Getting serious about a FMIC, need options...

[scheides]

I had an apexi on my 1g, hated the piping route. the driver's side inlet went up and bent back towards the passenger side, so the piping had to go across, behind the bumper, then through an enlarged hole in the core support. Worked just fine, though.

[howslowcanyougo]

Which Apex'i core and what style endtanks? In/outlet diameter? These are all things you need to know before commiting to it. Have you at least gotten a picture?


Guess some pics could help decide right? I'll get with this guy and ask him for some pics, and postem for you evaluate.

Thanks much for your insights!


Howie

[95tsi]

I went with the Hahn fmic and did the piping myself. I already had the upper I/C pipe so I just tied in with that. I think I spent $550 on my whole setup(minus UIC). Cheaper priced fmic but, for me its worked excellent.

http://hahnracecraft.com/hahn/parts/universal%20intercoolers.htm

[Shane@DBPerformance]

There is a difference between the FMIC kit that Apexi makes for 2Gs and an Apexi Skyline Core. The core in the 2G is a small Sylvia core and the piping is probably routed bad like in a Greddy kit. The Apexi Skyline core is pretty big, but you need to make your own piping, it is also an expensive core. AMS makes very nice kit for the 2Gs, but it is quite $$$ and major overkill for a 16G.

[Halon]

If you like to take on projects, I say buy a core and make your own piping. It's what I am doing. I bought a 24x10x3 bar & plate core for 300 bucks. Will be installing it and making my own piping. The driver side will be tricky for me, but you have a 2g and it should be cake for you to route it. Otherwise, for under a grand there are some kits out there. SLS who sponsors this site sells em cheap I think.

[howslowcanyougo]

If you like to take on projects, I say buy a core and make your own piping. It's what I am doing. I bought a 24x10x3 bar & plate core for 300 bucks. Will be installing it and making my own piping. The driver side will be tricky for me, but you have a 2g and it should be cake for you to route it. Otherwise, for under a grand there are some kits out there. SLS who sponsors this site sells em cheap I think.


I know I'm going to hate myself for saying this, but that's what I'm going to do. Buy a core and TRY this install as a "Dad thing" with my boy, except he'll prolly want cash money up front as well!

So for now I'm just digging around for cores. Trying to decide first between a small core that is easier to install with less hacking. And a larger core that could support larger turbo, somewhere down the line?

Where is the best balance?

[Onefast99gsx]

Here... my brother and i did this one a few years back. It's a Griffin FMIC purchased from RRE. We did the piping ourselves. I cut, he welded. I think i had somewhere around $650-675 into it. Very nice core. Gets ice cold on the cool side of it.

http://mis15437.tripod.com/griffin_20x10.htm

[JET]

I would get an Ebay core before the Griffin. Get one like the one Tom got.

Did I just tell someone to do something that Tom did??

[A//// Guy]

I did the ebay thing and QPR piping. Great qualoty unit and awesome work done by Mike but I think overall Ive spent probably more than a big fmic kit. Its also hard to get it right, especially with the long piping route. It just depends on what you want to do. If you plan on upgrading turbos you need to change your piping again.. (that what I had to do) but my j-pipe was really long so it had to be modded quite a bit.

It may seem like your spending less because you will spend 300 on a core first, then atleast 200-400 on piping, depending on metal choice, if your welding yourself, and all other work, couplers, clamps, etc.

Theres an easy way for a fmic and then theres custom. Im very happy with my unit but its tricky and time consuming to build and customize to fit. Other package units are known to fit and work with minimal mods.

Just my .02

[Onefast99gsx]

What's wrong with the Griffin? Have you ever run a griffin? The Griffin i have is actually better than the Spearco 2-178 that was on my car when i bought it. I feel it was much more efficient. I have Mike from RRE to back me up on that one. I called him to ask him which one he liked better and which one to dump. The core is much nicer on the Griffin and seemed to transfer the heat much better.

I'd like to see the actual inside of the cores from the ones that are on ebay. I'd buy something name brand before i'd buy some generic junk on ebay especially when you got over $500 into it.