OK I did my eBay FMIC install last week, but I'm just now getting some time to make a post about it. The main points are:

-the guides that I read haven't mentioned the boost sensor at all, which I believe they should. If you didn't already see my thread about it, I took a piece of straight pipe and cut three holes for the sensor.

-Originally I was thinking about doing a SMIC + FMIC install, for fun plus from what I hear nobody has ever done it.. well after looking and trying, it's almost impossible without taking it to a muffler shop for the run.

-I didn't loose any boost considering the before and after. From what I read, with eBay FMIC I should expect at least 1-2 psi loss, if not more for the eBay cores. I still run 10-11 psi (for a 2001) and spike about 12-14, which is exactly the same as before. Perhaps I did a better install than others? Not sure.

-For the brackets, I used some .. I'm not sure what it's called but look at the picture. It's a metal strip with two sizes of holes on it. I cut it and attached it to the bottom nut of the AC radiator mount.

-The passenger side was a lot tougher than the driver's side. See the pics. I bought a rubber 90* pipe from autozone, but it was behind the counter so you have to ask for it. It also took a lot of cutting the metal and aluminum pipes.

-During my second test drive, I popped a hose on the passenger side which made the car die right away. I read on one of the posts that if you have straight metal pipe, you need to weld on a ring or some sort of stop on the end, which we ended up doing. After this, and putting double clamps on some of the pipes, it worked great and hasn't popped since then.

-I did have to take out my fog lights for everything to fit.. otherwise it would have been too tough to fit everything. Oh and a whole lot of bumper cutting, but I was told to expect that.

-It looks great, but for some reason, the bottom plastic part of the bumper hangs down a bit so I'll need to fix that next time I get a chance. As far as performance.. there is definitely a bit more turbo lag, but once it gets up to full pressure, the butt dyno is reading some more power.. can't say for sure though.

Otherwise it works great. I may make a DIY guide since I found a lot of points that were missing from all the guides that I read. Let me know if you think I should.


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SVEEET!!

I didn't do a write up for the boost sensor because mine is a 99.5 and doesn't have one.
If you did a nice little write up on that part with some pics we could add it to the diy thread.

But nice job.

 

Looks good!

Josh

 

Yes, that would be best.

Pretty good job. Wish you went to the TB instead of the stock hose.

 

OK np

For making a DIY, should I post it here and them PM a mod? or what

 

I agree with cincy about going to the TB.

 

Think you will have to pm it to an admin (jeff, redgoat, pandaxpress) since i cant seem to edit the diy thread

 

What's the benefit of going straight to the TB? I did it this way for two reasons:

-seems much easier to me
-keep the air volume a bit lower this way, rather than using my 2.5" pipe

 

yeah but the eBay kits only go to the older hose, not all the way. trust me i got the same kit and was a little confused when it came up about a foot short.

 

you already went to big with the 2.5" piping. Not to mention it would be less piping to keep it that way to the TB. Having it go smaller may even hurt you than help you