upgrading the intercooler

[mercaholik]

I personally bought a vrsf fmic kit for a 2g ( I have a1g) used from a local dsm owner who was parting out his car. It was in good shape and I bought a nice fp race exh manifold, and a set of injectors for a real good price. I modified the intercooler, one pipe and my bumper and had to enlarge a hole on pass side to fit the piping thru. Nothing major and it's bigger than the kit for a 1g. Just another option for you, and I would personally avoid a stock fmic from an old car. It's much less hassle to have a kit that has everything and fits, plus you'll like the roll beaded pipes. Shouldn't blow couplers off too easy with that and decent clamps.

 

[Alucards_blood]

so im sick of this crappy smic setup, the hoses keep popping off making it run like absolute crap (limp mode) so, whats a fairly cheap, fairly nice option for me?i want to go to fmic but looks like ill be spending around $400-500 for it and thats a bit out of my price range

Just wanted to say that if your only problem is couplers popping off, I would just get properly sized TBOLT clamps and that should solve your coupler issue. With it being cold as F&%! out right now, I wouldn't worry about upgrading the IC because it shouldn't have a problem with heatsoak unless you are somehow getting traction and boosting the hell out of it. The very most I would do in the Winter in a semi-warm garage would be hard intercooler piping flanged for 1G valve if you don't already have that.

how much boost is "alot" im at 16 and keep loosing hoses

And if you're not tuned for 16lbs of boost I would look into a boost controller to keep it more towards factory boost levels but that's just me and my opinion but hope that helps!

I have an ETS intercooler and love it!

 

[jerrylarsen]

The first link posted by the OP is identical to the VRSF kit. The only difference is VRSF threads the BOV mounting flange so you can just twist on whatever BOV flange you want instead of having it welded on. For $200 shipped vs $370(and from a company that self admits to hating DSM owners) I'd just go with the first link you posted OP. The thing that matters, the intercooler core, is EXACTLY the same as the VRSF 2G kit. It will flow the same, have the same cooling properties, and all that good stuff. Just buy the kit you first listed.

guess ill give her a shot haha not to seem.. ungrateful..? but how do you know its exactly the same? it looks similar mind you but.. idk

 

[jerrylarsen]

And if you're not tuned for 16lbs of boost I would look into a boost controller to keep it more towards factory boost levels but that's just me and my opinion but hope that helps!

see that confuses me, im fairly sure i would have to change my wastegate spring as well aaaaand i dont want to haha i will proably be tuning it soon but.. idk its just alot of work in the cold without the right ecu

 

[CrackedDSM]

guess ill give her a shot haha not to seem.. ungrateful..? but how do you know its exactly the same? it looks similar mind you but.. idk

Very valid question, but personal experience. One friend in TN ordered the "speed daddy" intercooler kit you listed, another friend ordered the VRSF kit. We all met at one persons house to install everything, and my suspicions were confirmed. Absolutely the same kit. Only difference was like I mentioned that VRSF threads the BOV flange so you can interchange them without welded. But for $170 difference you can just buy bolt on adapter flanges. Lol.

 

[GofaST4life]

The first link posted by the OP is identical to the VRSF kit. The only difference is VRSF threads the BOV mounting flange so you can just twist on whatever BOV flange you want instead of having it welded on. For $200 shipped vs $370(and from a company that self admits to hating DSM owners) I'd just go with the first link you posted OP. The thing that matters, the intercooler core, is EXACTLY the same as the VRSF 2G kit. It will flow the same, have the same cooling properties, and all that good stuff. Just buy the kit you first listed.

Do this.

And then look up FMIC installs. You will have to trim your front bumper, almost everyone does. Its not hard and very worth it.

Research. Read. Learn. Knowledge is power.

 

[GofaST4life]

see that confuses me, im fairly sure i would have to change my wastegate spring as well aaaaand i dont want to haha i will proably be tuning it soon but.. idk its just alot of work in the cold without the right ecu

This post makes me think you need to learn a bit more about properly modifying these cars before moving in with further modifications.

You dont have to touch your wastgate spring. Installing an MBC is fairly inexpensive and very easy.

Just my .02$

 

[jerrylarsen]

This post makes me think you need to learn a bit more about properly modifying these cars before moving in with further modifications.

You dont have to touch your wastgate spring. Installing an MBC is fairly inexpensive and very easy.

Just my .02$

correct me if im wrong, a mbc, can only turn boost pressure up.. correct? because it cant add pressure to the wastegate spring..

 

[jerrylarsen]

Very valid question, but personal experience. One friend in TN ordered the "speed daddy" intercooler kit you listed, another friend ordered the VRSF kit. We all met at one persons house to install everything, and my suspicions were confirmed. Absolutely the same kit. Only difference was like I mentioned that VRSF threads the BOV flange so you can interchange them without welded. But for $170 difference you can just buy bolt on adapter flanges. Lol.

ordered it today

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Love my VRSF FMIC. Short route so not too many couplers to blow off. I ran mine at 24lbs and had no problems. MBC will let you leave the boost stock or turn it up.

 

[jerrylarsen]

Love my VRSF FMIC. Short route so not too many couplers to blow off. I ran mine at 24lbs and had no problems. MBC will let you leave the boost stock or turn it up.

so exactly like i said, wastegate spring

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Or just trick it. I have a tial so I can change springs or fool it with the mbc. Kinda like boost on the fly adjustability with a mbc. Each to their own but mine works great.

 

[bmxfelon420]

correct me if im wrong, a mbc, can only turn boost pressure up.. correct? because it cant add pressure to the wastegate spring..

Only if you have the wastegate hooked up directly and not through the stock solenoid. On an MHI gate wastegate pressure is around 9-11 psi or so. On my car it was 9.

 

[jerrylarsen]

Its directly to the wastegate, used to be through some pos mbc

 

[jerrylarsen]

Only if you have the wastegate hooked up directly and not through the stock solenoid. On an MHI gate wastegate pressure is around 9-11 psi or so. On my car it was 9.

my car has the "evo III 16g" turbo im not sure what the wastegate spring is

 

[jerrylarsen]

so, lookin at my turbo, from what i have read the outlet should be facing down.. correct? mine is up.. correct me if i am wrong

 

[CrackedDSM]

The outlet should point up on a 16G. From there, there should be a "j-pipe" that bolts to the turbo, then makes a U-bend straight down to the passenger side(or drivers side if it's a FMIC).

 

[jerrylarsen]

okay good i was worried, thanks

 

[CrackedDSM]

Glad that a forum cowboy can be of assistance.

 

[jared98gst]

is the turbo creeping to 16 psi? start at 12 then slowly to 16?
never seen 16g with 16 psi internal wastegate. knockoff?

 

[jerrylarsen]

is the turbo creeping to 16 psi? start at 12 then slowly to 16?
never seen 16g with 16 psi internal wastegate. knockoff?

Actually it more goes to 16 then slowly to 12-14 so I think I might have a ripped diaphragm, not a knockoff

 

[Mello]

Sound like possible boost creep to me.

 

[lil corb]

Actually it more goes to 16 then slowly to 12-14 so I think I might have a ripped diaphragm, not a knockoff

Sounds like boost spike. How long are your vacuum hoses?

 

[jerrylarsen]

About.... 2 feet total

 

[lil corb]

About.... 2 feet total

Is it possible to reduce the amount and still be functional and re do a pull?