FMIC Install. (Many pics!!)

[ez1286]

I installed my front mount that I got from SSAutochrome this week. Everything went great. I did find a few things that will help people who haven't installed theirs yet. This will probably help with other front mount but obviously the specifics will be different.

Tools needed: Socket set (I only used a few different sizes 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm), a die grinder will help but is not required, a reciprocating saw (with metal cutting blades), something to cut your bumper cover (depends on personal preference, razors work but are hard to use, a dremel works but the blades break and bog down a lot, my favorite is an angle grinder with a metal cutting blade on it). That’s about it hopefully all this stuff is already lying around your garage.

Before you start take off the old intercooler, pipes and the intake.

1. Bumper cover/core removal.
This should be an easy task yet if your bumper has never been removed prepare to break some bolts (and possibly your nuts too). There are five bolts on top of the bumper (10mm), two under the fenders(10mm) (two on each side so 4 total) (behind the parking lights). To get to these you need to remove the splash shields from the front of the wheel wells. On the bottom of the bumper there are eight (maybe 10) bolts connecting a plastic air dam to the bumper cover. Now you have to get under the car and remove the two bolts (4 total) holding on the bumper core supports (14mm), these are almost directly under the headlights. This will allow you to take the bumper off with the headlights still on (although the passenger side still needs to come off later).

2. Installing the intercooler piping. This step is pretty simple and self explanatory. The only issue it the radius of turn off the throttle body it too tight so you have to switch the front lower bolt with one of the studs (not a big deal). I had two more problems with the intercooler pipes. First the kit is set up for a T25 I have a 16G on my car so I had to reuse some of the old shitty flexible piping (stock lower piping). The other issue was with the passenger side piping, the pipe on the intercooler and the pipes connected to the throttle body did not reach each other, my solution was a 8’’ piece of truck radiator piping, it’s rated to 300psi and has a steel band so it wont flex. I have some more laying around so pm me if you need any.

Before step three make sure all of the pipes are closed off (I used paper towels).

3. Now you need to check where you need to cut the radiator core support and the radiator. I held it up with two scissor jacks because I was doing it myself. After the piping was all set, I just lined the intercooler up to the pipes. The intercooler was slightly off to the driver’s side (about ¼ inch). I used four things to cut the radiator core and radiator. I used a 4 ½ inch angle grinder with a metal cutting blade. I also used a die grinder and carbide burr this is just to smooth it out and make fine adjustments. I also ended up using a hand file, (this was because I was doing this at 1 am and I couldn’t have the compressor going on) another useful tool is a dremel with a metal cutting blade it came in handy when cutting the core support. See the pictures below.

4. Time to mount the intercooler, the center bracket matches up exactly with the support for the five bolts on the top of the bumper cover. I just took the bolt out of there and drilled a new hole while it was in place. For the other two mounts I used some steel with holes in it (kind of like an erector set strip). For one side I just bent it around the support. This didn’t turn out as well as I’d hoped. The other side I used it just like a normal bracket (see pics below) Now connect the ic to the pipes.

5. So it’s mounted now you have to cut your bumper! The core (fiberglass) needs to be cut as well as the bumper cover. The core was pretty hard to cut, the best method would be a reciprocating saw (which I don’t have) with a small tooth blade.I used my angle grinder with a metal cutting blade this DOES NOT WORK, it melts the fiberglass see pic. With the intercooler on draw a line where you need to cut (NOTE: I cut the front for better air flow but this is not necessary).You will also need to cut the driver's side bumper sore support. Once that’s cut put the core on and make sure it fits well. Leave that on, put the bumper cover on and check where you need to cut. Like everything else the method for cutting depends on your tools and personal preference. I used the angle grinder with the metal cutting blade, this cuts quickly and smoothly. Start off by cutting less than you need to the put the bumper on and see how it looks and cut again. Keep cutting little by little until it fits. Now bolt the bumper cover back to the bumper core and reattach the bumper to the car, and reassemble anything else you have taken off.
The pics are all self explanatory, they are not in any real order.























Careful lots of sharp things!!!!!

[gthompson97]

That looks like a beast. This should be a sticky.

[MexRocket]

too bad you can't drive it because your CW'd your engine LOL, hopefully it isn't.

[ez1286]

Originally Posted by MexRocket

too bad you can't drive it because your CW'd your engine LOL, hopefully it isn't.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention two days after the install something went wrong with my trans!!! I think it's my pressure plate. It's not cw (it's a 6bolt duh).

[blk_srt]

Looks great and that is going to help me out with my install. Nice thumb lol. Also those pics made me relize that I need a 2gb front cause the 2ga just doesnt cut it

[scottsee]

Originally Posted by pr_ricer

those pics made me relize that I need a 2gb front cause the 2ga just doesnt cut it

You could cut a little more!

[ez1286]

I have a bumper coming I need to save a bit and get some lights.

[MexRocket]

Thats just loser talk for saying.. I got some sand up there