Custom FMIC Install

Traded/sold my stock turbo, hardpipes and smic upgrade for a 28rs and decided to just build my own fmic. I had this idea forever just couldn't find a core with the specs I wanted. Short hotpipe routing, inlet outlet on the same side, run pipes through old smic location, no cutting of the frame (bumper support would needed a trim though) Found one I could make work. Read one thread where this style set up was mentioned but didn't get much response. Originally I planned to make this kit to use with my hardpipes, but they got traded so I just made all new piping. Essentially it could connect to hardpipes/stock pipes. Uses basically the same pipe locations.

Already had a ton of intercooler piping laying around. Just needed to buy some couplers and a core to build the kit. This is the core I got. Core = 19x6x3 Overall = 23x11(9.5)x3 2.5 inlet/outlet
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08052009222.jpg
Couplers (ended up being 1 short and had to buy one lol)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08052009221.jpg
Fans (2 procomp 10" fans, will explain why I needed these later)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08052009224.jpg
Full 3" intake (for the rs) off my old ford probe gt :) I like to recycle
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08012009198.jpg

Stage one: Disassemble
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/07282009184.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/07282009183.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/07282009186.jpg
this bracket would be in the way for pipe routing so I had to make a new bracket
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08012009195.jpg
that was easy :)

no smic so the radiator needed another bracket also. just moved over the stock one and bent it some to sit flush.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/07282009185.jpg

Needed to get new fans since the stock fan also covers the smic. The 2 10's fit pretty much perfect on the stock rad. Also thinner which gave me more clearance.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08052009225.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08052009231.jpg
wired the fans together and ran off the stock line, wires are covered now for a cleaner look
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08052009229.jpg
hid the wiring some

relocated the power steering cooler (to fit the 3" core)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/07302009192.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08012009196.jpg

trimmed the bumper support and made 2 90* brackets to hold the fmic
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08082009241.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08082009240.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08082009237.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08082009242.jpg
core fit great, end tanks are completely hidden by the bumper. The 6" height of the core fits the lower grille perfect.

Yummy I like potatoes
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08162009251.jpg

Wanted to be stealthy (naughty)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08052009223.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08162009247.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08172009253.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08172009252.jpg
(o yea and HD lip since my stock splitter was broken lol)

Couldnt find a place to fit the coolant overflow tank so I just relocated it. Not running cold air intake anymore and don't need the intercooler piping there like some kits so I moved it here:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08162009250.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08162009249.jpg

Now for piping
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08162009248.jpg
short hot side:cool:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08082009243.jpg
cold side with relocated MAF
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08172009254.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08172009255.jpg


First impressions.. Its great. No lag whatsoever. Pulls really good at high rpm. Can pull over and touch the hot pipe, and of course the hotpipe is hot lol. The cold pipe on the other hand is just warm. Actually cooler to the touch than the SRI. Overall I'm very happy with how it turned out. No frame notching etc. Only the front bumper support really. All the brackets and stuff were easy to make also. Works great, can't see it lol. I'm super happy when plans in my head actually work. ZOOM ZOOM (boobs2)
 
Thanks!

Now all I need to really do is install my wideband and truboost and I'm set.

Anyone know a round about psi/hp what the 440's max out on the RS? Right now I'm running wastegate 10psi.
 
nice work! definitely different setup than i'm used to seeing with a FMIC. i like the stealth look. interesting spot for the coolant tank... guess you can't really use it to check the level any more, but it certainly is out of the way!
 
Thanks for the comments! I wanted to do something different with this kit. I just didn't like how most kits ran the piping.

Looks good! Any photos of the front of your car with the bumper on?

Yea the bottom 2 of the stealthy section.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08172009253.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e14/sean22306/MSP/08172009252.jpg

nice work! definitely different setup than i'm used to seeing with a FMIC. i like the stealth look. interesting spot for the coolant tank... guess you can't really use it to check the level any more, but it certainly is out of the way!

its not too bad. all I have to do is move the intake a little, take off the filter or undo the 3 screws on the splash guard. Not as hard to get to as it looks lol
 
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not sure about your mods???
Are you forged??
If not your in the danger zone for popping that motor
 
Plenty of supporting mods/internals etc to handle the power so no worries there. Been forged over a year now.

Only weak spot is trans, and I'm not upgrading/replacing anything til it fails lol.
 
Props on a creative solution!

Can you get a pic, or do some MSpaint on one of your current pics, that shows where the core itself sits behind the grille? From the pics with the bumper off, it looks like it would be sitting kind of high relative to the lower opening, but I can't really tell for sure.
 
I wish I had time to see it run now! lol. I guess I did for those few seconds in ur driveway. I guess I mean to say I wish I had time to ride in it. lol.

Get the leak fixed?
 
Really nice set-up I can't wait to forge and up that boost myself. The Gt28RS is a dream in the MSP. Very creative way to run the piping and core. I think that is the shortest piping I've seen thus far!!
 
You should throw some pics on here from NKY forum when you forged...Car may look relatively stock even when u look under the hood
 
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yea its difficult to find a wide selection of those cores. How did you post before the original post in the thread? lol

Yeah, I had to take a double take at it when you posted the teaser pic the other day.
And the forum was messed up last night, I couldn't figure out why it did that with my post. Utter FAIL!
 
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