The ebay fmic(s) have been a big issue over at nasioc. Lots of people here don't read that forum, but lots of people are either a student, poor, cheap, or all of the above so if I say to you an FMIC can be had for 400 bucks you'd be pretty darn happy. I'll include links to the 100's of pages of info below.

Summary: There is a TXS fmic copy (excellent) floating around ebay. It is excellent quality, the fitment is almost excellent, and best of all it's 400-450 SHIPPED - in the last year I have corresponded with multiple people on the setup and most everyone has succesfully dyno'd.


About a year ago I bought this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-03...spagenameZWDVW
It's a copy of the greddy FMIC, but has since been changed to bar and plate core. It was missing some ****, and the Greddy/Blitz kits aren't very complete anyways so it was missing quite a lot. I accumulated all the parts needed but decided not to install it as the core is small, and sold it to a member of BAIC.

About 2 months ago I bought this, the "XS power" fmic made by SSAutochrome: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SCOOB...spagenameZWDVW


As summarized it is a TXS clone - comes with the core and 2.5" piping plus MAF tube, crankcase ventilation relocation (I had already done that when I put my TMIC on though), coolant relocation, and replacement bumper beam. Piping has rolled beads and comes w/ T-bolts and silicone couplings.

Fitment is good. Even the L-bracket that secures the piping to where the driver's side TMIC bracket used to be fit perfectly. Core mounted perfectly to the provided bumper beam. The screws on the MAF housing did not line up. Be careful which filter you buy. I bought an ebay Greddy Airnix copy which caused minor hood clearance issues - I will run the Perrin bigMAF when tuning anyways. The COOLEST PART IS SOMEONE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO REUSE THE STOCK BPV - 90 degree elbow cut from radiator hose you can buy at Kragen, plus a bov flange you can get off ebay.

Thread of interest w/ all of the info you will EVER NEED (34 pages long) http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=909584

I haven't dyno'd this setup as my motor needs to be torn down and redone in a bit, but the proof is pretty much been out there so you don't need a dyno sheet from me anyways... I'll post pics in a bit but again they aren't really necessary since there are many documentions. Here is the best: http://freon.shackspace.com/car/fmic <-- contains pics and instructions on install.






This is not an easy install b/c it's ebay - it's just a regular FMIC install. Took me about 4 hours to mount the core and cut the bumper, and 4 hours to install the piping (but I did other stuff like relocate my battery, wrap the turbo and DP) \

Contact me if you buy the kit and need help installing it, I'll be glad to lend a helping hand. Just trying to do a service to save I-clubber's some money


Cheers,
Ambert

 

*edit* corrected piping diameter


O yeah, my total costs:

FMIC kit - 420 shipped
filter (ebay) - 20
bov flange - 15
TB-IC 2.5"-2.75" reducer - 15
radiator hose - 10
some gasket sealant so the couplings don't blow off - 2 bucks


sell old STI tmic: get back 250. As you can see this is quite a cheap upgrade for STI owners

 

Thanks for the info. Do you have an STi or WRX? And what kind of turbo are you running?

 

Great write up, one question is the piping on the cold side going to the throttle body smaller than the throttle body?

Mike

 

*edit* yup it is.

From the looks of it your own car certainly isn't lacking in piping diameter https://www.i-club.com/forums/attach...chmentid=27880

 

I have an '03. There is a bit of difference w/ the '06 iirc b/c the fuel filter (which needs to be lowered to fit piping) area is different but people have fitted it on STI and WRX from '02-'06. I'm still running a vf30.

 

What's 4"? certainly not the throttle body.

Does the piping match the throttle body size or is it smaller than the throttle body?

 

Did you get a referee ticket yet?

 

I editted the numbers, since I kind of just forgot them (which is why I pointed to the relevant thread). 2.75" I just measure. The piping is 2.5"

It is smaller. But as I said in the above post, I was under the impression other fmics had 2.5" piping that flared to match the TB inlet.

 

I do need to black-out the fmic core asap. I'm inspired by the GT30 setup EQtuning recently did to coat everything black - to the average person you really can't tell at first glance the car isn't stock...

The exterior of my car is all stock, the exhaust is Borla Hush, I may consider adding the third back in, I've been tailed by motorcycle cops and CHP many, many times commuting to work and never been given trouble. Luckily I haven't run into Rosette on Automall, I try to avoid that street unless I have to go to MPJ

 

dan they are running a sale 379 shipped...



http://www.xs-power.com/monthly-special-xs-power.htm

damn wonder if i should get one for da saab?

 

Damn..very tempting. Hmmm should I save up for some coilovers or this fmic?

 

W/ wrapping the turbo and DP the tmic seems to be fine for lots of 2.0l folk. I was getting a lot of heatsoak, had a boost leaks, my 2.5l generates more heat, and I (foolishly) removed the splitter, which were the paramount reasons, not power/bling, I went fmic.