xo2 FMIC install

[Leg Man]

OK, so here is my XO2 FMIC install. I was planning on doing a base stage 2 install but while surfing E-bay (i might have been drinking) I made a minimum bid and walked away with a FMIC shipped to my door for $250. So I also picked up a K&N Typhoon to round out my first set of installs.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WIP7hlESC3Q8TApyBI6RQQ?feat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/107905988253391145743/UntitledAlbum#5440975172068329522http://picasaweb.google.com/107905988253391145743/UntitledAlbum#5440975172068329522

This is not an easy install. My buddy and I took 13 hours last Saturday to get the pipes crammed in there. Some of these pipe pieces need to be wrestled with to get them to fit. I also needed to cut off about a half of an inch from the pipe that goes into the throttle body to make it fit.

 

I am going to be pissed when my battery goes bad and I am going to have to remove pipes to swap it out.

http://picasaweb.google.com/107905988253391145743/UntitledAlbum#5440975159484666322http://picasaweb.google.com/107905988253391145743/UntitledAlbum#5440975159484666322http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3RvZDnfTMwKh4HvBfV1HLQ?feat=directlink

 

Before I installed the kit I had a Legacy BOV flange welded onto the pipe. I spent a good amount of time trying out to figure out where to have it welded so the pipes would fit and the hood will still close. Unfortunately I over thought it and found out that one of the pipes would no longer reach. So I made a few trips to the auto store and came up with this solution. As I would say in the military it is a "field expedient solution" It is a 1 inch radiator hose with a 90 degree bend.

http://picasaweb.google.com/107905988253391145743/UntitledAlbum#5440975165505638482http://picasaweb.google.com/107905988253391145743/UntitledAlbum#5440975165505638482

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/z25d6VkZw5lP-L2TdOS4XQ?feat=directlink

My significant other was giving me some flack for still working on my car at 11 PM so I had to button it up a bit pre-maturely. I am going to have to take that bumper skin off again to massage the pipes and intercooler to get the skin to fit in a bit better. I have already cut as much as I could. That passenger side is the trouble spot. As you can see I have a bit of a gap.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/z25d6VkZw5lP-L2TdOS4XQ?feat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/107905988253391145743/UntitledAlbum#5440975190801823826http://picasaweb.google.com/107905988253391145743/UntitledAlbum#5440975190801823826

 

I didn't have to cut much off of the bumper beam. I only had to notch it out a bit on either end so I was lucky there.

 

I am still in the tuning process with Shamar so I can't ultimately say what I think about the product. But I will update with my thoughts. After everything is all said and done I am not sure I would buy the kit again Itsme's new intercooler kit looks much easier to install. The extra money might be worth it for easier install.

[greg_mitch]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_14TwHeLZMZo/S4I6F2raSDI/AAAAAAAAABU/4unDHeaxr9Y/s912/005.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_14TwHeLZMZo/S4I6FHzO0dI/AAAAAAAAABM/wO2Sbv9kAvg/s800/003.JPGhttp://lh3.ggpht.com/_14TwHeLZMZo/S4I6FeOvkFI/AAAAAAAAABQ/2uofHb3T0EA/s800/004.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_14TwHeLZMZo/S4I6G8d0uFI/AAAAAAAAABY/-2Y9l0BLqoU/s800/006.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_14TwHeLZMZo/S4I6FHzO0dI/AAAAAAAAABM/wO2Sbv9kAvg/s800/003.JPG

 

 

 

I think that is all the pictures on your account that I saw...hope that helps get the point across.

 

That looks like a big undertaking. Too bad you did it all at once...you won't know which made the most impact. Hopefully it tunes up all nice. Let us know how it works out. Thanks for the pictures.

[grim]

TANSTAAEFMICI - There ain't no such thing as an easy front mount intercooler install.

 

Our cars just weren't made for them, and I have yet to see a really elegant solution that didn't involve some fancy custom fabrication.

 

Remember that Itsme designed this one too, and when it came out it was worlds easier to install than some of the others (take a peek at the AVO install threads if you want to see a tough install).

 

However, his new piece no doubt takes advantage of lessons learned. And the install pics show it.

 

Overall, looks good, but you need to consider a fix for the BPV flange. I bet in all your figuring, you didn't take the TMIC off and actually line the flange up. If you scan through the XO2 FMIC install pics, the BOV flange plumbing is a horrorshow for most everyone. Seems like everyone just handed the pipe and flange over to a welder and said, "tack 'er on".

 

All in all, it looks like a halfway decent job. Don't fret over the 13 hours, I'm sure it took others a long weekend (or even longer) to do the same.

[Leg Man]

Thanks for the assist in getting the pics up. I will have to figure that one out. It still needs a bit of work but at least it can get me around

[LosAngelesLGT]

TANSTAAEFMICI - There ain't no such thing as an easy front mount intercooler install.

 

Our cars just weren't made for them, and I have yet to see a really elegant solution that didn't involve some fancy custom fabrication.

 

You are right about our cars not being made for FMIC but wrong about TANSTAAEFMICI. I have the RacerX in my car, took half a day (more or less) and I have a 8 1/2" tall battery (damn costco), stock airbox, fogs, etc with VERY minimal trimming (to the car, none to the FMIC) and I did not even use the canadian battery hump. If you can do your brakes and own some tinsnips, you can toss in the RacerX FMIC.

[mattg]

It's still not an easy install. And I think that it's important for prospective owners to know that. Especially the ones with less wrenching experience. It is very doable, but not easy.

[LosAngelesLGT]

It's still not an easy install. And I think that it's important for prospective owners to know that. Especially the ones with less wrenching experience. It is very doable, but not easy.

 

MattG, correct me if I am wrong, but you were not on the first GB and do not own a RacerX FMIC. I have one in mine and have seen 3 in car so far. If your guess is that RacerX FMIC is not an easy install I dont know what you expect from the aftermarket. X02 = hard install. I may be installing a RacerX FMIC with another member this weekend too. Two guys with a little wrenching experience can knock this out "easy", particularly if one has done it before.

 

RacerX = well documented install. I even made videos for everone to show EXACTLY what, and more importantly how little to trim. If needing a socket wrench and sockets, a deep 10mm socket, a dremel or tinsnips, a pencil and a very small piece of gasket paper to do an install makes it hard, I guess it is. The hard part, even leaving it all wrapped, is getting it all in without scratching any of it. Darn aluminum.

 

Anyway, don't make it sound like a clutch install!!!

[mattg]

:facepalm:

 

Maybe go back and re-read the original FMIC and FMIC install thread. My presence in them is heavy, including pics of my install and finished product.

 

I was on board with this FMIC before you were even a member here.

 

I think Bryan did a good job with the kit and I'm happy with it. But I strongly believe you are not doing any favors by making it sound like a walk in the park. I know a thing or two about wrenching on cars, and so does LBGT (who I'm assuming would also say it's not a simple install).

 

BTW, I just helped install my new clutch/FW six weeks ago. And IMO, the FMIC install is on par with that.

[LosAngelesLGT]

:facepalm:

BTW, I just helped install my new clutch/FW six weeks ago. And IMO, the FMIC install is on par with that.

 

I have read a lot of your posts already actually but did not recognize it. So, and I am NOT being a smartass - If I would dare do a FMIC I should not be too scared to try a clutch job on my LGT? I really thought the FMIC was going to be a lot harder. I expect the install time this weekend to be 5-7 hours including beer, pizza and bs'ing, taking on and off the bumper, etc.

 

I honestly feel like if you know where to cut, this is not too bad an install. Anyone in soCal who needs a hand let me know. I learned a bunch of tricks to the install from MSprank.

 

(In contrast, I would rather do the FMIC than an UPpipe)

 

EDIT: Maybe it is memories of "bolt in" transplants kits in hondas that required taking a sledgehammer to the firewall or other bits of engine bay to clear the kit that make this seem "easier" It is a lot of parts and a lot of work

[mattg]

After doing it once I think a second install would be much easier. I also think that for you, msprank and the others who had Bryan's first hand help, your first install probably went smoother. That won't be the case for most people though.

 

I do believe that with the help of the instructions and those of us who have done the install, anyone who has moderate wrenching skills can get it done.

 

The clutch really wasn't that bad. But I was working with someone who had a lot of experience, and we had the use of a lift.

[black318i]

Help me out here. What is the point of doing a 180 after the turbo? Looks to me like you could just do a 90 and get rid of about a foot and a half of pipe.

[sicksubie]

Exactly what I was thinking... Looks like you could eliminate a good 15inches of piping by one 90deg. bend instead of that big horse shoe...

[LosAngelesLGT]

I dont have one but I assume it is for a rotated turbo or some such? I am sure this is covered in some X02 thread somewhere

 

I totally hear what MattG says re: install and that AFTER doing one it is easier. I offered to help out anyone purchasing a FMIC in my area to make sure it is no more painful than it needs to be. Hopefully this does not blow up in my face

[Leg Man]

Well I will say that I would do an uppipe in a heartbeat before I would do an xo2 fmic install. The cutting wasn't the problem, it was routing the pipes just right.

 

The reason for all of the bends is to incorporate a wrx style turbo. All you have to do is remove the end piece and a wrx turbo will work

[grim]

It is to accomodate both WRX/STI style turbos as well as LGT flanged turbos.

 

You could eliminate the piping, but you would be stuck using much more expensive and hard-to-find LGT turbos.

[black318i]

I still think its a poor design. That part of it anyway. I can be made to work for both and eliminate the 180 for LGT installs.

[itsme]

I still think its a poor design. That part of it anyway. I can be made to work for both and eliminate the 180 for LGT installs.

That's true. That is what XO2 wanted. I wanted to refine the design they just wanted it fast. It worked but, it wasn't pretty. That is why I made the new kit myself. I think it is a much better design. http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u156/itsmebryan/P1060270.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u156/itsmebryan/P1060273.jpg