GReddy FMIC installation?

[uiuc240]

Dudes,

I just bought a GReddy VSPL from James here in Chicago. Turns out, the instructions were not in the box, and I'm just wondering if anyone has any info on how this thing should all bolt up. I thought the GReddy kits were supposed to tell you things about where to cut the battery box and stuff like trimming the bumper and all that.

If anyone has any tips or pics, that would be great. I'll be checking here frequently, so please post up! Thanks a bunch!

Eric

[Yoshi]

same FMIC I have, I'm gonna pressure wash my engine bay 2morrow, I'll post some pix for ya after :)

[uiuc240]

cool, thanks! Any tips on the install? Where to cut? How much of the bumper support to cut? What did you cut it with? Things like that....

I appreciate it. I feel like such a :newbie: right now. Blah. Oh well.

Eric

[DuffMan]

http://www.nissanperformancemag.com/april04/240sr/images/image004.jpg

[uiuc240]

Thanks Scott! I think I'll just make a BIG hole in about that same location.

I really need to figure out how to cut the bumper support...does anyone have advice for that? What did you use?

Eric

[mikeroy420]

The same happened to me, I couldnt find any info on how to install. If you find any, you should please let me know. thanks

mike

[uiuc240]

well, i just found this...but it doesn't give much advice on the bumper support.

http://www.zeroyon.com/pics/installs/fmic/fmic.html

should i just take the bumper support out???

Eric

[Siizzzoooo]

yeah, most people just do away with the front bumper support.

grow some ballzzz...hahhah..jk

[uiuc240]

ok...but isn't my bumper going to sag? i mean, if it's not, then i'm totally getting rid of it.

Eric

[uiuc240]

Jesus.

Still not done. Scott (Duffman) and I went to town on this mofo today and we couldn't finish it because the damn blades kept breaking on my cheap little jigsaw we are using to cut the metal. The intercooler is in, the battery is in, the car runs, but the bumper is still off the car. Blah. It will be finished tomorrow.

Whomever said this is a 3 hour job should be shot.

Eric

[slideways240]

it doesn't take nearly 3hours if you have a torch or a porta-band. you got the wrong tool for the job. :duh:

[DuffMan]

Wow, your right, we should have spent $300 for a porta band or God knows how much for a torch and tank that we'd use once instead of $20 on the jig saw. Damn we're stupid :jerkit:

[uiuc240]

Yeah, I shoulda got a TIG welder while I was at it. Dude, then we could have just gotten an NPR intercooler and welded our own pipes? What were we thinking?

Slideways...c'mon man. I just spent $$$$ on the FMIC... The idea was NOT to spend a ton on the installation. I personally think it's RETARDED that GReddy created a "KIT" that requires this much work to put in the car. For instance:

1. They could have just as easily routed the cold side piping AROUND the frame rail, thereby avoiding the stupid battery issue. True, this would get in the way of the fan shroud, but if you run electric fans, it's not a problem.

2. They could have used a slightly smaller core that wouldn't require cutting the bumper support.

3. They could have made the core about an inch narrower...that would have allowed it to tilt back another inch, probably clearing the bumper support completely.

4. They could include INSTRUCTIONS!

5. They could include TEMPLATES for cutting the battery tray, bumper support, and OEM bumper covers.

These are just a few of the things that I would have liked to see in this "KIT". I figure that's what you pay for when you spend the money to get something that's engineered.

I like the IC. I'm sure it's going to be nice. But some of these niggling issues are really pissing me off.

Eric

[Yoshi]

wow, my pix were not needed, good deal :)
i helped my buddy cut down his suport with....

ready for this?

a dremel and a chop saw... we had nothing in between, one 16" cutoff wheel, and one 1" cutoff wheel :D

Took us a mere 5 hrs. and LOTS of cussing :)

[uiuc240]

Yeah, I bought a cheap 4" grinder today. With that and the cheap jig saw, I made quick work of the bumper support and the bumper cover. The whole thing is done now and I *do* love it. So much better boost response and the car is just so much happier. I should have done this a long time ago. Also, I think the whole install would have been 10x easier if we had all the tools from the beginning (including a 3" hole saw $$$) as well as one of those sweet SVR batteries. But for now, everything's working, and I'm happy.

Thanks again SCOTT!! (especially for the good eye on that CAS mumbo jumbo!)

Eric

[TheTimanator]

got a pic of the hacked bumper support? Just curious as to what I'm gonna have to do when I finally get around to putting my FMIC in. I've rear ended 2 people in my life and there is no way I'm taking the bumper support out...

[uiuc240]

My bumper support is NOT pretty. I cut it with an angle grinder, so its kinda jagged and scraggly...but it works. You have to cut a rather large chunk out of the top on the back and then make some notches to the lip at the bottom. I'll see if I happened to take a picture. I probably didn't though...oops. I'll get pics up soon, though.

Eric

[Steeles]

mine came with instructions... ut yeah its a lot of work for a "bolt on kit" think about it though... theres no provisions for the bumper support cause iirc the JDM cars dont have it like ours. the instructions show notching out two places on what they DO have but its not a full bar like ours. (remeber USDM crash safty bullshit)

[uiuc240]

yeah, Duffman and I were discussing that part of it after I went to town on that bumper support (sparks!!!). We agreed that the install is probably way easier in Japan. But you know what? Now that it's all done, I'm glad to have the support in there. That mofo is BEEFY! It looked wussy in pictures, but when I got it off and started hacking it up, it's clear that the bumper support PWNS ME.

so glad it's done. I will wash the car tonight and take a nice front pic for a new sig :)

[Steeles]

hahah yeah we had a sawzall that even struggled a bit when we did mine. we just cut the middle out made it even with the frame rails. fit beautifully and i still have a bit of protection under there.

[mykem]

sawzall is your best friend =)

you comin to the meet in a week? i'll have to check it out in person, i know when i started cutting my bumper i started out in small sections, then by the end i just cut a huge 4 inch section out of it to make sure i would finally clear

-m

[uiuc240]

I can't make it to the meet...I'll be on a business trip out to California that weekend. It's been planned for months...d'oh! I'll do my best to be at the next one, though!

Eric

[BuudWeizErr]

I have almost the same complaints as you do. I have the Vspl, and it took me hours to install it thanks to no instructions, missing a hose clamp, no templates etc... On S14's, I've heard that the piping doesn't even line up correctly.

I installed my friends Blitz LM. Awesome kit. Came with templates, instructions, EXTRA parts, vaccum T's, hoses, etc etc.

[Steeles]

the S14 kit dosnt line up if you have an S13 motor or a KA in there. the cold pipe is designed for an S14 motor which has the throttle body in a different location