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FMIC Install Questions?

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tdykes1234

Proven Member
70
0
Feb 12, 2013
Columbus, Indiana
Ok, please don't answer to this post with "use the search button"! I have used it, read a few forums and still can not find a straight answer on what needs to be done. So, I own a '90 Plymouth Laser RS Turbo FWD and am planning on ordering a VRSF FMIC next weekend. Here are the questions I have about installing this kit...

1. Do I have to remove/loop the Power Steering lines and if so...how do I do it?
(photos appreciated)

2. Do I ABSOLUTELY have to relocate the oil cooler or can I leave it where it is for
time being?

3. Do I have to replace both fans or just one fan? If so, which one or just do both?
If I order slim fans (i.e: autozone or whatever) how do I mount/wire them?

This car is being used as a daily and time the car can be down is very limited. It's not that I don't want to do everything the "right way", but due to financial issues and time constraints...I need to know what to do and how to do it so that I can complete this install within day or two! Thanks to all that care to help and it is much appreciated!
 
Ok, please don't answer to this post with "use the search button"! I have used it, read a few forums and still can not find a straight answer on what needs to be done. So, I own a '90 Plymouth Laser RS Turbo FWD and am planning on ordering a VRSF FMIC next weekend. Here are the questions I have about installing this kit...

1. Do I have to remove/loop the Power Steering lines and if so...how do I do it?
(photos appreciated)

2. Do I ABSOLUTELY have to relocate the oil cooler or can I leave it where it is for
time being?

3. Do I have to replace both fans or just one fan? If so, which one or just do both?
If I order slim fans (i.e: autozone or whatever) how do I mount/wire them?

This car is being used as a daily and time the car can be down is very limited. It's not that I don't want to do everything the "right way", but due to financial issues and time constraints...I need to know what to do and how to do it so that I can complete this install within day or two! Thanks to all that care to help and it is much appreciated!
1. yes and just remove it. I got a new P/S cooler kit from MoralesRacing.com
 
Thank you very much! I have read that one many times prior to posting this though! He had already moved/removed his power steering cooler and looks like his oil cooler as well. I'm wanting to know what people have done to keep those in the stock locations or if they "HAVE" to be moved! Plus, I still don't know what to do about the fans. I really don't have the extra money at the moment to pay for 2 slim fans nor do I want to screw with the wiring involved. That is what I am trying to figure out!
 
For the power steering, you remove the rubber line going to the cooler and loop it, bypassing the cooler entirely. Mine was like this before I eliminated the lines, Ive seen many others without the PS cooler. You could try to relocate it if you wish, but the PS cooler is safe to remove.

I believe just the 90s had an air to oil oil cooler so since his was a 91 in the how to, he did not have that issue. Im not sure of the clearances, when you go to put it on there is a good chance you will have to relocate it. Just make sure it gets good airflow. This is not removeable on your car.

For the fans, slims are the way to go. But you could also cut the shrouding on the stock fans to clear your J pipe and the IC pipes on the hotside. It doesnt look the most pro, but it works if you dont want to rewire slims in or spend money on them.
 
I still have my oil cooler in the stock location on my 90 awd with the vrsf fmic, works just fine even in this Arizona heat. I already had it there for two years with no problems. I do plan to relocate it to where the d/s fog light used to be. I still run the stock fan on the passenger side I just had to trim it a little for the j pipe to clear no big deal. And for the drivers side stock fan (a/c fan) the I/c piping wont have room so you will have to run a slim fan there if you still have a/c.
 
Ok, so if I don't run a/c...can I just take that fan off and run without it until I can afford to buy a slim or will that cause the car to overheat? Next question is on your "trimming" comment, I have seen a post where a guy made the holes on the fan shroud larger so they would slide over the brackets and bolt down, freeing up like 1/2" I think...is that enough or do you mean actually trimming away the metal that makes up the shroud itself. If that is what you mean, where would you trim?
 
Yea it should be fine but make sure you don't use your a/c. I only run the main stock fan on my car but I removed my entire a/c system. You can try to enlarge the mounting holes for the fan it might work I never tried that I just trimmed the shroud a little (not the blades). On my car my main fan is plastic and the a/c fan I removed was metal. If your main fan is metal I don't know what you would have to do to make it clear. Just remember its better to have two fans.
 
Yeah, both of the shrouds (housings) are metal...but if I HAVE to buy slim fans...I will! Will the ones you can get at autozone work? If I need 2, what sizes do I need to use and how do I mount them?
 
I don't know what brands autozone sale. But i would find the best one's you can get with the highest cfm rating. And as far as size goes get the biggest ones that will fit. Maybe somebody that is running slim fans can chime in and tell you what there running.

EDIT some of the slim fans come with mounting kits, and i think you can just use zipties to.
 
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The biggest size you can fit is 2 12", youd most likely want to do a push pull setup (one on each side od rad, blowing air towards block). Ive tried a 14 and a 10 combo and the 14 hung barely past the end of the radiators fins onto the tanks. Ive tried advanced auto slim fans, but have found that the brushes wear out in about 1-1 1/2 years (I also have them wired to the rear defroster switch, so they see more frequent use, could play a part in the lifespan issue). I put in mishimotos, since I have their radiator, and its been all good since. Check out prices on the vendor sites before buying an autozone cheapo.
 
Thank you very much! I have read that one many times prior to posting this though! He had already moved/removed his power steering cooler and looks like his oil cooler as well. I'm wanting to know what people have done to keep those in the stock locations or if they "HAVE" to be moved!
That is my how to article. I removed the PS cooler and looped the lines for the FMIC install. You can keep it and just route it above or behind the FMIC but honestly its not needed. I have not had any issues since removing the PS cooler. Also as mentioned I have a 91 which has the liquid/liquid oil cooler. Only the 90's came with the air/liquid cooler. You can keep the oil cooler and just route it somewhere else if it's in the way.

Yeah, both of the shrouds (housings) are metal...but if I HAVE to buy slim fans...I will! Will the ones you can get at autozone work? If I need 2, what sizes do I need to use and how do I mount them?
Don't buy slim fans if you don't have to (the only reason you would have to is if the stock fan won't physically fit because of a huge turbo). I installed slim fans for a while and had overheating issues because they won't flow anywhere near as much as the stock fans. I swapped back to the stock main fan and kept a slim fan in place of the stock A/C fan and that setup works great!
 
On my 90, I went ahead and got rid of the ps cooler. It wasn't doing too much besides taking up space and leaking. The oil cooler is exactly where is was from the factory. the only issues I had was moving the coolant overflow. I just made a nice bracket out of a large worm clamp. The rest was pretty simple.
 
I bought 2- 12" slim fans off ebay that flow 1750cfm (the single main oem fan flows about 1800cfm by itself) and draw 12.5 amps for $30 each and they both came with a mounting kit for it. Havent had one overheating problem with them either.

I then cut the factory harness/connector off the a/c fan and wired the two power wires and two ground wired together on the connector (I forget their respective colors). Next I put my power and ground from the slim fans to the power and ground of the connector (or power to ground, and ground to power if u want pusher fans, I did pushers because they flowed more air that way and made about 3-4" more room for a big turbo) and viola you have dual 1750cfm slim fans that come on like the factory fans do :thumb:
 
Currently, I have a stock fan on the passenger side, and a slim fan that was given to me pushing on the driver side. I have them wired up off of the AC switch at the moment. Normally I leave them on constantly. Have not had a cooling problem yet.
 
if you want a good fan go to a junk yard and get a hyundai fan from an older elantra or any of their 90s cars i have one its really slim and pushes a good amount of air. dont get fans off ebay i had one and it lasted about a week before burning out. and wasting my money. as for the power steering i just moved mine out of the way but i have a punishment racing fmic kit but its pretty close to the same.
 
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