Are there any fmic that I can still keep my bumper?

[96gstdsm]

Ok well I am doing a 6 bolt block swap and a big 16g turbo with all fuel support and everything. I figure I will be needing a new intercooler. Was looking into the supra one but would rather a nice fmic. It seems to me, may be I am mistaken but it seems like everyone with the big fmic has to remove their bumper. Is this correct? How dangerous is that if there is a front end collision? Can I keep my ac stuff? Will I have overheating problems since it's blocking the radiator?
How hard is the supra smic to install? I thought you had to get new piping and modify some things so it wont hang too low.

Please let me know. This is the last part I am missing now for my whole build up.

 

[1g_tsi_awd]

You don't have to remove the bumper. You usually have to remove the radiator supports and fab new ones. You can trim the bumper to your liking. But since you are only running a 16g, a HUGE Front Mount isn't really needed.

*EDIT: There is a write-up on the Supra SMIC, with that it shouldn't be too hard... ANd if you have questions about it, you can always come here and ask! Best wishes!*

 

[96gstdsm]

You don't have to remove the bumper. You usually have to remove the radiator supports and fab new ones. You can trim the bumper to your liking. But since you are only running a 16g, a HUGE Front Mount isn't really needed.

*EDIT: There is a write-up on the Supra SMIC, with that it shouldn't be too hard... ANd if you have questions about it, you can always come here and ask! Best wishes!*

I thought you always had to remove and leave off the actual bumper. The ssautochrome one with that huge core fits even with the bumper on still? All the pictures I see never have a bumper on anymore.

 

[Glliw]

That crash bumper really does you no good. Its for 5mph or less crashes. Take the thing off.

 

[96gstdsm]

That crash bumper really does you no good. Its for 5mph or less crashes. Take the thing off.

Is that a proven statement? i would really prefer not to sacrifice safety for a nicer intercooler since this is my daily driver only. Also do I need to remove ac components? Is there any overheating issues with it in the front?

 

[SnowBird]

You dont have to remove the bumper, but most FMIC kits will require you to grind or cut some spots out for clearance of the FMIC core.

 

[Glliw]

Is that a proven statement? i would really prefer not to sacrifice safety for a nicer intercooler since this is my daily driver only. Also do I need to remove ac components? Is there any overheating issues with it in the front?

Personally proven at 10mph when meeting the ass end of a jeep liberty. totally totalled.

 

[Pat D]

You dont have to remove the bumper, but most FMIC kits will require you to grind or cut some spots out for clearance of the FMIC core.

I would not go with the Supra side mount. I ran in on my last 1G and it was more work making it fit then what is was worth.. Go with the Ebay FMIC

 

[96gstdsm]

You dont have to remove the bumper, but most FMIC kits will require you to grind or cut some spots out for clearance of the FMIC core.

Do most people just remove it anyways then? It looks like in all pictures that they have removed it completely. The 3.5" thick wont require that? Also I haven't gotten any responses to the AC components needing to be removed or not, and also how about over heating problems?

 

[Glliw]

A/C components were left in place for me, as the same for others. Make sure the powersteering lines don't rub up against the back of the intercooler; if they get hot enough, it could prove a leaky intercooler for you. I also, do not have any overheating problems. Get a slimline fan in there if you feel the need, and watch your coolant temps(not the stock gauge) religiously.

 

[Artago]

First off I know how you feel, I want a FMIC but want to keep the bumper. If you're looking to eBay then I have good news... I found this http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2G-DSM-FMIC-Intercooler-kit-gsx-tsi-talon-eclipse-gst_W0QQitemZ230118658646QQihZ013QQcategoryZ33742QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This kit allows you to keep the bumper . Now it's a little pricey but in my opinion, worth it. Your other alternative is to buy a 7" tall core and but a piping kit and assemble it yourself.

Oh an on more thing, in reply to the quote below. Assuming your car is a daily driver...

That crash bumper really does you no good. Its for 5mph or less crashes. Take the thing off.

...you'd be surprised home many 5mph or less collisions your car is in without you even knowing about it. Think about it. How many times have you seen someone parallel park and bump into the guy behind them? Probably lots, and I'm sure someone has done it to my car and your car already. Without a bumper and only a nice and expensive FMIC in the front of the car what do you think would happen? A tiny nick or scratch could turn into a crushed core, and I don't think you'd want to buy a new core every time your car gets bumped.

My $0.02. Anyways I'm planning on keeping my bumper and getting a 7" tall FMIC, besides my goal is 300awhp and for that a 25x7x3 core is enough... Cheers and best of luck, Tom.

 

[Cs4g63]

From what I have read the Greddy FMIC kits fit with minor modifications to anything.
http://www.greddy.com/products/display/?Category=turbo&SubCategory=21

When my cousin had his 2g he ran the Hahn Racecraft FMIC and only had to trim his bumper a little for fitment.
http://www.hahnracecraft.com/hahn/parts/intercool.htm

 

[96gstdsm]

Ok thanks for that link, does look nice but the ssautochrome one is so nice for that awesome price of only $295 shipped. If I'm going to go fmic I want to get that one, but trying to make sure that I will still be able to retain my bumper. Some say yes, some say no. I would like to see pic's, if anyone has one of the 2g xs power/ssautochrome one installed with the bumper still on. Please let me know about that one. If there is no way to retain it then I will just go with a supra sidemount.

 

[Artago]

ssautochrome one is so nice for that awesome price of only $295 shipped.

Can you post a link. Stupid me, I can't find it. Thanks, Tom.

 

[Glliw]

Oh an on more thing, in reply to the quote below. Assuming your car is a daily driver...


...you'd be surprised home many 5mph or less collisions your car is in without you even knowing about it. Think about it. How many times have you seen someone parallel park and bump into the guy behind them? Probably lots, and I'm sure someone has done it to my car and your car already. Without a bumper and only a nice and expensive FMIC in the front of the car what do you think would happen? A tiny nick or scratch could turn into a crushed core, and I don't think you'd want to buy a new core every time your car gets bumped.

Tom.

I've never seen a parallel parker bump the guys their around, yet then again, there's maybe 2 streets in my entire county that have parallel parking. I've actually never parall parked this car, since I haven't had the need to.

Also, the core is not expensive, 150 bucks on ebay for a new core isn't much.

My car is also not my daily driver; weekend warrior.

 

[96gstdsm]

Can you post a link. Stupid me, I can't find it. Thanks, Tom.

Here is the one. On their website it is like 650 but I emailed them and the special price is 295 shipped. they used to have them for sale on ebay, but no more for some reason. But contact them and ask them for the special price for dsmtuners or something and they should say it's ok.

http://www.ssautochrome.com/level.itml/icOid/1438

 

[Artago]

Here is the one. On their website it is like 650 but I emailed them and the special price is 295 shipped. they used to have them for sale on ebay, but no more for some reason. But contact them and ask them for the special price for dsmtuners or something and they should say it's ok.

http://www.ssautochrome.com/level.itml/icOid/1438

Oh ok. I was wondering about that... Thanks a bunch. Tom.

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

My buddy had the Greddy FMIC on his GSX and he had a really bad problem with it overheating. He could never figure out why (and subsequentally had to sell it), but i've done my own checking on this and it sounds like because of the way the piping is routed back across the top of the core and in front, it actually blocks a lot of air that would normally go over the core and through to your radiator. If you do decide to go with a FMIC, i'd stay away from the Greddy... especially after seeing the SS Autochrome kit. Can you say SICK!!

 

[SnowBird]

I know you are 2G, but when getting my 1G I looked at SSauto a lot, and its always missing some couplers and has to have brackets made, plus the long route kit is ugly and it does cover up a lot of the core to begin with. The huge core size was the reason I was leaning towards it, but it ends up only being 9.5 inches tall after the fact that the tube runs all the way across the front of it. Plus youd have to get a flange welded on for a BOV if you wanted to use a 1G one (cheap and reliable). Check out a punishment-racing kit. I ended up getting theres for just under $500 shipped and it comes flanged for a 1G BOV and everything bolts up super nice with little fab work AND to boot its a short route kit. Again, this is my 1G, but check them out anyways.

 

[EclipseTrbo420A]

I thought you always had to remove and leave off the actual bumper. The ssautochrome one with that huge core fits even with the bumper on still? All the pictures I see never have a bumper on anymore.

I kept mine just takes alittle bit of cutting. and with the proper cutting and a piece of sheet metal you can "ram" air at your radiator...I can show you what I mean if you'd like. I have the ssac kit too...

 

[96gstdsm]

I know you are 2G, but when getting my 1G I looked at SSauto a lot, and its always missing some couplers and has to have brackets made, plus the long route kit is ugly and it does cover up a lot of the core to begin with. The huge core size was the reason I was leaning towards it, but it ends up only being 9.5 inches tall after the fact that the tube runs all the way across the front of it. Plus youd have to get a flange welded on for a BOV if you wanted to use a 1G one (cheap and reliable). Check out a punishment-racing kit. I ended up getting theres for just under $500 shipped and it comes flanged for a 1G BOV and everything bolts up super nice with little fab work AND to boot its a short route kit. Again, this is my 1G, but check them out anyways.

I talked to them and they told me it does come already with a welded on 1g bov flange. As for the long rout piping covering up the intercooler. That is a 1g thing not a 2g. The 2g ones are short route piping, but yes you usually do have to get that missing coupler and clamps.
If it can be done as EclipseTrbo420A says he did, I think I will most likely go with this kit. Ram air idea sounds pretty good. Would have to do something like that also!

So how much cutting of the actual bumper has to be done? I really don't feel like getting in a 5 mile an hour fender bender and destroying my whole front end cause of no bumper.

 

[Artago]

I've never seen a parallel parker bump the guys their around,

Come to Vancouver Canada and sit down on a bench on any one of the many busy streets we have here. I bet you a dollar that within 1 hours you'll see it two or three times. Haha. We have a lot of, let just say ethnic groups , here that can't drive let alone parallel park. Tom. Cheers.

 

[gy2005]

What about making a bumper out of steel tubing to fit the contour of the bumper cover. After hitting my dads truck by accident and one of those parking space cement things, I've had no regrets about the 15 to 20 pounds that a bumper like that adds because I know it's saved my intercooler or bumper cover on a few occasions. Something like this also allows you to make your own radiator support so your radiator can be moved forward or backward to suit what you need

 

[EclipseTrbo420A]

You cut out like this.... the one with the dots is stock...you cut along those lines and the bottom one is after the cut and gives an idea how the core will fit...Mine is fit to perfection..next time the bumper is off ill snap a pic for ya. Goodluck and its a great core...You dont even need a bumper with it...I hit a rock this feb and the core took the full force and didnt even get messed up. I was going 9 mph and the rock I mean is more of a hillside made of rock.

 

[96gstdsm]

You cut out like this.... the one with the dots is stock...you cut along those lines and the bottom one is after the cut and gives an idea how the core will fit...Mine is fit to perfection..next time the bumper is off ill snap a pic for ya. Goodluck and its a great core...You dont even need a bumper with it...I hit a rock this feb and the core took the full force and didnt even get messed up. I was going 9 mph and the rock I mean is more of a hillside made of rock.

OK thanks alot. Think I will be going with this fmic then. Thanks for that drawing definitely helped out! Was thinking of going a little cheaper route initially having spent like 4 grand in the last week on parts already but a few more bills will be worth that nice intercooler I think.