed the top filter (now on the bottom) behind the radiator, it worked, but it bent the piping a little bit so my primary turbo only boosted to 6psi. When I removed my air pump, I then switched the filters back and they fit just fine. Batmobile, Psychoblue, and PoorCollegeStudent all helped me, Batmobile had helped install one before so his knowledge was pretty valuable, but he showed up when we only had about 1hr left to work on the car. You do not have to cut the frame, just the hard plastic in the front of the car, like is shown in Shinobis top picture, I just removed the whole peice though. The instructions say to hack the frame by the passengers side headlight to get the turbo to intercooler piping to fit, however I was able to make it fit without doing that. I choose the Greddy intercooler, because it sits the furthest out, and I want to switch to a bigger 3 Row in a couple months and put the 2 Row on my turbo miata.

SERIES7

Am I the only one that has cooling issues with this Front Mount? Ever since I got the PFC Commander and was able to monitor my water temps, I've been freaking out!

Shinobi-X

Would that last pic I posted happen to be your car? I recall asking a forum member for that pic, but forgot who exactly it belonged to. Either way, I had to hack a part of the frame in order for my piping to fit, I wonder how you didn't, while still managing to get fitting done properly. Everything is extremely tight now. As far as the tubing being squished when bent behind the radiator, mine was also, but I solved it by putting a clamp over it, then tightening it to give the tube back it's circular form (and also so it wouldn't rub against the air pump pulley). A bit on the 'creative' side, yes, but it worked. I actually used the appropriate filters for the primary and secondary turbos, but switching may have been another idea. I ended up doing some custom piping to get the upper intake to fit, but I'll take pics of that later if anyone wants to see.

Series7,

Have you done the fan mod, and ducted your radiator? Also, do you have the undercover modded to help with airflow? Once you are moving, you should be okay, but if you are sitting in traffic, expect some higher temps.

Icemastr

iTrader: (2)

The picture is not my car. My pipes fit perfectly, nothing is really tight, just its kind of hard to get between the pipe and the radiator. I changed one of my fan relays and now both fans run on high whenever the A/C is on, I dont really have cooling problems, temp is always 87 celsius, but in California when it got over 100F outside, my started heating up, and I couldnt drive over 80MPH or it would get to hot. I opened up the passenger side duct and piped it to bring more cold air in though, and I think this has helped. As long as I run the heater on high, the car wont heat up in traffic even if its 110 outside and sitting in traffic for 5hours and moving 4 miles (when I was just outside L.A. moving back to Washington and there was a fire on the hill and traffic was stopped.) I think I am going to need a bigger radiator for racing though.

Shinobi-X

Is this now, or when you had the air pump? You should consider yourself lucky then if you didn't have to cut the frame AND got perfect fitting.

Batmobile

As I can recall,

Icemastr had to bunch up his Apex intakes to whatever room was left over. It was very cramped up. He didn't have much clearance because of his smog pump at the time of installation. He also used many duct tape to make everything work. I've sworn he or Psychoblue, PCS also cut out part of the frame near the headlight, otherwise the piping wouldn't fit correctly. I should know, Series7's piping didin't fit corrcetly until recently when we hack off the frame.