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Truly Bolt on FMIC

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TurboLaserRS

10+ Year Contributor
512
6
May 14, 2011
Dayton, Ohio
I've been searching for awhile but I haven't been able to find any answer on the forum using the search. I have a bunch of parts collected for refreshing the entire front end of my car and while I was at it I was thinking about using some of my bonus money to purchase a front mount kit. The thing I'm running into though is that all of them I can find require cutting and trimming and all kinds of things and I really don't want to do that to my car. So keeping that in mind, are there any truly bolt on front mount kits for my 1G or am I just SOL?

Also Merry Christmas to all on this forum, and thanks to everyone over the past year or so for all the help I have recieved from so many great people. I hope you all have a wonderful time and make some nice memories this season. Thanks so much guys.
 
I've been searching for awhile but I haven't been able to find any answer on the forum using the search. I have a bunch of parts collected for refreshing the entire front end of my car and while I was at it I was thinking about using some of my bonus money to purchase a front mount kit. The thing I'm running into though is that all of them I can find require cutting and trimming and all kinds of things and I really don't want to do that to my car. So keeping that in mind, are there any truly bolt on front mount kits for my 1G or am I just SOL?

Also Merry Christmas to all on this forum, and thanks to everyone over the past year or so for all the help I have recieved from so many great people. I hope you all have a wonderful time and make some nice memories this season. Thanks so much guys.

I just installed my front mount, it really wasn't too bad. It's just opening up the holes at the front of the car. After that, it's fairly straight forward, and I'm terrible at mechanical stuff.
 
The ETS FMIC kit is not bad either. Just required the two holes for the intercooler on the radiator support.
 
Im running the VRSF kit and its really not that bad. Just a little trimming thats all. And the metal that you would be cutting is really not that thick so it makes it a lot easier.
 
If you go with a short rout you'll have to get rid of the power steering cooler line and move the coolant over flow and mybe even get a slim fan for the Ac. As for cutting a lot that depends on if your gona keep the bumper all the way across and tuck the top part of the front mount behind it. That will take a little work.
 
If you go with a short rout you'll have to get rid of the power steering cooler line and move the coolant over flow and mybe even get a slim fan for the Ac. As for cutting a lot that depends on if your gona keep the bumper all the way across and tuck the top part of the front mount behind it. That will take a little work.


You don't have to get rid of the power steering cooler lines. You can just re route them up behind the drivers head light and its a straight shot the power steering reservoir. Ill take some pics of mine for you. I was able to keep the AC but it was a bit of pain to squeeze the lines in.
 
Agreed...
You're not going to a truly, 100%, no work bolt on FMIC. It's a small price to pay if you wanna play though.
 
For the price and effort, the VRSF isn't a bad choice. The installation is simple. The hardest part for me was cutting the bumper support. I was about 16 hours into working on the car that day and was tired though. I cut it wrong and ended up buying a JMF bumper support. The cutting of the wholes for the piping was no trouble at all. I actually used an air chisel to knock out the metal and a die grinder to clean everything up. I think it was simpler doing that than it was to eliminate my power steering. I had to relocate my coolant overflow, but that was no issue at all.
 
I also just finished installing an FMIC on my 2g. It was a Greddy and it wasn't too bad at all. I had the job quoted at a performance shop and they said bare minimum of $500. It took me about 8 hours to do but I also had a lot rusted bolts break during removal.

The only significant fab that was required was taking out a piece of the bumper to allow for the piping to fit. I used a sawzaw and it took me about 15 minutes. Also I had to grind away a small square hole in the metal piece that the bumper bolts onto by the hood to fit the mounting tab on the IC.

If you are looking for a truely bolt on intercooler your best bet would be an upgraded side mount like the stock supra SMIC or something.
 
So I'm in the market for a FMIC and for the money it looks like both the punishment and VRSF kits are really good. I read the punishment vs. vrsf thread and saw quite a bit of arguing on both sides. Now what I'm more interested in is a 'long route' kit. I saw several posts of people saying that the spool difference between a long route and short route is not even perceivable. Who makes a long route besides for ebay sellers? I was reading that long route would even save me from having to cut holes in my car which I am all for. My car doesn't have fogs, so the piping can run through there for all I care. I just don't want to run a cheapo chinese core -- I've seen the fin density of ebay cores and they make me sad.
 
I run the VRSF short route...its really only one hole..takes about 15 minutes to make the hole.

Its a good kit at a good price...just my opinion.

You can look into the more expensive cores and get the piping cheaper elsewhere, but that is always going to be a headache getting the "fit" just right. If your car didnt come with a bigger intercooler in the location you want, it is going to be hard to find something that will bolt on without some fabrication.

If I were you, I would not try to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, just get a kit thats your "flavor" and put it on.
 
The VRSF is just a SSAC kit that's had some changes. SSAC started out on eBay.
The Punishment Racing kit is an eBay one too (CX Racing I think?).

If you want a good kit you'll have to look at ETS but be prepared to pay!
 
There really isnt any "true" bolt on kit. our cars were never designed to have a FMIC, modification to some degree is needed. With that said, i suggest the ETS. The quality is unsurpassed.

I have posted in the past in many "1g ETS FMIC" threads, I run the intercooler myself and couldn't be any happier, it was really a breeze to install. A little enlarging/modification of the "D" shaped holes and if you really want the kit to fit perfect, cutting the crash beam. You can install the kit without modifying the crashbeam, but it will sit below the bumper. I also have pictures in my profile of the kit.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/turbo-system-tech/458595-ets-street-fmic-install-out-crashbeam.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/tur...-street-intercooler-installation-problem.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/turbo-system-tech/411819-1g-ets-fmic-fitiment-issues.html
 
Opinions =/= efficiency, nor hide the fact it's Chinese/Taiwanese junk.
 
there is not bolt on no cutting fmic kit...only smic kits.

of all the kits this is the one that isnt that bad.

RRE Griffin/Spearco 1G I/C Kit Install Instructions

I'd have to agree with this one. Same side FMIC, less piping, less coupler connections (minimizes chances of boost leaks) is probably the route to go if you want easy.

I had a Hahn FMIC on my 2g (they don't make one for 1g), also same sided inlet/outlet. Easy to install as the brackets are welded on the intercooler itself. Long route piping and tought as nails in terms of build quality (made in the US). Although I've heard of some having pin hole leaks sometimes. Although this is for the 2g, just speculating on its benefits.

If you are looking for a truely bolt on intercooler your best bet would be an upgraded side mount like the stock supra SMIC or something.

Definitely not the Supra Sidemount. Requires a lot of custom work and piping to get it to work and tons of pre-planning if you want it installed to look good as well. Also requires you to flip one end tank. So definitely NOT the supra sidemount in that regards. The other upgraded sidemounts (Dejon/Alamo) will be a bolt on affair. Although to get maximal efficiency with them, you still need to fab up a duct for it and cut the front of the wheel well for easier air flow.
 
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/art...all-keeping-ps-cooler-factory-oil-cooler.html

For a fresh VRSF FMIC install I just did. I used 2 12" fans and made them pushers and it gives you a lot of room to work and cools the car great! I also rerouted the PS line behind the hood latch support, see the write up with pictures. I will be posting some more pictures of the engine bay now that I have the car back together and running. You would like the room to work, or I know at least I do.

Well here is a picture of the engine bay with the VRSF FMIC kit on my '90 Talon for references to others.
 

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I guess in the end my worry has just been front end rigidity. Not that I ever track my car, but something about cutting those holes along the sides of my radiator just seems like it could compromise the structural integrity of the vehicle. I was also thinking about getting the JMF race bumper so I wouldn't have to cut the stock one, but I don't think it was really made to hold up in a crash either. :/
 
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