I searched and I couldn't find anything on this so here goes.

I'm thinking about going FI most likely a turbo (So I can beat my friends turbo 350z) and I was just wondering has anyone used SMIC's instead of a fmic? I'd like it more sleeper if at all possible.


Also if I used the factory exhaust how much hp would I be losing?


Thank you

 

If I were you i would just relocate or move the AC collector back just a little to make room for a FMIC. By doing this, you wont have to cut any of your front bumper. To further the sleeper effect, you could just paint your intercooler flat black. A sidemount intercooler will not be very effecient compared to a front mount. Surface area is everything. The more surface area, the more cooling potential (An example of this is the fins we have on our rear diff. The fins are there to increase the surface area of the diff, thus increasing its potential to cool off) To sum up, just use a flat black FMIC.

Kyle Ritchie

 

I didin't have to cut much to install my front mount.

 

A v-mount would also be an option for you if you don't like the look of a FMIC, but it will cost a few more dollars. If you leave the stock plastic in front of the intercooler it is not very obvious, it looks more like a radiator with it. But if you want to go turbo just to beat your friend's turbo 350Z you could always just wait another month for him to blow a rod out the side of his VQ, then you can beat him easily .

 

If you want the sleeper look, I agree, just go flat black and it won't be that noticeable at all, especially if you leave your center grill on.

I didn't have to cut anything either, just took a holesaw to the splashguards for the piping and that was it. Although I did opt to take the center grill out which was a bitch and that involved cutting, snipping, dremeling, etc.

 

Planets, hey, do you happen to have any close up pics of where you cut the center grille away. I ask because I will be doing the same thing to my car and was just wondering how much actually gets cut out. Thanks.