My first impression of punishment racings 8 inch short route street kit

[Imback]

Well first of all the packaging was decent. I First saw a few bent fins but thats nothing to cry about. Then after a good look over i noticed a few thing's i did not like. First of all it seems like these cores were bought from some were else and then had the ends cut off and they rewelded an extension to it. It also seems like the ends they added on had so many pit holes in the material it looks cheap. The welding and craftsmanship at best is mediocre. I've seen ebay intercoolers with better craftsmanship then this one. The pipes were decent but nothing to brag about. In all for a 550$ set up. I would recomend an ebay set up and save your self some money$$. Below i will attach some photos that will show you my point.

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The line goes around the whole end tank.

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These pit holes are every were on the end tanks.


And even if they did add on extensions they should of at least make it look like one whole piece. My review overall is not a good one for the amount they ask they should be better quality and craftsmanship.. You are better off getting an ebay setup like i said before or if you want a brand name one i have seen the ets ones and they have better quality and for not much more then punishment asks for.



Edgar

 

[BoostedinSoFla]

A lot of these "supporting vendors" are using fmic kits that are basically comparable to the same Ebay kits that they tend to bash. If I were you I would've went with a ETS street kit, best kit I've seen so far.

 

[Imback]

I did not buy this for my own car as you can tell i have a 2nd gen my friend bought this who has a 1st gen and since he was not able to give his own review i gave it for him. And if someone ask's how i am able to judge the quality of it me and my friend are both in the same field welding and fabrication. 7years+

 

[fwspin]

I've seen two of these kits up close and personal installed on customers cars at my shop. I didn't have these problems. The only problem i did have was with the j-pipe quality which after talking with them the second kit I received this problem was addressed.

 

[SonySlave]

Well, it's funny that you mention this because a member on here named LaN- was the original builder of this FMIC kit. He bought the cores from a dealer on eBay and he had a custom pipe setup made and he put it on his car. Then he started making the kits and selling them on here in the classifieds. After a while, Punishment began selling these kits I assume under LaN-'s behalf. I have this kit and it works great for me. Minor issues to work out like a slight rub on my ABS box, but what do you expect from a budget kit?

Here are the other threads about this kit:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/turbo-system-tech/239943-should-i-buy-intercooler.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/turbo-system-tech/241321-1g-ebay-ic-pictures-inside.html

 

[Imback]

5and chage is not a budget i would understand if this was something from ebay but this was bought recently.. And i understand what you are saying but tell me not you would not be upset when you recive some half ass shit??? for 550 shiped.?

 

[SonySlave]

I bought mine for $475 shipped early last year. They upped the price after a while.

Either way, it's still a decent kit that works very well. I would have some recommendations on how they could improve on the design of the piping to make it better. Namely the j-pipe, BOV placement, and the UICP rubbing against the ABS box, but the kit works the way it is right now. Have you seen the 1G SSAC FMIC? It's absolute garbage. I have never seen piping so long in my whole life! A local 1G guy here has the 1G SSAC kit and he blows his pipes off constantly. Crappy couplers. Crappy worm drive clamps. And 5 mile long piping. Granted the kit is only $239 shipped on eBay, but with pipes that long, crappy couplers and crappy clamps, seems pretty inefficient if you ask me. The Punishment kit is a true short route kit that includes a better fitting intercooler, complete beaded short route aluminum piping, good silicone couplers, and t-bolt clamps for every connection. I have had mine for almost a year now and I have never, not once, blown an intercooler pipe off. Not one time.

Now, I would prefer an ETS kit just because I like their pipe routing more than the Punishment kit. However, ETS charges $695 + shipping for their cheapest "street kit" with a core that is only 25x7x3", with awesome piping, silicone couplers, and t-bolts. Punishment's kit has a core that is 34x8x3.5", decent piping, silicone couplers, and t-bolts for only $499 shipped. That's why I chose the Punishment kit. Larger core, decent short route piping layout, silicone couplers, and t-bolts for over $200 less money.

Now, ETS is a local company to me that makes absoultely OUTSTANDING products and I will probably buy their pro race FMIC kit in the future, but right now for a street FMIC kit for a 1G, Punishment's kit is it for the money.

 

[Imback]

I understand you perectly. All i am is saying that from my stand of view i am not happy with it..Yes it was 5 and change but a few members on here have gotten excellent kits inculding some wisemen from ebay. There is a member on here called mangina or something like that . That has had excellent reviews for the kits he sold half the price of the punichment racing kit. All i am doing is sharing my review of the kit .

 

[Imback]

And for that price can't you at least get a solid end tank??? Not a hacked up one ? No one with a dsm is rich i just think we should get a quality part thats all

 

[SonySlave]

I get where you're coming from. The core doesn't leak or anything, so that is good. But you are definitely right about the blemishes and what not on the core. I had the same lines and pot marks on my kit also. But that wasnt really an issue for me since I really care more about function over form. It doesn't leak at all, it works great, and it looks ok. Not awesome, but ok. It's just one of those things that if you are a stickler about the little things like you are mentioning, it could drive a person nuts! Which it sounds like you are in that boat!

But honestly though, the kit really does work and works well.

 

[Imback]

I guess your right. I will have to start making parts from both 1st and 2nd gen dsm's

 

[Imback]

also that line is were they welded the new end talk and apprently they burned throw since it still shows.... tisk tisk

 

[Jst4Cyl]

From what I gathered from the thread you started I seen no evidence or supporting facts that this isn't in fact a quality front mount. In fact, you even said yourself that "I First saw a few bent fins but thats nothing to cry about." But yet this is the only thing that you mentioned that would affect the performance of the intercooler.

Visual blemishes are going to be found in many parts, I have a Magnus SMIM that has some blemishes but it performs the same as a brand new one. Now, if it cracks as some of the other ones have then I would have an issue. But I highly doubt that anyone is going to ask you to pull your front bumper off so they can visually inspect your IC. I believe that before you attack a Vendor that maybe you should actually list the defects or problems that you have with it and then contact them and work something out. But as it stands I don't see that you have a reason to say that it wasn't worth what you paid.

1) Does the item work as described?

2) Is the company claiming that it does something that it doesn't in fact do?

3) If you have the welding skills as you pointed out in your first post why not fabricate your own IC kit up?



If you can come back and list facts that directly point to the IC not serving it's purpose then maybe I can better understand your point of view.

BTW, I understand that your post was to state your " first impression" but the kit is setup for people on a budget. Most kits from other vendors are several hundred dollars more exspensive. I'm willing to deal with a few blemishes for the same performance as a high end kit. And this is only my $0.02 as you are entitled to yours.

 

[Imback]

I guess almost 600 is nothing to you. But to most it's alot


1- Have not been able to install since it's 5- outside

2-Nope.

3-I will.

4-I think for the price you should get better quality work thats all!!!!

 

[fst91dsm]

Jst4Cly, I could not agree more.

 

[Jst4Cyl]

I guess almost 600 is nothing to you. But to most it's alot

I'm a broke Mo-Fo ... I own a DSM, I mean come on. If I were rich (Which is my name btw ) I'd own a beefed out (<<<Did I really just type that) Evo and a 1G and 2G. Instead I have a modded garage queen.

Jst4Cly, I could not agree more.

Thanks, I just don't want another company to raise their standard along with their prices. BTW, Nasty looking 1G

 

[Imback]

Thats cool. I am sorry for asking more for the price.

 

[Jst4Cyl]

Thats cool. I am sorry for asking more for the price.

It's your $0.02 don't let anyone take that from you. I just feel that once your buddy does start to really need a nice front mount this will be there for him.

And if your not happy now wait till you install it

 

[Imback]

I understand if the quality is good then thats it. But No one wants to agree with me about quality and the price??? You in a way sound like you work for them?

 

[Jst4Cyl]

But No one wants to agree with me about quality and the price???

Yes, I can say that it could be improved in the sense that on the end tanks there was pits. But, when all the pros and cons are combined and you weigh out weither or not it is worth what it costs and how it performs V.S. a more exspensive same performing kit I will vote cheaper same performing all day long. This is why I have a DSM and the reason I support working products for working prices. This is all I'm trying to get across.

If this was a paint service or coating service that they were selling and they had orange peel, bubbles, paint blodges then I could understand your concern and agree totally. But if you want High Quality parts then the majority of the time you will pay high prices.

 

[Imback]

Be live me good quality aluminum is not that expensive and neither is welding. I am sorry for starting this thread. I understand you perfectlt4cyl. But you have to understand me and belive me that I've seen ebay intercoolers with better quality.

 

[punishment]

I'm not sure where your buddy ordered the kit from but we have never charged "almost $600" for them. What your pointing out are very minor surface imperfections that in no way shape or form affect the performance of the kit. Also the end tanks are not "cut off and they rewelded an extension to it"

This is a budget kit, not a show kit.

Tim

 

[JayRolla]

I'm not sure where your buddy ordered the kit from but we have never charged "almost $600" for them. What your pointing out are very minor surface imperfections that in no way shape or form affect the performance of the kit. Also the end tanks are not "cut off and they rewelded an extension to it"

This is a budget kit, not a show kit.

Tim

He said he payed $550 shipped. You go to your website you sell it for $499. Im guessing shipping is at least $50. So thats exactly what he said he payed which in my eyes, is pretty damn close to $600.

Ohh and for $600 I would want some quality, not something with an ebay core.

 

[punishment]

Actually all of our prices include shipping, so when it says $499 it's $499 which in my eye's is pretty dam close to $499

 

[tristanmb81]

check out this place for intercooler but no short route.
Intercooler Pipe Fabrication - Silicone Intake Systems Auto Parts