DIY Vortech FMIC - my attempt!

BennyBlown2v

New Member
Dec 9, 2004
1,233
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Carmel, INdiana
I started this project last weekend, but didn't really get to doing anything until yesterday and today, so heres what I got so far! :flag:

Up on jack stands ready to go
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What it looked like before.
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Bumper cover removed/piping removed.
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Bumper off and cut.
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Mocking up the IC to bumper for mounting holes.
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IC and bumper remounted.
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Mocked plumbing from blower to IC.
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Mocked pluming IC to engine bay.
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Going into the engine bay/BPV pipe.
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Relocated rear coolant expansion tank mount for more room routing the SC->IC pipes.
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Engine bay now.
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Everything is done as far as plumbing is concerned; now, all thats left to be done is take everything apart (actually I already did that lol), tighten the blower screws, debur and wash the pipes, then reassemble. :banana:

I got everything on ebay, siliconeintakes.com (amazing job, got my couplers overnight), and local hardware store.

http://stores.ebay.com/Just-Intercoolers Nice pipe+clamp+coupler kits for little coin.

I test fitted the bumper on earlier, fits like a glove (a snug glove :nice: ). I had to remove the fog lights because the GT bumper is so damn narrow and short. For instance, the inside bottom of the bumper is flush with the bottom of the IC, but because of our "tippy nosed" design there is about 1.5" of core below the fascia. Also I trimmed the foam crash bumper into a concave shape so it won't overlap the IC, but act as a shroud and force air into it. I'm probably going to add two pieces of aluminum stock to the bottom of the IC also, and just rivet them onto the core support so it'll be all stout and w/not.

If anybody wants more detailed info, or particular pics just let me know and I'll post em up. :SNSign:
 
Looking good bro......need to get it retuned and add some timing and more boost now!!!

"ED"


Thanks! The tune should still be good, just needs some tweaking, and yeah WAY more timing! I'm on a 91 octane tune but 93/94 is the common premium grade around here, so there is plenty of room to up the timing. Lucky for me, a buddy of mine has a shop with a dyno half a block from my garage :nice:
 
AWSOME job man! Looks great IMO...should definatly help teh powa out :D .

How much timing is in the motor right now anyways?


And yep my fogs are gone too. Racoon kindly removed one lol...and I pulled the other. But good thing because my IC piping wouldnt have fit with them either.
Now do what I did and turn your fog button into a line lock switch :D
 
Wow looks awesome. Losing the foglights would annoy me, but i suppose thats a small price to pay for more HP.

Out of curiosity, would you mind giving a ballpark total on all the parts you needed? I think there is probably a little more cutting up of the car then i would like, but it's an interesting idea. Also, i'd love to see some pics with the bumper back on once you are done.

Again, good work!
 
How much timing is in the motor right now anyways?

I think 15-16 degrees, I can't remember it's still Tims tune +/- whatever timing I played with last time I was on the dyno. Line lock is coming...but the goodies coming next week gotta come first hahahahahahahhaha (hint: maximum motorsports likes my debit card :nice:)

Wow looks awesome. Losing the foglights would annoy me, but i suppose thats a small price to pay for more HP.

Out of curiosity, would you mind giving a ballpark total on all the parts you needed? I think there is probably a little more cutting up of the car then i would like, but it's an interesting idea. Also, i'd love to see some pics with the bumper back on once you are done.

Again, good work!

Parts I bought:

-24"x12"x3" core bar/plate intercooler
-3" ID, 2mm thick aluminum tubing with rolled ends
*2 x 90' pipe
*2 x 75' pipe
*2 x 45' pipe
*2 x straight pipe
-3" silicone couplers
*2 x hump hose
*3"-2.75" reducer
*6 x couplers
*2 x 90' couplers
-3" polished aluminum BOV pipe (Type-RS flange)
-17 x 3" T-bolt clamps
-Vortech Mini-Race BPV, satin body, blue top (not pictured)

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I also ended up getting a spare 90 degree elbow, and a 45 degree elbow for the IC-BPV pipe bend. I think total, after the last couplers, new cutoff disk for my angle grinder, and steel/aluminum stock it was about $500 all shipped. It's really not that much cutting, just in the fender well a bit, and then the bumper was optional, but I wanted to put it there because it would get the most air, keep the weight mounted down low, make the routing of the pipes easier/straighter, and it looks badass! :D If you wanted you could mount it to the back of the crash bumper, but you would have to bend the AC lines, and only about half the IC would be getting any air directly (so it would really be better just to use a smaller core).

I'll have pics with the bumper on tomorrow probably, still gotta go back over to my dads and put it all back together :nice:
 
looks good. these installs all look about the same. it tok me about half a day all together to finish mine up.

that bumper support is some tough ****!!! i used a torch to sut mine

I tried that, didn't work, cutoff wheel finished the job in under 5 minutes though :nice:

I took the car out for a drive, BPV sounds so sweet :p When I went into boost I popped the coupler from the piece that connects to the blower and the piece that runs across to the IC though, I forgot to roll the that one pipe :owned:
 
Awsome!...feel any better?

And are you saying that your clamps blow off when you go into boost unless they are all rolled ends on the pipe????

None of my ends have rolled lips on them and iv never had a problem....seeing 9PSI here. :shrug: Although I put the death grip on all the clamps...they are TIGHT and will NOT come off for anything LOL.
 
Awsome!...feel any better?

And are you saying that your clamps blow off when you go into boost unless they are all rolled ends on the pipe????

None of my ends have rolled lips on them and iv never had a problem....seeing 9PSI here. :shrug: Although I put the death grip on all the clamps...they are TIGHT and will NOT come off for anything LOL.

Just one did, but I rolled them all anyway, just took like 5 minutes with a pair of flat nosed pliers :nice: The real problem is the T-bolt clamps I got are too wide for my non-silicone intake systems (the ones from SIS are the BEST!) 90 degree couplers, so there isn't really enough room to clamp it down all the way, so it started to slip off the one. It feels pretty good, I put the stock mongoose tune back in it, and have to get my a/f checked and start playing with that and the timing :) If I have any problems on the tuning side I'll just hitup Alternative Auto in Detroit, they are turning out some 'mazing cars!
 
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Heres a crappy pic form my video camera. As you can see it sits low :rlaugh: I'm probably going to be attaching it to either the core support and get rid of the crash bumper all together, or cut the crash bumper more and mount it to that. I still haven't put the foam back in there, or anything else, but it's running great aside from some minor tuning issues that need to be worked out.
 

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Thanks for the pics!

EDIT: nvm, I see how you mounted it. I don't wanna move the AC lines, and also they get really hot, don't want intercooler pressing against anything hot! I'm just gonna put it directly under the pony, right at the top of the crash bumper, and leave a portion of the bumper intact in the front (just an L shape overlapping part of the IC)
 
You dont have to move the AC lines. I had to move mine for my Turbo piping to actually fit.. with your setup, you should just be able to mount the top of it to the headlight / bumper reinforcement panel, then make 2 brackets to support the lower portion of the IC to the radiator core support. Then maybe do a shortening of a pipe or 2 and its raised up. the only lines i dont have on my car is the "tube" power steering cooler b/c its pointless IMO and i'm going to be running a small Tube and fin setup anyways...
 
If I can get my IC in...3.5 inches thick and taking up BOTH grilles W/O moving the A/C lines, you shouldnt have a problem LOL.

(we had to bend the aluminum low pressure side line a LITTLE to make the loop around hose miss my down pipe, and so the low pressure cap cleared my radiator hose at the same time. Was very easy to bend and it was so slight its probably not even worth mentioning actually HAHAHA.)
 
Little update! Since the car has been down for ~cough~ other ~cough~ modifications...I decided to remount the intercooler today. I had to notch the bumper a bit more, and I decided to cut it into an "L" shape - then at the top I welded on some thick steel stock to bolt the IC to.

PICS:


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Intercooler remounted!

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with the bumper on, now its not the lowest part of the car! :nice:

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And a little teaser...prepping the front end for rebuild (back end is getting a jorb, too ;))

I'm psyched about this season :banana:
 

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got any pics of the piping from the s/c to the bottom of the engine?

did you use a 45* pipe off the blower to the straight piece?

(i wish i had the extra cash for your suspension parts but the wifes b-day is in 2 weeks)