just another FMIC question

WrEkkED · Feb 19, 2018

I searched both the site and google and I can't find the answer although I'm sure I'm beating a dead horse. I need new intercooler piping so I figure replace the whole thing.

Any links to a good kit that leaves the crash bar fully intact?

If not I found the same SMIC darkside uses on ebay, but the piping (separate seller) is priced out of this world.

BTW I'm in Canada, so unless shipping is reasonable all the ebay.com ads require ludicrous amounts for shipping. I'm running a GTB2260 so I need it to handle a bit of boost.

Yourbuddysatin · Feb 19, 2018

You can use the eBay front mount kit and get a euro front crash bar. The euro crash bar is hollow and you can route the upper piping right thru it. If you would buy the dark side front mount kit they will tell you to change to the euro crash bar. A friend of mine uses the eBay front mount on his gtb set up and it works fine.

Mongler98 · Feb 19, 2018

I got a 27x7x2 FMIC in front of the AC with out doing more than a tiny trim on the front rebar on my MK3, i had to scoot the radiator back 1 inch and cut and weld the tabs on the AC back .25" and i just had to trim a tiny bit, check out my gt2052 build. i know its for your 04 sport but maybe you can get creative like i did.

Geobmx4life · Feb 19, 2018

This is what I ordered....

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-27-X7-X...ash=item4d6ce7b435:g:2D0AAOSwvGlacrNd&vxp=mtr

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/2-5-Aluminu...ash=item58d70ee346:g:O1cAAOSwJH5aWCcG&vxp=mtr

tjpeterson96 · Feb 19, 2018

Darkside pd130 fmic kit it what I got. For extra 50 GBP they will send you the euro crash bar to make it full plug and play with stock BEW and vnt17. Requires very little trimming. I have pics of the install if you want a general idea. Edit: re-read and saw you are running gtb turbo. They have options for gtb turbo on when ordering I believe.

Mongler98 · Feb 19, 2018

MAKE sure you run a towel with some parts clean though them with a string, you will get LOADS of aluminum shavings out of them from the bending machine.

WrEkkED · Feb 21, 2018

Crazy! Thanks for the replies.

I was going to get the darkside kit before but its about $1000 plus shipping. Seeing as they use ebay ic's I just cant pay the extra. Can get the kit geobmx posted for $200. Id need a different manifold to run the opposite side but thats ok too.

I've been really busy but sure I will have more questions.

Macradiators.com · Feb 21, 2018

That fmic will work nice. Just buy some straight alu pipe and use silicone elbows where you need and you are done for under 200$ .

1000 for a fmic and piping? jeez

Mongler98 · Feb 22, 2018

i did mine for about $80 in parts total, i waited till one was marked on clearance, used my eBay bucks and a black Friday 10% off any eBay purchase. well over $200 in parts, about $250, i had a lot of eBay bucks

raffshore · Feb 22, 2018

WrEkkED said:
I searched both the site and google and I can't find the answer although I'm sure I'm beating a dead horse. I need new intercooler piping so I figure replace the whole thing.
Any links to a good kit that leaves the crash bar fully intact?
If not I found the same SMIC darkside uses on ebay, but the piping (separate seller) is priced out of this world.
BTW I'm in Canada, so unless shipping is reasonable all the ebay.com ads require ludicrous amounts for shipping. I'm running a GTB2260 so I need it to handle a bit of boost.

Check out wagner, not cheap but the best

[486] · Feb 22, 2018

WrEkkED said:
If not I found the same SMIC darkside uses on ebay, but the piping (separate seller) is priced out of this world.

stock piping flows a lot more than your turbo
you can get a 1.8 pancake pipe, but honestly even that's really overkill for anything under a 50mm inducer
Larger intercooler can get you gains if you live where the stock one heatsoaks, piping will get you nothing.

Pressure side can be absolutely tiny, all under 2", as these tiny VNT turbos spool so quick off idle that you don't need atmospheric flow like you do with a larger wastegated turbo where the engine's breathing on its own until the turbo wakes up.

Yourbuddysatin · Feb 23, 2018

It might be wise to just upgrade to the darkside side mount kit or at least the inter cooler. You can create turbo lag with all the front mount piping and larger inter cooler. Unless you are running a large enough turbo such as a gtb or along those lines.

WrEkkED · Feb 23, 2018

I am running a gtb2260. My side mount gets heatsoaked very quickly and I also blew the sides out of my original one. I happened to have another to throw in for the time being
I was considering a smic, but all the discussions seem to be dont waste the money and go front mount.

I have been doing a fair amount of towing as well.

WrEkkED · Feb 23, 2018

Put it this way, I plan to tune it to ~220hp and call it quits. I'm really easy on the car for the most part, but one run from 30-70 and I'm done for.

Go fm, or sm? I honestly would prefer not to throw on a fm because we have to pass emissions and I feel like a fm will make the inspector look further and see the tubular manifold with no egr attached.

Yourbuddysatin · Feb 23, 2018

Well I’d say with that power outlook and having a 2260 go front mount. If you do it right the whole thing will be hidden behind the bumper cover. I debated doing front mount myself but I only have a vnt17 so I just did the darkside upgraded side mount kit. Like I said above though using a euro crash bar with either the eBay front mount or darkside front mount kit. It will stay hidden behind your cover. Good luck whatever way you decide!!

[486] · Feb 23, 2018

WrEkkED said:
I'm really easy on the car for the most part, but one run from 30-70 and I'm done for.

side mount will do fine
whenever you aren't making boost, the air out of the turbo is pretty much outside air temp
meaning, if you're just doing infrequent pulls it will have time to cool between them.

3L3M3NT · Mar 14, 2018

[486] said:
side mount will do fine
whenever you aren't making boost, the air out of the turbo is pretty much outside air temp
meaning, if you're just doing infrequent pulls it will have time to cool between them.

IMO he could probably get away with an upgraded SMIC if he was running a stock or even a VNT-17 that's tuned, but when running a turbo that's a 17/22 or bigger than I would recommend going with a FMIC.

I know that running a larger turbo isn't going to have as high of EGTs, but it's better to have a larger intercooler on a car that is going to be making 220 hp. There's a reason why certain size ICs have a hp rating...meaning it can only flow a certain amount of air and cool it as it goes through.

If you haven't made your decision yet, then either piece together a FMIC or bite the bullet and buy one, because what was the point in spending all that money on a larger turbo, bigger injectors, and a tune to let the ECU control all the new upgrades.

Otherwise everytime you wanna push your car you're going to have to worry about heat soak

[486] · Mar 14, 2018

3L3M3NT said:
IMO he could probably get away with an upgraded SMIC if he was running a stock or even a VNT-17 that's tuned, but when running a turbo that's a 17/22 or bigger than I would recommend going with a FMIC.

Eh, I was running a stock side mount as the low pressure IC with a 46/58 compressor and 52/46 turbine feeding it only 16 PSI, the HP turbo did surge a bit earlier than it should've, so maybe it was a significant enough restriction to bump that down a couple PSI.
You'd see a lot better flow through the intercooler with it seeing full intake manifold pressure though.

Current setup's going together with a 60/86 compressor feeding the same junk stock side mount, but I won't claim it's a good idea.

MAXRPM · Mar 20, 2018

Muskrat619 · Mar 20, 2018

Not trying to hijack a thread I’m new can’t figure out how to start another one yet just a quick question I bought golf all intercooler piping will it work on my all jetta?

Geobmx4life · Mar 21, 2018

Muskrat619 said:
Not trying to hijack a thread I’m new can’t figure out how to start another one yet just a quick question I bought golf all intercooler piping will it work on my all jetta?

Mkiv golf and Jetta are extremely close, so yes it should.

Yourbuddysatin · Mar 21, 2018

Muskrat619 said:
Not trying to hijack a thread I’m new can’t figure out how to start another one yet just a quick question I bought golf all intercooler piping will it work on my all jetta?

At the top of all the threads you found this thread on. Left top corner is the tab to make a new thread. I my experience mk4 golf and Jetta are about 95% the same. Most differences are body and interior pieces. For that matter there are a ton of Audi TT components that will interchange also. They might not be the same but will bolt onto one another. Little research and you won’t believe the compatablilty of those cars.

Muskrat619 · Mar 21, 2018

Thank you guys so much

WrEkkED · Apr 15, 2018

I havn't done one yet. But I think I will use the kit above on ebay. Seems everyone sells the same intercooler anyways. I would really prefer same side in and out and thats what im holding back on for now. I cant make up my mind.

3L3M3NT · Apr 15, 2018

Same side in and out is the only way to go IMO. It makes plumbing for that intercooler sooo much easier that going with an intercooler with opposite sides for in and out.
Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes with the install.

WrEkkED · Apr 25, 2018

Awesome! Will do. I jus dont feel like buying a pd150 intake to make it work. I will probay make a decision this week with temps getting warmer and ill update with some pics and how much of a pain it is.

3L3M3NT · Apr 25, 2018

Your stock BEW intake manifold will work. You just need to buy a race pipe to connect the silicon elbow to.
Like so: https://www.darksidedevelopments.co.uk/products/darkside-1-9-8v-tdi-ve-90-110-and-pd100-pd115-egr-delete-race-pipe-51mm.html

You could always keep your factory setup and just delete the EGR with these parts.
https://www.darksidedevelopments.co.uk/products/darkside-1-9-tdi-us-spec-bew-egr-delete-inlet-manifold.html
https://www.darksidedevelopments.co.uk/products/1-9-8v-tdi-pd150-arl-and-us-alh-bew-pd100-egr-cooler-delete-pipe.html

Good Luck

Geobmx4life · Oct 19, 2018

My fmic

Here's the end result... definitely worth it.
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?p=5437730#post5437730

Curious Chris · Oct 24, 2018

The FMIC I am selling bolts to the crash bar. Nice big FMIC check the classifeds

WrEkkED · Apr 13, 2019

So I finally did it and replaced my smic. I went with the darkside unit and the euro crash bar. I was glad I paid a bit more because install was so easy. I was in and out in 6.5 hours.

My suggestion is to install the intercooler to the plastic rad support to mock everything up. I drilled a 1/4" hole and the bolts threaded enough to hold it all in place. I cut the metal pipe from the intake side and used a 45 at the middle to push the pipe out so to miss the pully.

All in all real happy, nice and easy. Longest part was sawzalling the crash bar for the pipe to fit. I can post pics if anybody needs to visualize.

just another FMIC question

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