merc 93

What is this "grill" on Crazyflipcarlo's car, as seen below? Is it an intercooler, radiator or just for looks? If for looks, where can I buy one?
Also, are his parking/turnsignal lights just frosted black or did he remove them? Are these the dark tinted lights being sold here on this forum?


Thanks for you help with my questions.

SpeedKing

iTrader: (4)

Are you asking legitimate questions, trying to flame the guy, or just being dumb?

As if it wasn't obvious and we're looking at the same thing, the "grill" is a FMIC, and the parking lights are removed.

merc 93

Sorry speedy if my questions somehow insulted you. I am asking because I think it looks cool and want to do the same with my FD rebuild. I also PM'd the owner with these same questions.

It may be obvious to you, but I've never seen an FD that looked like this.

Two follow up questions:
What is an FMIC and is it legal to go without parking lights or front turn signals?

Thanks anyway...

EDITED: Nevermind on the FMIC. I googled it and found out that the IC part stands for intercooler. I still do need to know if the turnsignal removal is legal though. If a google on that turns up anything, I'll post it back here as well.

merc 93

Damn... it looks like I can't legally drive my FD with the front turnsignals removed. Here is the code for anyone interested...

TURN SIGNAL LAMPS REQUIRED.

(a)Exceptas provided by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer shall be equipped with electric turn signal lamps that indicate the operator's intent to turn by displaying flashing lights to the front and rear of a vehicle or combination of vehicles and on that side of the vehicle or combination toward which the turn is to be made.

SpeedKing

iTrader: (4)

Your questions didn't insult me but at first glance didn't seem very smart and caused me to second guess you.

A FMIC is a Front Mount Intercooler. Something like this:

http://www.rx7store.net/product.asp?0=215&1=301&3=417

Because it looks "cool" shouldn't be a reason for you to be getting one. Research FMICs, SMICs (Stock Mount), and V-Mount ICs, and decide what would work best for the goals of your car.

And no, it's not legal to drive w/o parking lights but don't ask me why he doesn't have them in the pic. Probably he was going racing and he removed them for increased air flow.

Sprockett

Yeah dude...I thought you were joking. Those were some n00bish questions.

rynberg

You actually wanted to drive around without the parking lights/turn signals?

merc 93

Well... hey, although I bought and still have one of the first red w/ black, touring FDs in the US( AFAIK, vin#<75), I've tried to maintain it as OEM until recently. It only has around 53K original miles on it, but the cosmetics and some other functional items need work.

As I am moving to do some minor body changes, prior to painting, I saw the grill/FMIC and thought it looked really cool. I don't think I need an IC for my modest driving needs though. Although, I have no idea what an IC cools?

As for the turnsignals, I wonder if you recessed the lights a bit more and used a blackened lens and reflector if it would look like his?

I guess I should search and find those posts on the black frosted lights being sold by someone here on this forum.

So... sorry for the noobie questions.... you probably should expect more of them from me in the future.

merc 93

Oh... one more question, for now.

Since he doesn't have front lip spoiler, and without turnsignals, is probably going racing, has it been determined that the front spoiler is only for looks, or does it help with high speed performance?

I have an R1 lip spoiler which I was going to add... should I still do it?

Sprockett

It helps direct air into the brakes...so yes, it'd be a good thing to have. Maybe he just took out the lights to clean them

merc 93

Thanks Sprockett!!!

Sprockett

Could also be a non-R1...I think only R1s had the front lip spoiler.

cruiser

R1's and Euro-spec FDs

Quickfini

iTrader: (6)

R1 lip can be added to anything. It's just an option. Just R1's came with them stock.

jeepguy04

iTrader: (1)

how does he have more posts than me and not know this stuff....... sorry didn't mean to sound hateful or anything...

I do however believe that any question should be answered.....because how else are people gonna learn stuff..... and that's what this forum is for right

you definately already have an intercooler..... it's just not mounted up front like that.... and your right with only modest driving the stock one will do you just fine....plus with a bigger intercooler and if you upgrade anything else like intake exhaust then your looking at maybe needing to change the ecu and control the increased boost somehow..... so just stick with the stock one

the air goes in the intake and through the turbos....here the air gets very hot.....when it leaves the turbos it goes through the intercooler so it can cool down a bit before entering the engine..... cause cooler intake temps means more power less detonation ect, ect ect....

jeepguy04

iTrader: (1)

www.howstuffworks.com - intercooler

this will help explain things a little better, also you may want to read the whole section on turbos

also search for rotary engine.... great explanation of exactly how it works.... I love that site..... explains just about anything you would ever what to know

Ohh.... mods sorry if this got off the topic of the Interior / Exterior / Audio section

Sprockett

seriously, though...how do you NOT know this stuff and have an FD?

merc 93

I guess I can just chalk it up to good luck.

I bought this car way back in Oct/Nov 92, and one year later, we had our first kid. One year later we had our second kid. So... it has been driven scarcely since, since we had 4 cars, 4 kids and one two seater. Although I drove it on weekends, I traveled extensively for business and the car went almost undriven, covered in the driveway for 2 years.

Anyway, in Sept I lost my company car, and decided to revive the FD. Since then I've been learning all about replacing all the stuff that's broke. This car runs perfectly but needed a new exhaust. Alot of my posts concerned the downpipe/midpipe/cat/precat and cat back. I finally ended up with the RB dual tip and I love it. Still... so far I've failed emissions testing here in Texas twice, and have been driving this car uninspected.
Other stuff done so far:
- new windshield
- some new body parts and sunrroof, to replace rusted and missing parts.
- Window switches

Repairs still needed:
- A/C, hasn't worked for long time... don't have any idea what is wrong yet and can't do my own leak test due to freakin' freon enviro stuff
- Car Audio system - none currently in car
- Paintjob...

As I continue to get this car back into shape, I'm sure I'll have lots of dumb questions for you all. Thanks again for your patience.

merc 93

Egad... make that 4 people, including ONLY 2 kids.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

merc 93,

You can tint the turn signals as shown above.

merc 93

Mahjik,

I really like that look!

How did you tint the front turn signals? Are the turnsignals still easily visible to other cars through the tint?
Also, what are those two silver bars in the front bumper between the original(?) fog lamps?
Finally, is that an R1 lip? Is it repainted or just new?

Thanks!

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

I used a tinting spray paint called "Smoke Tail". You can find other tinting paints around. One of the more popular one is called NightShades.

The light still shine through the tint, so it's not a problem.

That's called the Shark Mod. It used to open up the stock front end for more airflow when putting the car on a track.

That's the 99' Spec Front Lip. The lip is unpainted. It was fairly new at the time of the picture.

rotoryspeeddreamz

ditto...

BTW nice car Mahjik...

Kyro-2

iTrader: (1)

Well ive got to say this thread made me laugh my *** off..! good stuff

merc 93

I aim to please.