So I recently installed a FMIC to my Vortech S/C'd '04GT. I did so without cutting into my front bumper support. Most installs I see on Stangnet and other Mustang forums involve removing the front bumper cover and cutting the support. That adds time to the install as well as diminshes safety. Since the install a member has been PM'ing me with some questions since he will be doing a similar install shortly. Rather than confine my responses to him privately I felt like some things could be useful to other people.
Install a FMIC without cutting the bumper support
- Thread starter 04torktech
- Start date
First of all some issues arose with the power steering lines which come in front of the radiator..... Here is what to do (hopefully I will have pictures shortly)
The power steering line problem can be quickly fixed. From what my tuner told me you can basically do two things with the power steering lines. Since I did not want to cut away my bumper support (you definitely don't have to by the way) I needed the intercooler to sit between the support and the radiator which of course is where the lines are. So you can either try and bend the lines outward and around the intercooler which I think would look ugly or do what I did. Two soft lines connect to the hard lines which go out in front of the radiator and loop back around. First unbolt the 4 bolts ( I believe they are allens but 2 of them may be hex's) which secure the hard lines. Than I used 2 vise grip pliers to clamp the soft lines so I could disconnect the hard lines and not drain any fluid. There are 2 connectors which you can slip off and if you are lucky just pull the hard line out from the soft line. Mine were stuck on there pretty good so I wound up cutting the soft lines. Make sure you have a rag handy since you will drip a little fluid. The lines are unpressurized when the motor is off so you won't spill too much though. I had a little cup and a rag on hand. Than with the hard line portion in hand I took a hack saw and cut straight through both pipes on the end where it makes the 180 degree bend. I reattached that to the soft lines completing the loop with hose connectors. It was definitely one of the easier parts of the installation.
The power steering line problem can be quickly fixed. From what my tuner told me you can basically do two things with the power steering lines. Since I did not want to cut away my bumper support (you definitely don't have to by the way) I needed the intercooler to sit between the support and the radiator which of course is where the lines are. So you can either try and bend the lines outward and around the intercooler which I think would look ugly or do what I did. Two soft lines connect to the hard lines which go out in front of the radiator and loop back around. First unbolt the 4 bolts ( I believe they are allens but 2 of them may be hex's) which secure the hard lines. Than I used 2 vise grip pliers to clamp the soft lines so I could disconnect the hard lines and not drain any fluid. There are 2 connectors which you can slip off and if you are lucky just pull the hard line out from the soft line. Mine were stuck on there pretty good so I wound up cutting the soft lines. Make sure you have a rag handy since you will drip a little fluid. The lines are unpressurized when the motor is off so you won't spill too much though. I had a little cup and a rag on hand. Than with the hard line portion in hand I took a hack saw and cut straight through both pipes on the end where it makes the 180 degree bend. I reattached that to the soft lines completing the loop with hose connectors. It was definitely one of the easier parts of the installation.
On the front picture above you can see two vertical supports painted black in front of the radiator. These attach to the top of the CX Racing Intercooler. I made them from 1" steel and than painted them. The intercooler fits almost perfectly in between the radiator and support once the power steering line is removed.
