xs power fmic install
I searched all over and couldn't find any post on the xs power fmic for the 1g you probably have seen on ebay. So after reading good things about there 2g kits i decided to take one for the team and get the kit. I got the whole kit for just under $400.
I have taken some pics of the kit on the car and posted them at the bottom. First thing i thought when i saw this kit in person is that it is huge. It is not including the mounting brackets is 11.5 inches tall 3 inches thick and 28 inches wide not including the end tanks. The piping is beautiful, with nice welds and a polished core. The couplers are very nice and it comes with a bunch of t bolt clamps.
First thing I did was to piece the kit together on the floor first to find out where all the pipes go. Then I proceeded to take my car appart, starting with the headlights, then the bumber, the pasenger splash shield, and the stock intercooler and piping. My car when i bought it did not have a crash beam so it didn't get in the way for me. Also i didnt have any fog lights either, so i don't know if they would get in the way, allthough i asume that they would because this core is huge.
I had to cut out where the stock intercooler piping comes off the top of the intercooler and goes to the throttle body. For this i just used some tin snips and pliers, the metal if fairly thin and easy to cut. I also had to use a dremel on the front bumper to cut the plastic so the piping would clear. Also it would be a very good idea to have a 2g throttle body elbow because the stock one is way to small. You also need to weld and make a flange to fit your stock bov, and make sure you angle the flang in the right direction twards the intake so it can easily be resurculated using the stock hose. I should have measured twice and welded once, so i had to rig my own recurculating tube to get me home. Mounting the core i used the stock hole that is under the hood latch and since i work in a stereo shop i used a bolt that threaded into the core and some back strap wraped in tape to hold it securly. The kit comes with plates that bolt to the bottom of the core and i used some back strap again to self tapping screw them underneath to the radiator support. I used zip ties to pull up in the piping just so i could mount the core centered and straight.
Before you put everything back together you should check all your clamps and mounts to see that every thing is tight. I had to do lots of wiggling to get every thing tight and square. I strongly suggest you get a drill and a 10mm socket to losten and tighten the t bolt clamps with because you will be ajusting them alot. I also had to take a good time to dremel the bumber to fit good. I didn't use the j pipe they give you because it didn't have a presure source for my mbc, but i will in the future because it is crome and bigger than the stock one. You will also need to make a gasket for your new bov flange, and if you use the j pipe they give you.
Also your boost preasure will probably change if you are going from a stock smic. I didnt recieve any noticeable turbo lag going to the 2.5 inch piping and the huge core. While testing and driving with the new kit i noticed a huge gain in power. It pulls harder now at 10 lbs than the stock smic did at 14 lbs. After a hard long pull the pipe just off the j pipe can be to hot to touch, but the pipe going to the throttle body is ice cold. Just think of the power at high boost. I would highly recemend this kit to any body shopping for a fmic, and ecpecially if they didn't want to spend upwards of $700.
As when ever you mess with your intake piping do a boost leak i found a few, Also make sure you maft is plugged in and the breather tubes are hooked up and the o2 sensor is plugged in.
Stuff that didn't come with the kit that i used:
Pliers
cordless drill
various sockets and wrentches
jack
jack stands
zip ties
tin snips
a dremel with a sidways cutting bit
a bolt for the top of the core i think it is a fine threaded 3/8ths by 1 1/2 inch long
back strap
half inch self tapping screws
Sorry the pictures are a little blurry i was shaking with excitement!
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