Why doesn't anyone protect their FMIC?

[talon95newb]

In most of the pics I see of your guy's cars, you never have any sort of mesh or grille in front of your FMICs. Why? It looks really cool, but is it worth it if you catch a rock right in your FMIC? Does mesh really slow down airflow? I was just wondering because I have a FMIC but no piping yet and when I bolt it up I wanted to know if I should put some sort of shield in front of it. I drive down a lot of rural roads so gravel in my car's face scares me.

 

[99gst_racer]

Yeah, I don't really like the mesh either, but I have this reoccuring nightmare where I install my FMIC, pass on the mesh, and then a truck slings a rock which punctures my FMIC and I cry a lot. Kidding, but really, would a piece of gravel or other debris hitting the FMIC do serious damage to it, or just put a superficial ding in it?

I've had two different FMIC's on my car in the past 4 years, and never used any kind of mesh or other protectant, and neither one of them have ever picked up any damage from daily driving. IMO, you have a better chance bending fins while removing the front bumper cover, than driving for 3K miles.

I, too, considered using a wire mesh 4 years ago, but decided against it, and have never looked back. Intercooler cores and pretty tough, and the most common small gravel and road pebbles won't cause much (if any) damage to the core. And even so, the most common "damage" would be a few bent fins, which is easily fixable with a pair of tweezers

 

[wvturbo2]

Intercooler cores and pretty tough, and the most common small gravel and road pebbles won't cause much (if any) damage to the core. And even so, the most common "damage" would be a few bent fins, which is easily fixable with a pair of tweezers

Exactly what i was going to say. how many people have destroyed an intercooler due to daily driving? (not counting wrecks)

 

[1gcrazy]

So, I guess I should take out my mesh?

Erik

The first step is admitting you have a problem....

I think thats the whole reason your car looks a bit ricish....the mesh

 

[dnhieu]

my radiator has more bent fins (only a few months old) then my intercooler. i have had my intercooler for over a year now. i get small bugs and stuff in there but its nothing a hose and a tweaser cant handle...

 

[the_skin_eater]

I think you people worry too much about what people think of the car...Who cares if someone is like " OH NOEZ!!! HES GOT MESH!!!" If your fast your fast...So what.

You sound like the "Honda Boys" by crying like bitches over a broken nail when it comes to stuff like this. Honda= Ya, the spoiler looks sweeeet, everyone will notice it now!
dsm=Ya, I dont want people to notice me trying not to be noticed!(for the wrong thing, IDK)

Its not ricerish until you say it is. If mesh helps, why is it rice?
I think rice is doin a mod based on what other people think, wether they like it or not.This is no different.

I dont know, I just dont get why people make a fuss of what others will think, when in the end it doesnt even matter.
I personally will be trying to hide my FMIC...I dont want people to see what all I do or dont have, cause it doesnt matter. The second I race they will know all they need to.

Oh yea...That one posted above...Hardly even see the mesh, looks good. Wouldnt repaint though.

 

[luvmygst]

The first step is admitting you have a problem....

I think thats the whole reason your car looks a bit ricish....the mesh

I hate to agree (j/k)

 

[99gst_racer]

Exactly what i was going to say. how many people have destroyed an intercooler due to daily driving? (not counting wrecks)

Hell, I've even been in head on collisions and not damaged my intercoolers beyond being usable. T-bone'd an 80's Caprice @ 60 mph and sold that intercooler. Then nailed an entire semi tire on the highway @ 70 mph, and I sold that intercooler as well. Neither leaked upon testing, and dents and bent fins were minimal considering the circumstances.

Moral - It takes ALOT to actually damage an intercooler to make it completely trashed, unfixable, and unusable.

 

[romeen]

Hell, I've even been in head on collisions and not damaged my intercoolers beyond being usable. T-bone'd an 80's Caprice @ 60 mph and sold that intercooler. Then nailed an entire semi tire on the highway @ 70 mph, and I sold that intercooler as well. Neither leaked upon testing, and dents and bent fins were minimal considering the circumstances.

Moral - It takes ALOT to actually damage an intercooler to make it completely trashed, unfixable, and unusable.

I'm buying you a rabbit's foot

 

[Eclipse99GST]

Eh, I'll take it out and see how it looks. Can't hurt.

Erik

 

[GloriousDSM]

they are pretty sturdy, so leaving them exposed is just sexy

 

[pooker]

they are pretty sturdy, so leaving them exposed is just sexy

Totally agree.