Hey guys,

I just got a used Pettit SMIC in the mail yesterday, and spent a long time cleaning it, then tryin to put it in. Obviously because it's used, it won't have instructions, and how hard can it be right!? Well, I couldn't get the damn thing to fit. I guess because how simple it looks I underestimated the install. I was wondering, after searching the forum (nothing came up with my problem), and came accross a few GReddy SMIC pages where people had to lower their radiator by flipping the front side mounts on the radiator. Would that be a solution I have to do? Since I'm not running a stock radiator? I have a fluidyne, and it isn't as thick as the koyo, but is thicker than stock. So, anyone with the older Pettit SMIC, the older coolcharge II I believe. Can you please chime in on your installs?

This install was pissing me off so much yesterday, and after a not being able to install, and a scratched up duct (from trying to squeeze the I/C into place), I'm asking for help. Sometimes, it's just good to hear tips from other folks. Thanks in advance for all those who are able to help.

-Jeff

 

Yes your rad is your problem. I have a a PFS SMIC and a fluidyne rad. The PFS SMIC fit perfectly with my stock radiator. Then about a year later my rad went so I bought a fuidyne.

Once it installed the duct on the Ic was hitting the fan and would align with the IC. I had to get a little creative to make sure that the rad sat as low as possible. There wasn't any cutting other than a plastic piece by the passenger side front bumper. Mostly it was adjusting of the flanges and stuff. It fit tight but it fits. Give it a look and see what exactly is keeping your radiator from sitting in deeper. It really isn't that difficult once you know your culprit.

 

Thanks, I'll try it when I get home.

-Jeff

 

Yeah, I had the same problem with my PFS SMIC duct and a PWR radiator. I had to cut up and reshape my duct even after flipping and modifying my rad mounts.

 

I'm about to try it now, wish me luck.

 

Must be nice to still have sunlight at this time

 

A few of these usually take care of the problem.

 

haha... would probably be a good investment, huh?

 

Hmm, I have the Pettit SMIC with mazdacomp radiator, no fitment problems at all. Ducting fits perfectly as well. About a 20 minute install!

 

What are your other mods? If you have an Efini Y-pipe, it won't fit without some cutting. The pipes are designed for the stock cross-over pipe.

 

I have the smic by greddy with a koyo and had no problems but the greddy smic piping kit seemed a little too long on the top pipe and i had to cut the s pipe the efini y and crossover pipe wasnt an issue at all nowusing the factory ic duct was a total pain in the ***

 

I have stock piping, but still won't fit. The pettit piping is too long. Should I just cut the stock elbow? Also, I'm not sure what the L mount is, but I was trying to lower the radiator, and I tried removing the rubber bolt piece on the front radiator mount, and one of them broke. Now I have a broken rubber bolt thing, and I think I might use a vise grip to get it out. That way the front sit a tiny bit lower, but with no bushing. I still think it wont be enough. Next step is to probably cut the duct to size, or cut the stock elbow. What do you guys think?

-Jeff

 

How does having the Efini Y pipe change fitment? I thought it was just a different Y pipe and a metal crossover pipe, but it would fit the exact same....does it not mate up to the factory intercooler?

Anyways I have Koyo and PFS IC/Duct and its a tight fit! I had to lower the radiator tremendously it sits atleast an inch lower as does the a/c condensor. Even after lowering, the ic duct rubed the fan wiring and shorted the system luckily the koyo cooled me fine without the fans for quite a while before i noticed and repaired the wires.

 

Explain how you lower it please. So, I don't do this wrong. Right now I'm just trying to remove those rubber bushing things where the front of the radiator sits.

-Jeff

 

The Efini is a little longer than the stock plastic pipe. For the stock IC, it doesn't hurt fitment. However with the extended piping on the Pettit CC II Old Style SMIC, it causes a problem. I did cut my cross-over pipe to fit:

https://www.rx7club.com/vbgarage.php...ype=im&id=6470

Jeff, I believe I did cut my stock elbow a little to get it to fit. I had since switched to the Greddy Elbow which I believe is what the kit was intended to use. Here's an old shot of my engine bay with the stock elbow:

http://mahjik.homestead.com/files/FD...8/MVC-006F.JPG

IIRC, I did trim the stock elbow to fit.

 

Thanks Mahjik. I'm going to dremel trim the stock elbow after I lower the radiator. What rubber did you use for the trim on the duct? That should allow no gaps, and deal the I/C pretty well. Also, did you trim the intercooler for the efini y pipe, or did you trim the efini y pipe?

-Jeff

 

is this the IC your talking bout?

 

Yeah, that's the intercooler I just got. Not from that guy, but the same intercooler.

 

could not get mine to go in flush at first either

the rubber grommet thingy's along the front support were what fubared my attempts.

I took those 2 or 3 useless pieces out and it fits fine now

good luck

T

 

I didn't do anything to the actual IC. I did my trimming on the y-pipe and the elbow. I will say that the amount I needed to cut on the y-pipe crossover was past the bead. I was going to weld a bead back on it but I didn't have a problem with it slipping off. Just an FYI there.

 

To drop the radiator I used some longer bolts for those black radiator brackets. Then added fuel hose as a bushing. Without doing that I couldn't even fit the IC duct in.

 

I had to bend the brackets holding up the bottom of the radiator back, just use some pliers or whatever. I removed the rubber feet off them as well, but I intend to get them back on there eventually as its probably not the best idea to leave them like that.

Than I believe I took the rubber things holding the top of the radiator off and put them on upside down or something. I dont remember exactly what I did there but stock the radiator sits on top of those brackets, you want it below them. Than just go to lowes or w/e and get some longer spacer bolts and nylon spacers to make the condensor fit......its sort of hard to explain but it should make sense when you look at it.

That sucks to hear, so since the PFS is a tight fit with stock piping....it will be a no fit with the efini y pipe?

I was planning on that to be my next upgrade, maybe not now.

 

If there is little space between the PFS piping and the stock crossover, then yes you'll probably run into issues with the Efini Y-pipe. It can easily be remedied with some cutting and IMO is worth it to remove the coupler on the stock y-pipe.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I really appreciate it. So far, this is what I'm going to have to do:

Find longer bolts or bend the lower radiator bracket; finish up removing the rubber bump stops on the front radiator mounts; and get longer bolts and washers for the a/c condenser. Last, but not least I have to cut a lil bit off the stock elbow.

Sounds good?

-Jeff

 

Sounds good. I didn't need to do anything with the stock radiator when I had it installed. However, I'm running a larger race radiator now and had to do a lot of hacking to make it fit the the IC.

I forgot to answer this above. Unfortunately, the sealing came with the IC from its previous owner. I would imagine you could find something similar as Home Depot for probably pretty cheap.