New 2G ETS ultra short route 12" FMIC how to install

[Atuca]

I recently ordered the amazing 12 inch ultra short route 4" FMIC kit from ETS, complete with GM maf, translator, couplers and tial BOV. I gave them all my business, expecting nothing but the best customer experience.

They had their bugs, i.e. no more 3 inch core, so they got me a 4inch for half the price, even though they charged me full price at first (I had to call to correct it). They also forgot to send me the GM MAFT, I figured I was getting it from another location, but after a good 5 days after shipment of my FMIC, I called to ask where my MAFT was. They sent it today, and following old trends, should be here in 2 days. I would rate their customer service a 5/5, but if it was on a one outa ten scale, I give them a 9/10, know what I mean? Not enough error to ding them really at a low number, but would have been nice to get what I wanted when I wanted it and not have to call and follow up so much. I will be buying from them again though assuming their products doesn't fail on me in the next few months.

On to the product!


Product shippent was faster than I thought it would be. From Washington where they are, it got to the bay area in california in two days. I got the box and made secks with it. There were lots of peanuts and all the pipes were pretty well covered. This is their 4 inch core, so it is huge, expecially when I have only seen a little ebay "godspeed" FMIC I think it was. I am in vegas right now on a business trip, but when I get home it gets installed. I will be taking lots of pictures, as it seems not alot of people have taken many pictures of this install, as well as searching for their ultra short route, not alot of people have bought it and bragged, much.

btw, the core measures out at 3 7/8 inch thick, not full 4 inch. Everything else is as they say. Weird that they are on the dot with height and length, but would cheat us 1/8 inch on the thickness. I swear, if I get knock and this FMIC is not good to 850awhp i am sueing someone! I'll hit you guys up if I ever get past 400hp

Anyways, I get back on thursday, so this weekend it goes on. For now, oogle and admire the core. I'll post up dozens of pics of the install, so hopefully for people liek me looking for a walk through on the install of this FMIC, finds this thread. Good day!

 

[crimsondragon]

Did you wear protection? I heard when they bead the pipes, some metal might stick out.

 

[Atuca]

and those are the safe for work pictures. That Intercooler is cooling more than just air.

On a more seriouse note, I did grab the idea to have a catch can for my setup now, just to keep it clean. Here is the link for those interested.

Install a catch can for your DSM (2G)

 

[forcefed4]

That's a nice looking core Philip. I'd love to see some in-progress install pics. I'm trying to decide if I want that one...

 

[crimsondragon]

Whenever I get my ETS FMIC, I'm going to cuddle with it every night till it gets installed. No sex though. I'd hate to clean a brand new intercooler.

*edit* You know, you could have said 4.5 stars out of 5. It's equivalent to 9 out of 10 stars.

 

[ETS Tom]

Hahaha, great pics Philip! Keep us posted with install progress and finished product pictures! BTW, if you take the tape and measure from the 1 inch mark you'll find almost exactly 4" thickness (there is some slop at the tab end of most tape measures)

Tom

 

[Atuca]

Well I honestly couldn't beleive how easy the install was, 4 pipes, I mean, really? I could of done in progress pics, but is really wasn't that hard to figure out. Cutting the hole just like the instructions for the cold side of the FMIC took a while with a dremel because there was two layers of metal at some parts, but, didn't take more than a few cutting wheels. The only thing I want to note is you will have to cut a crap load off the bumper. You only have to cut the inner circle part of the bumper, the bottom will go under the FMIC and doesn't need to be cut.

Other than that, after the install I did a boost leak test and there wasn't one boost leak from the new couplers. I was very happy I didn't have to deal with readjusting all the couplers. I am assuming the BOV is louder when vented twards the ground, otherwise I have no idea why it was placed on the bottom of the pipe.

Anyways, other than the fact my car isn't running now, I love the setup. I either got the wrong spring, or my maft needs to be adjusted, but that is another story, please input here:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/turbo-system-tech/298404-new-fmic-gm-maf-tial-need-help.html


enjoy pics

BTW I didn't have to relocate the charcol canister, just my overflow bottle which I just bent the holder it was sitting on and screwed it down where the stock SMIC was. The fit was tight, but it wasn't necessary.

 

[Killa_dsm]

Looks really good Philip. Now we need another photoshoot with both our cars!

 

[Atuca]

Sure we can meet up, if someone tells me how to fix my car..

 

[T9S1i]

nice install! that kit is pure secks!!

where in the bay area do you guys stay at? My local DSM friends have thinned out over the years!! only the strong (and dumb) stay in the game i guess....

 

[Atuca]

We usually meet up on my side of the bay because I have the friend with the 1k dollar DSLR cameras and HD camcorder (god I love my roommate being a camera salesman).

They are never formal, usually just me or killa_DSM being bored and we call the other up .

Right now thought just waiting to figure what is wrong with my car, than maybe I'll give ya a holla when we decide to meet up.

 

[mccurdy]

Holler, I'm in san jose. Ok serious, no one says holler, but you get my point.

I got a gayness greddy big 24 row and im thinkin of upgrading for my 19C turbo. The piping is long and ugly. I would love to free up the extra hole near my fusebox for additional CAI piping!

Anyone know how much the short route pipes really help?

And phil, how much did you pay for the core and pipes (if they weren't discounted)?

 

[Atuca]

Tial BOV $220
Maf $60
MAFT $200
ultra short route 4 inch core discounted because they were out of 3 inch: $850
couplers for GM MAF $40

prices are aproximated because I don't feel like looking up my receipts, but you get te idea. For the full set up, 1400 bucks or so after paying for dremel bits and other random vacume houses, boost source tap, ect.

ETS is the way to go, paid the money and never looked back. I installed a regular stock route piping kit similar to the Greddy on my GST, and when I received this kit, I thought they forgot to send my all my pipes! Even looking at the bends, it didn't seem to add up, but the install was a breeze, the couplers were amazing, the fitment was perfect, nothing bad to say about the product, except that I lost sleep thinking about the day I could finally have time to install it. I had to wait a week while I was in vegas for work. I thought about it every night...

And as far as meeting up, I surely have no problem doing it, except that I uno what we'll do. Killa_dsm and I just meet up, take pictures, and kick the shit for a few hours about random ass shit. Up to him really .

 

[mccurdy]

damn 1400.

I think ill just stick with my greddy 24 row for $free.99

Thanks for the prices though!!

 

[Atuca]

For 1400 dollars I got a FMIC that can support 850awhp without knocking. I wil never need it to its limits, but I got it because I like the piping, so clean, and short. Least I know I'll never heat soak it

 

[BoostFrenzy]

I hate to bring an old thread back from the dead but I'd like to pick your brain for a second Atuca. I just got this kit and am having a bit of trouble getting the angles right to cut this part out. It seems pretty impossible without a big cutting wheel. What I started to do was drill holes on the cutting line and then using larger bits to connect the holes to form a cut but that is both going to take forever as well as become difficult once it reach the left sides angle cut. Thanks for any help.

 

[TSG59_Steve]

I used a sawzall and actually a hand saw that I got cheap at ACE hardware. That part was a pain. Get creative. I think I started to bend the metal out, cut it, bend it, cut it, etc at one point.

 

[95tzlgst]

I used a grinder to get most of mine then I used some metal shears to bend and cut... pretty much what TSG59 Steve did.

 

[z24frank]

post pics that gives everyone a better idea!

 

[BoostFrenzy]

Thanks for the help guys. I went out and got myself a hand saw and it worked surprisingly well with my drilling holes idea. So that's all setup with the core on and the cold side pipes. Up next is the hot side pipes. This one goes out to Atuca directly, do you have details on how you installed the hot side pipes without having to move the charcoal canister stuff? Being as we are both in Cali, it's something we need to keep. Any help would greatly be appreciated.

 

[Atuca]

Hey Nick.

was going through my old posts and saw this. I assume since December you figured it out.

I just went through my many folders of pictures of the mods I did, and I found that I took none facing the charcol canister. The modification was easier enough that my fiance helped me install it. (I mean she just sat there and handed me tools, but she WAS there )



From what I can remeber, it was a tight fight that required me bending brackets IIRC but only a little like an inch or a few degrees, however i managed it. It was close enough though that I took no note of it and never thought of it again.

I hope you managed some simialr result.

 

[dsmproject1]

Hello,! i recently purchased the 10" Fmic from ETC, and i cant fit the J-pipe to my t-25 under the crossmember. how much fan mount trim i need? also my fmic core rubs against the coolant pipes, it feels like 1 bump and ill snap the pipes in half, please i really need help, it's my dd (

 

[Atuca]

It took over a year to develop, but I want to warn people who use this intercooler. At the radiator support you trim to fit the Top Left (Passenger Side) hard FMIC pipe, a hole developed in the intercooler piping. When I inspected the piping it was not resting on the support, but I assume after months of bumps ect the beam cut into the pipe at the closest point.

I would warn everyone who uses this intercooler to be sure they cut more than enough off the support beam there to avoid this unfortunate problem.

 

[ETS Michael]

Thanks for the update. It's very important to make sure nothing is around the aluminum tubes. This is one of the reasons we build all our piping in stainless steel. Durability and reliability.

Thanks!

Michael

 

[Atuca]

Yea I agree it is a great product, no question there. I think after I fix my hole/slit in the FMIC, I will see if I can fab up a rubber cover between the piping and the radiator support beam there, or maybe just flatten it out or something.

Really just trying to insure people are aware of this and take care of it before something happens to them like what happen to me.