What size FMIC?

IronMonkeyL255 · Post by **IronMonkeyL255** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:56 am

I was searching, and found lots of discussion on FMICs, but no real mention of specific sizes.

I was looking around on eBay, getting ideas on piecing together an inexpensive FMIC setup before I drop the $$ on a much smaller TMIC setup.

By my reckoning (please correct me if I'm wrong), if I cut out the center bar on my lower bumper opening, I could fit ~ 27-28"x8-9"x2-3". This is also assuming modifying the bumper beam, but not removing it completely (can't see how you could).

One could probably fit larger the more you were willing to cut, but I think that would fit alright with a 'moderate' amount of cutting.

What inlet/outlet size would be best? I was looking and saw anywhere from 2" to 3", and was thinking 2.5" or 2.75" would be reasonable, and would allow for some upgrade of the turbo, but still work with the stock piece.

Anyone care to pitch in their thoughts?

Subtle · Post by **Subtle** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:44 am

The fmic install on my twgn didn't require cutting anything at the front.

Removed all the grill plastic for a good flow, but have yet to put on some sort of mesh.

IronMonkeyL255 · Post by **IronMonkeyL255** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:18 am

What size is it?

dzx · Post by **dzx** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 6:08 pm

I just removed the bumper bar, good weight savings too. Not sure about how safe it is if someone hits me head on though. I've had people rear end me so im glad i still have that beam.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:03 pm

That size should fit reasonably well.

You gotta cut a bunch of stuff though...

IronMonkeyL255 · Post by **IronMonkeyL255** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:30 pm

So nobody is willing to share what size they were able to stuff in?

Any suggestions for piping size?

dzx · Post by **dzx** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:00 pm

i have 2.5in piping.

IronMonkeyL255 · Post by **IronMonkeyL255** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:11 pm

Main reason I was asking is b/c the two I was looking at: one was bar and plate construction, but with only 2" in/out, while the other was tube and fin with 2.75" in/out.

dzx · Post by **dzx** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 2:06 am

I have bar and plate. I bought mine off a guy on ebay called boostcoolers or something like that. He sells them as spearco intercoolers.

NICO · Post by **NICO** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:40 am

you can do like i did, max power all the time for me no ifs or butts

see the pipe size.

when i did my swap. i even put that intercooler and pipeing in my gc impreza just had to make smaller end tanks but it worked.

free5ty1e · Post by **free5ty1e** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 3:48 pm

Damn. Nice intercooler.

Here's mine:

This one looked to be about 2.5 Saab 900 IC's side by side for width, I don't recall the measurements. It's about the same height, and about as thick. You'll notice I had to space the headlights out. I've since altered the grill to fit around the IC and still allow for good flow. I've also put in a HKS SSQV BOV and replaced all the yellow silicon hosing with good solid vaccuum lines (the yellow was all I could find at the damn Autozone when I did the install). Still need to make some "speed holes" in the front fascia so the bottom of the IC gets front airflow.

Whitey seems quite happy with my choice.

I only had to cut the top off the bumper to fit mine; although I also had to cut holes for the inlet/outlet piping to pass through. I used all 2.5" piping. Which was all 2.5" exhaust piping, bent into 5 90 degree turns and purchased as a single 7' piece for $35. The various truck radiator hoses and silicon couplers ran me a good $100 or so, and I won the intercooler off eBay for $80.

Too bad I had already gone through the trouble of moving the coolant tank, installing a Saab TMIC and mounting a WRX hoodscoop before deciding on this; now I'd need to spring for a new hood to close my scoop up, so open it stays. Oh well, it still provides a nice source of fresh air for the engine compartment, and a big vent for the turbo heat at idle.

NICO · Post by **NICO** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 7:43 pm

free5ty1e, wow nice set up.

your crazy like me hahahhaha, front mount is the only way to go, no heat soak for us thats for sure.

you no what else i like, you took the fastest root from the turbo right to the throttle body. all these wrx sti pepole with a million tubes up around down, down up around, in the fender out the fender around the fender i could go on for ever.

you no what i love about that free5ty1e, we did it all at home and we didnt spend more then a couple 100bucks.

Subtle · Post by **Subtle** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 12:57 am

IronMonkey

The dimensions of the I/C core itself is 24 inches long and the end tanks are 2.5 wide. The top bar and a half are shrouded by that beam, but it is no big deal as the part that is showing is v. effective.

Any week now sunshine may return to Vancouver and I'll post some pics

free5ty1e · Post by **free5ty1e** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 3:45 am

Nico-

yep, no matter how much I just boosted, when I get out and check the IC is always nice and cool. That damn Saab 900 TMIC was heating my intake charge, according to the laser temperature gauge.

Yeah, I still had exhaust piping left over so that means I didn't even use 7' total of IC pipe. I was very satisfied with the results of this project - especially since it was just me and a friend figuring it all out in his garage.

Best of all, once I've got my VF36 in, I can find a huge IC like you've got and jam it in there somehow using the existing pipes.

Man I can't wait to have my own garage again. (soon...)

NICO · Post by **NICO** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 4:28 am

free5ty1e that intercooler looks good all ready. its huge + the inlets an out lets are perfect, just put a bigger turbo and you should be fine.

you no what i loved about having a huge intercooler in the front, in the summer time when it was so hot, it still kick ass like no other. and your in florida now thats how its done free5tyle cuz its hot like a mother$%#&

azn2nr · Post by **azn2nr** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 10:12 am

i can fit a johnnyracecar.com 5 inch with out cutting a dam thing

NICO · Post by **NICO** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 1:43 pm

^^^^^ put a jhonnyracecar.com 8 inch in there if your going to put anything. the 5 would fit but more is better.

free5ty1e · Post by **free5ty1e** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 3:18 pm

They've got a decent selection of intercoolers there... interesting. Didn't know there was a reasonable retail source of those.

Jason - wouldn't you still have to cut your inlet and outlet piping holes if the IC was in front of your radiator as it should be...?

If the 5" will fit as you say without cutting the bumper, then the 8" will fit with just the top of the bumper cut like mine is. The IC can then sit on the bottom bumper sheet, and be mounted by the top.

Anyway - I'm going to have to try cramming that 8" budget style IC into the fascia of my other SS when the time comes. $185 retail for that much IC?! Sweet.

Edit: Did you notice that JohnnyRaceCar.Com no longer offers 5" or 6" classic ICs? Only the newer 6" and 8" are up for sale.

"This style of intercooler is currently unavailable."

Kelly · Post by **Kelly** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 8:20 pm

free5ty1e wrote:
Here's mine:

.

Thats awsome. Almost exactlly how I want to do mine.

IronMonkeyL255 · Post by **IronMonkeyL255** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:54 am

Freaking awesome.

Thatnks for the responses.

I was thinking of doing a TMIC, but I may as well do a FMIC setup, and skip the TMIC step.

I'll probably look into doing one like free5ty1e's. Real slick.

azn2nr · Post by **azn2nr** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:40 am

http://www.thawa.net/gallery/album18?page=2

all my pics are in there. the only cutting i had to do with the 5 inch was to teh bumper cover and infront of teh battery so the pipe could come up. if you guys want bargin basement prices on some nice coolers, i can get some for you. big ones too. like 24x3x12.

NICO · Post by **NICO** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:52 am

azn2nr very nice your crazy to hahahaha, your going to have to cut the bumper a little bit right?

azn2nr + free5ty1e, listen to me the 90 90 on the turbo set right, you can turn that rubber 90 to point where you want it, turn it a little and make one stright line to the turbo k&n cone maf sensor and the coffe thing all in one stright line, HUGE power increase.

then drive it and feel if you like it, if not turn the 90 a little to you like it, it makes a huge diffrence.

IronMonkeyL255 · Post by **IronMonkeyL255** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:17 am

I noticed that, and was planning on somethong like that.

You have any better pics of where you cut for the piping in front of the battery?

I'm thinking of a more traditional install, due to the less modification needed.

I was considering this, but am worried about where it says that max recommended pressure is 12psi. I plan to go a good bit beyond that......

azn2nr · Post by **azn2nr** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:18 am

nope, the way you see it mouted with the bumper beam there is the way it sits.

free5ty1e · Post by **free5ty1e** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:22 pm

Jason - sweet, I will have to contact you once I've got a garage out in Nevada. That 5" does fit nicely down there, doesn't it?

I've got a problem with low-mounted ICs though, had some bad experiences with a Saab 9000 FMIC on my old Saturn; it was taller than the radiator, and hung down below it a bit. This caused me to have seriously low clearance up front, and it would scrape on entering even the gentlest-sloping driveway angles. Knocked it on a few parking space stoppers, too.

What I love about the current install is that there's no clearance issues whatsoever. The bottom of the IC is protected by the bottom sheet of the bumper, and the radiator/condensor are still protected by the stock ditch plate. Solid.

Nico - that's not a bad idea. You mean, turn Boot B until it's possible to line up the coffee mug, the MAF sensor, and the intake filter?

I still use the airbox with a drop-in K&N though. I've cut it's fender opening to 3", and attached a PVC 90 degree 3" pipe in the fender in place of the snorkus. And the passenger foglight cover has been removed and cut open. I like the intake having a separate source of fresh air, so I never went with a cone filter inside the engine compartment.

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What size FMIC?

What size FMIC?