Bumper supports?

[iamwesley]

Anyone on here still using bumper supports with a FMIC? I was thinking about cutting mine up and putting it on. I dont know what their for but I heard that they are for some sort of safety incase you get into a accident, Anyone have any idea?. Do you guys think its beneficial to put it on or should I just leave it off?

[phrozen]

99% of ppl with a big fmic cut part of there bumper support... u can get a nice arc smic and it should do the job just fine if u dont wanna cut it up

[wylin]

The bumper support when intact is designed to distribute "some" of the energy from the collision. But after cutting a large portion of it out most of the function of the bumper support is now to keep the bumper cover from sagging and on s14's keeping the headlights and grill from sagging... Rven the most basic japanese FMIC kit will force you to cut a large portion of the bumper support out changing its energy distributing power. Basically even at low speeds you wont have that much protections since your cut your 2.5 or 5mph bumper up and made it a 1mph bumper =X.

Or just remove the whole support like i did, since i was too lazy to cut the support. Since having barely one and no bumper support are essentially the same.

[citizen]

Since having barely one and no bumper support are essentially the same.
No its not, it may not protect as well in certain types of impacts but it is much better than nothing. Unless you like using that shiny new FMIC as crumple zone when you get in a fender bender.

[kingsol]

yeah keep your support. granted, it may weaken the support and consequently have no effect in an accident, but... it will keep everything lined up and keep your bumper from sagging

[ThatGuy]

I have been playing with a few ideas for a tube frame support in place of the old bumper support, something that makes room for a FMIC but still provides some protection and is hidden by the bumper cover. I'd like to eventually go with V-Mount setup and I know you usually have to remove alot for that, but I don't want everything getting destroyed if I get in an accident. Just another thought for you guys.

[wylin]

No its not, it may not protect as well in certain types of impacts but it is much better than nothing. Unless you like using that shiny new FMIC as crumple zone when you get in a fender bender.

http://store6.yimg.com/I/phase2motorsports_1793_45005510

Thats the about the level of cutting required to have a BLitz LM like mine on s14. You can leave maybe a small 2-3mm piece of metal across the intercooler if you want, but in general the intercooler is essentially your expensive weak alluminum bumper support now.

[s14srpilot]

http://store6.yimg.com/I/phase2motorsports_1793_45005510

Thats the about the level of cutting required to have a BLitz LM like mine on s14. You can leave maybe a small 2-3mm piece of metal across the intercooler if you want, but in general the intercooler is essentially your expensive weak alluminum bumper support now.

Will are you running a koyo? does running a fmic affect radiator cooling? I hear that you have to switch to electric fans b/c the i/c is so thick and you need extra power to suck air through to cool the radiator

[AKADriver]

Electric fans aren't as powerful as the stock mechanical fan with shroud.

Though what they might mean is that you need to install 'pusher' electric fans in front of the radiator to supplement the stock fan.

[wylin]

Will are you running a koyo? does running a fmic affect radiator cooling? I hear that you have to switch to electric fans b/c the i/c is so thick and you need extra power to suck air through to cool the radiator

btw that is bretts car not mine.

Im running a stock radiator, with a stock clutch fan and shroud. I've never had any overheating problems even in traffic. The reason that i can do that is because i have the stock shroud and fan those push alot of air, more than many cheapie electric fan systems. Because there is so much volume of air being moved by the fan and large shroud, the stock slim radiator can keep up w/ the reduced air flow from being behind the fmic. I've run this way for over 2 years, also. The time you get into trouble is when you get a small e-fan with no shroud and run a FMIC...at low speeds the radiator blockage is compouded with the lack of area of the fans draw.

I am upgrading to a koyo soon though, just because i am going to install a nismo thermostat i won in a local contest. I decided to change everything since i have to drain the radiator anyways.

Ideally you should upgrade your radiator and run the stock fan and shroud or upgrade to twin FAL fans like phase2 sells. Both of those types of setups will push alot of air through the radiator and negate all effects from the FMIC blocking the radiator. i'd recomend an upgraded cooling solution if you have the budget for them, since its better to be safe then sorry.

image of my set up:
http://i.xanga.com/wylin/engineshot_oct.jpg

[BuudWeizErr]

here is my setup.

http://www.sillbeer.com/bumpersupport.php