1G 1G FMIC and lower bumper support

[benspilk09]

I'm in need of an intercooler, my SMIC is not keeping up.

I'm trying to keep my car as un-butchered as possible. Unfortunately, all the FMIC kits require cutting, and upgraded SMICs are impossible to find.

Does anyone run the metal lower brace on their 1G bumper with an FMIC? Specifically I'm looking at the ETS kit. All of the install pictures seem to show it removed, which I don't want to do. I worked hard finding one of those braces when I restored this car, and don't want a sagging bumper cover.

 

[ThunderChild]

I don't have any personal experience for a fmic that retains the bumper support, but have you tried looking for Supra smic's?

Another option is getting a custom core that fits in the space you need (shorter top-to-bottom) and making the piping yourself. Might not be a bolt-on, cost-effective solution, but you're kind of stuck between not hacking up bumper pieces and getting an effective intercooler.

I know Honeywell sells cores piece-meal, and I'm sure you could find a short fmic that fits the given space and would give you more thermal capacity than the smic.

Happen to have some rough dimension limits?

 

[benspilk09]

I've considered the supra smic, but all the install photos I've seen look like a mess. It pushes the bumper out, and still requires cutting around on the unibody.

I am considering custom cores at this point, or using an air to water core in the stock location, with a remote mounted heat exchanger.

 

[DSMPT]

Do you mean that you don't want to cut the front crash beam? If so, the ETS Street FMIC doesn't requires that. No need to cut the crash beam, you mount it to bottom of crash beam with self-locking screws.
I used to have the ETS Street 4" FMIC before and I liked it a lot. The price is not that friendly but really good quality and It comes with a thick protector under the core and lower the inlet temp very well. it's just I needed to remove the P/S cooler (This doesn't affect the P/S) and trim the bumper a little bit since 4" is thick and move the fog-lights to outside. Rest of modification was the general modifications to instal a FMIC with short route pipings. I think you wouldn't need to trim the bumper if the thickness is 3". (Or since yours is Talon, the bumper is different from Eclipse, so may not require to trim the bumper even with 4")
I also used to have the Supra SMIC with Dejon UICP, I liked it but the passenger side bumper rises a little bit as you mentioned and probably it's not easy to find after market pipings anymore.
The pic is with the ETS Street FMIC on the crash beam. (Sorry for the old bad quality pic. This is the only pic I have with the ETS FMIC mounted to crash beam)

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[ThunderChild]

I've considered the supra smic, but all the install photos I've seen look like a mess. It pushes the bumper out, and still requires cutting around on the unibody.

I am considering custom cores at this point, or using an air to water core in the stock location, with a remote mounted heat exchanger.

If you're going to go w2a, I'd recommend just using a cooler or reservoir in the rear of the car and no heat exchanger. I have a w2a on mine, and without a reservoir, just the core, HE and pump, it would heat up pretty fast. Granted it cools quick too, but the plumbing and HE take up alot of room. With a big enough reservoir you can get more passes before heat soak, simplify install and still throw ice in it for sub-ambient intake temps when desired. Driving around with a w2a daily style isn't going to be different no matter what w2a setup you do.

@DSMPT makes a good recommendation. I do believe op is talking about the lower bumper support rail being cut/removed, less so on the bumper crash beam tho.

 

[benspilk09]

I'm fine trimming the crash beam, I don't want to ditch the lower rail that supports the very bottom of the bumper cover.

I'm also retaining air conditioning, further crowding the area.

I'd be running a heat exchanger no matter what, it's a street car and wont see a drag strip as long as I own it. The attraction for W2A is that I can mount a large core in the bumper area without cutting around to accommodate 2.5" intercooler pipes, and a second cooler in front of the drivers side wheel if I need it

 

[93xsg]

I have the ETS street intercooler on my 1g talon. You can see in my profile pic! Only minimal trimming of the inside of the bumper cover was necessary.

Your biggest problem will be finding intercooler piping. I have a buddy that welds so i bought a universal kit, cut a few bends to length and had to have a few welds done to extend a few pipes.

To install I drilled thru the top of the crash beam, and bolted thru it. You can see one of the holes towards the right top, by my bike. I put some rubber weatherstripping inbetween the cooler and the beam for vibration.

Minimal trimming of the corners on the radiator support needed as well. (Nothing structural)

Let me know if you have any questions. I really like this intercooler and set up

 

[benspilk09]

Looks like you're not running the lower support?

Do you have air conditioning? Any ducting? Any overheating?

 

[UKNOWHO]

Hi i can contribute to this i have the ets race core 4” thick, i didnt want to completely remove crash bar but some serious trimming. Not sure of the lower support you speak of my car doesnt have ac , i also made a combination skid/scuff plate for intercooler and a fresh air grab lip for radiator. Heres a few pics.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[DSMPT]

Looks like you're not running the lower support?

Do you have air conditioning? Any ducting? Any overheating?

I am not sure about the lower support.
The ETS Street FMIC would allow you to keep the A/C by bending the A/C aluminum line a little bit by hand if the inlet diameter is 2.5", if 3" you may need to reroute more, I imagine. And it's a FMIC, in general you would have the coolant temp higher than before and you might need to do something for that according to your situation. Those are the general modifications to instal a FMIC that I mentioned above.

 

[benspilk09]

See all the empty bolt holes on the bottom of the bumper cover? There is a metal support that runs inside the lower lip to stiffen it. I haven't found anyone mention if it really interferes or not.

It looks like a VRSF intercooler might clear it, as the end tanks are smaller than other designs, but of course all the install photos I've found people have seemed to pitch them.

 

[93xsg]

Looks like you're not running the lower support?

Do you have air conditioning? Any ducting? Any overheating?

Are you talking about the thin metal plate that keeps the bottom of the bumper from flapping? Honestly Couldnt tell you, my project is 95% done and I havent put it back on yet. I live in the NW so no overheating issues expected with Aluminum radiator and fans. And I'm not running AC, but was able to keep the factory power steering lines with minor bending.

If I have any issues I may bore a few holes in the crash beam for airflow.

My old 1g had the crash beam completely cut, similar to the guy that trimmed his. Except mine was in completely 2 pieces. Just a stub on each side. Never had overheating issues or ducting, and that was a very large intercooler.

 

[benspilk09]

Correct, the thin metal angle that stiffens the bottom bumper lip. My car was missing it when I bought it, and I didn't like how flimsy the bumper cover was.

I live in the south, this car is mostly for when it's too hot to ride my motorcycle to work. If it won't stay cool when it's 105 degrees outside, then I'll be scrapping the FMIC idea.

 

[Montana rose]

Hi i can contribute to this i have the ets race core 4” thick, i didnt want to completely remove crash bar but some serious trimming. Not sure of the lower support you speak of my car doesnt have ac , i also made a combination skid/scuff plate for intercooler and a fresh air grab lip for radiator. Heres a few pics.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

What bumper do you have there?

 

[93xsg]

I run the ETS smaller short route intercooler.
I took all of the front end off, trimmed for the piping to go thru the radiator support.
Mounted the intercooler to the bottom of the stock bumper.
I drilled a big hole on the opposite side for access to get a bolt thru the smaller mounting hole. Although a riv nut or similar would be great!
Mounted it with weather stripping in-between as a vibration dampener. Wish I had pics

 

[Montana rose]

I see, you have a 1gb. that’s why the front bumper plastic looked different to me. I didn’t pick up on that at first.
I have a similar fmic you originally included pictures of, I really do not want to route the piping through the rad support and or have to cut the rad support. I don’t care about the crash bar. There aren’t many pictures of long routing intercooler piping.
Thanks!

 

[UKNOWHO]

What bumper do you have there?

its a 1gb laser bumper.