Are there any front mount intercoolers for the 2gb's that allow you to still use the factory fog lights? (preferably with short route piping, and mount to stock bolt holes)
Please post pics and details of your front mount if you have this setup currently.

Thanks,
-Brian

Yeah, tons! It all depends on how high you mount the intercooler. Or what kind you get. If you get one where the inlet and outlets are on the same side... mount the intercooler as low as you can without overlaping the bumper and you'll be fine, piping should go right past the fog lights.

See all the room under the fog lights... you want to use that up!

redeclipse7782 said:

Are there any front mount intercoolers for the 2gb's that allow you to still use the factory fog lights? (preferably with short route piping, and mount to stock bolt holes)
Please post pics and details of your front mount if you have this setup currently.

Thanks,
-Brian

Click to expand...

I've researched this quite a bit as I'm hell-bent on keeping my factory fogs. From what I've seen the two most poular choices are the GReddy 24r FMIC and the Hahn Racecraft FMIC. Yes, both keep the factory fogs and both require minimal cutting of the front bumper. Of course the forementioned benefits are achieved at the expense of the piping route... both have long route IC piping.

After talking to alot of people who have (or had) the BIG GReddy 24r FMIC, I came to the conclusion it really isn't the best choice. Its cooling efficiency is pretty poor and the long pipe running across the top of the intercooler core inhibits flow to the radiator so some people have overheating issues.

The Hahn Racecraft FMIC on the other hand is pretty solid front mount. It flows much better than the GReddy and it also eliminates that long pipe above the core. Oh sure, they are better flowing intercoolers out there at a better price, but if you're looking to keep the fog lights on your 2gb the HRC FMIC is one of your best bets.

There's one I just found that is one that goes directly right past your radiator... straight to the turbo, instead of around the frame like most... I copy it to show here cause it was 900 bucks!

ETS. Look in the vendor section for them.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=259134

I agree the greddy 24r front mount is crap. I was surprised as well because Greddy usually makes good products. There intercooler also has the largest psi drop that I have encountered.

It's funny this question came up cause I've been doing tons of research on this and it's driving me nuts because I can't choose. However, the long route piping is not a problem for me at all. Here are some pics:

Greddy 24:



Apexi GT:



Hahn:


CX Racing:



OBX/Godspeed Apexi Knockoff:
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x173/Staytuned23/1.jpg

Ebay Cores Can work with Custom Piping....18x12x3 FMIC Core:

ETS FMIC: As you can see the fog holes are still there so the fogs can be installed:

Go with ebay core and custom piping. The apexi and greddy just suck compared to the rest taking price into consideration.

RedTurboEclipse said:

Go with ebay core and custom piping. The apexi and greddy just suck compared to the rest taking price into consideration.

Click to expand...

Dude that's exactly what I was deciding on doing but most of the piping kits don't come beaded and that's very important to me. Any tips?

This should help answer your bead question:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=266777&highlight=bead

I just took my one IC pipe to Meineke today to get a bead put on it and is going to cost next to nothing. All he's doing is putting his muffler expander in and putting a lip on the pipe. Any exhaust shop should be able to do this (or weld a bead on but that'll be more). I agree with the ebay core and custom piping by the way.

Look at the $310 SSAC FMIC kit, that comes complete with short route piping. If keeping your fogs, and paying $500 more, is what you want, then disregaurd this.

$310 is worth losing your fogs, IMO.

Spyder4g64 said:

Look at the $310 SSAC FMIC kit, that comes complete with short route piping. If keeping your fogs, and paying $500 more, is what you want, then disregaurd this.

$310 is worth losing your fogs, IMO.

Click to expand...

The SSAC kit has been tossed around for over a year now. I've bought and sold the kit itself. I need my fogs so it's not an option.

And also, you can get the kit for less than $310, seems as if you're just discovering it.

Never said it was new, just stated that paying $500 more to keep your fogs isnt worth it IMO.

If they mean that much to you, obviously $$ isnt a problem, and ill retire from this thread.

Found some pictures of the Hahn Racecraft front mount so I thought I'd post them up...








Cheers all!

As for beading yourself, the link posted above helps. Also:

Welded Beads

Weld a circle or at least three to four section of beads around the end of the pipe. Make sure they are ground and finished kind of smooth so that the weld bead will not cut up the hose while sliding the hose over the end of the pipe.


Epoxy

Clean up the end of the pipe, no oil or paint at all. Rough it up a little with at least 80 grit sand paper, rougher (36 grit) is OK too. Mask off a stripe of exposed pipe. Run a bead of thick epoxy around the pipe. While the epoxy is still a little wet, pull off the tape. This will leave a bead of epoxy around the pipe end that will help keep the hose from blowing off.

----

I replied too hastily the first time. I use to run the Greddy 24r with ported big16g. It was fine. But heat soaked after a few runs. When I upgraded to the 50 trim. It heat soaked a lot faster. If you are running some kind of 16g. Those should be fine. Bigger.. get better.

I have an eBay core with custom piping, still got my stock foglights.