Here is the box that the intercooler and air duct came in. I placed a basketball next to the box so you can get an idea of how big it was.
I was quite impressed with the packaging. If anyone is wondering, I purchased the Supra intercooler piping as a separate order (about a week after I bought the intercooler) so it came in a different box. The intercooler piping did not come in this box. There was only one (perhaps) major flaw in the packaging. There were Styrofoam pieces inside both end tanks. I wanted to make completely sure I got all of the Styrofoam out, so I took the time to take off BOTH end tanks. I am glad I did. For one, there was a fair amount of Styrofoam stuck in both end tanks, and no amount of shaking would have gotten them out. I was not about to stick something in there to try to shimmy them out, in fear of damaging some of the fins on the inside of the intercooler.
Secondly, I found out something that I had not heard of before as being a possible (and perhaps slight) concern. Look at the photo below:
As you can see, there is a yellow line and a red line in the above photo.
I will be refering to this end tank as the "lower" end tank. If you are that lazy and MUST only take off one end tank (to flip it), please take off this one. There is some serious gunk and grime that has accumulated over the years in the corner of the intercooler. The yellow line indicates where I found a slight-to-moderate amount of grime. The red line indicates where I found a moderate-to-heavy amount of grime. When taking off the end tank, please be careful. There is a rubber gasket between both end tanks and the intercooler. You do not want to rip/damage these.
From what I have read, most people flip the "top" end tank. Only in one instance have I heard of someone taking the extra effort to take both end tanks off, but that was when the individual was having a shop fabricate custom metal end tanks for his Supra SMIC. I don't know if he actually took the end tanks off himself. I doubt it. I assume he had them taken off, in order for the shop to get an idea of what they needed to do.
Anyways, after I saw how much oily slime there was between the intercooler core, rubber gasket, and end tank, I decided to hand wash the rubber gasket and do the same to the opposite end tank. Lets just be clear- there wasn't a TON of slime here, but there was enough for me to mention it for anyone who cared. And the gunk was thick and somewhat hardened. I had to take a screwdriver and scrape off the gunk by hand.
Here is a photo just for a quick reference of what the Supra SMIC core looks like with an end tank off (definately not my Supra SMIC):
Just a note here: when scraping this gunk off, and when cleaning the actual end tank, take a screwdriver and a clean shop towel and combine their powers. Take the towel, and fold it over so that it will act as if there were two towels at work. Now put the end of the screwdriver somewhere on the double-padded towel (probably in the middle) and go to work. I found that if you do not fold the towel over, the screwdriver will quickly push right through the threading of the towel. Using this screwdriver-and-towel method is useful because the screwdriver will be taking off the scum, and the towel will be picking it up. Just in case you were wondering, the towel should be dry.
That stuff would not come off with a few swishes of gasoline. One the other hand, I doubt that this grime was an interference to the performance of the SMIC, but nevertheless I decided to be thorough. Remember the Styrofoam from the box? Well, there were small pieces that were near the fins on the inside of the intercooler, and a few that were a quarter of an inch down the holes. It seems too optimistic to say that I got ALL of the little pieces, but I did what I could. Before you put the end tank back on, take a clean rag to it and wipe off the oil on the inside of each end tank. I should assume that the gasoline would get that, but I will suggest it anyways. There are a few crevices where oil has accumulated, and only a screwdriver and a towel can get at it.
Just a side note about cleaning the intercooler. I don't know why there seems to be some hysteria in some people about using fuel to clean the intercooler out. I strongly suggest (as do other people who have done write-ups on this process) that you do this at least a day before you plan on doing the install. Stop b**ching about wanting to clean the intercooler out and installing/reinstalling it on the same day. You also need (or should) set some time aside to fix the fins and set them straight. It IS time consuming. If you plan on installing the intercooler on the weekend, and you get the intercooler in the middle of the week, get it ready for the weekend. Don't wait and try to rush the drying process. If you get the intercooler on the weekend and wanted to install it in the same weekend, lay off the installment and just get it ready for another time. Life will go on. If you rush the process, you can damage something and may end up spending a lot more than if you just simply waited. Try thinking of the old adage "good things come to those who wait" or "patience is a virtue."
Just another thought- while each end tank is off, I suppose you could use JB Weld to seal the end tanks to the SMIC core. I don't see this as being something necessary, but you may. If you have the appropriate funds, I would suggest instead that you have a local trusted shop fabricate custom end tanks for your Supra SMIC core. The first thing this would do is put your mind at ease to the thought of shattering your plastic end tanks on the road. Secondly, it will provide an improved SMIC that will perform better than the original. Thirdly, it will allow you to request the shop to add custom brackets to line up with the original bracket holes. Fourthly, it will allow you to have the end tank pipes placed and angled to your liking. Fifthly, it will allow you to have the end tank pipes fabricated to be longer than the original (so that you have more room to double clamp the couplers on).
Here are two photos of what I am talking about (not my SMIC). As you can see, one end tank has been custom fabricated but the other side has not. If you are going to go this route, I suggest you do both end tank sides.
Before I forget to mention, as you can see in other Supra SMIC pictures, the brackets on both end tanks are plastic. I have seen some people attach exhaust straps (like the one seen in the below photo) to these plastic brackets. Now, I am well aware that I currently have zip ties holding these plastic brackets to parts of the car, but those are only for emergency situations. Again, I am confident that the double clamping will do the job quite well (meaning, double clamping won't allow the Supra SMIC to fall from the car and end up on the pavement). Here is what I am talking about (not my photo):
Make a judgment call here. If you don't feel completely confident that the double clamping method will hold your Supra SMIC in place, then do what you must. I won't be offended =P