SMIC hard piping or FMIC upgrade?

[roplusbee]

Ok. I have priced FMIC kits online w/ ebay, SSAC, and various sponsors websites. I am not really looking to go crazy with boost with my CA. All I want to do is make it more efficient. This car is going to be my DD. I would really like to replace the soft rubbery piping that is on the stock equipment, but I haven't seen anything for sale. So here are my questions:

1. Is the piping only obtainable by having it fabricated?2. Are there any reliable places that someone here knows to do that?3. If I can't get someone to fab it for me, will a FMIC reduce performance at stock boost levels?

Solution:

I picked up a FMIC on eBay. It is one of the SSAC deals w/ the HKS SSQ BOV. I still need to order the recirc valve and get a MAF to turbo pipe. I am thinking Apexi Power Intake, but am not sure. Any ideas or advice is welcomed. I posted again at near the bottom, but I decided to edit this to describe progress. OnceI get back to Naples, I will add pix and such.

Thanks guys.

Rob
Modified by roplusbee at 10:16 PM 3/30/2007

[driftnslide1]

you might pick a couple of hp and you will run more efficienly at any boost level as long as you dont get huge piping. then you start getting lag issues. id say get a 2.5" fmic kit and dump your side mound allready. if you arent mechanicly inclined or cant afford to have it installed then just keep what you got.

[eds13]

get a front mount. it looks cool. lol

[Sil40sK]

get a front mount. it looks cool. lol

It's true, it does I'd say just go for a smaller sized front mount. Tons of Japanense companies used to make hard pipe replacements for the stock sidemount but they are dang near impossible to find now. You're best bet is to go with the fmic

[roplusbee]

Yeah, I have been noticing that ARC is like the only company offering a "name brand" Side Mount. I realy didn;t want to replace it, but guess I will going with one of the smaller Front Mounts. Thanks guys.

By the way, do you think there is a good way to hide the front mount to keep the things more subtle? I am trying to keep this one low profile.

[rico05]

Garrett did some research a while back and found no efficency loss by painting the intercooler with spray paint. Swaintech also makes a black coating that aides in dissapating heat specificaly designed for interchillers.

I run 12psi daily and 14psi sometimes on a T25G with an ARC SMIC with custom hard piping. Works awesome. Unless you are wanting to break 15+psi, the FMIC will just be cause pressure drop and hinder response. IMHO.

[Zzca18deTzZ]

Yeah, I have been noticing that ARC is like the only company offering a "name brand" Side Mount. I realy didn;t want to replace it, but guess I will going with one of the smaller Front Mounts. Thanks guys.

By the way, do you think there is a good way to hide the front mount to keep the things more subtle? I am trying to keep this one low profile.

just paint it black and maybe get your IC piping powder coated black and use black couplers. or just paint your IC black it doesnt effect it any... although why not leave it silver it looks SOOO cool like all the other guys are saying. and i mean if your leaving the CA stock its not gonna be THAT much of a sleeper

[nissanic89]

get a front mount. it looks cool. lol

,

all the way beat me to it...i opened this thread wanting to post that exact thing lol

[roplusbee]

I may actually do some things with it. I have purchased some suspension components. I have also been thinking about either a T28 upgrade or having Forced Performance rebuild my current turbo with T28 guts.

rico05:How big is the ARC SMIC compared to the Stock one? Also, how much did the piping cost you?

I am leaning toward upgrading, but not really sure. Again, I want to keep everyday drivability in the forefront with this one. Thanks for the advice guys.

[rico05]

Crappy pic, but all I have left after my old computer died.

I also have an intercooler sprayer setup installed from when I boosted up on my stock IC in case I ever get any heat soak.

It is bigger in every dimension. ARC rates it at 300ps on an SR. My mild steel hotpipe was a trade for a Momo harness, and my coldpipe was like $175 off of ebay. I will be switching to one of these when money allows (for silicone couplers and HKS SSQV flange):http://www.projectnissan.com/s...=4273

[roplusbee]

Nice. Thanks for the info. I will look into picking something like that up, if it is cost effective. Do you have pix of your engine bay? I would like to see how the hard pipes are routed in relation to the route that the rubber hoses are run.

Rob

[roplusbee]

Ok, I picked an intercooler with piping. It's an eBay special type (lol). I am not expectng much out of it, but I do beleve it will do the job. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...h=019

On a side note, one of te sticies talks about problems when using a GT28RS turbo. If the stock manifold is used, it should all just bolt up right? The reason I am asking is that eBay has rack of GT28RS turbos for around 400 bucks. I believe the vendor is SSAC. Or should send I off the stock T25 to Forced Performance to have the guts upgraded (700ish bucks)? At least that way I know everything fits right. To many decsions.

Once I get back from Afghanistan, I will be visiting the auto hobby shop and removing/instaling/changing things.

[float_6969]

From what I hear, the SSAC turbo's are crap. Something about glued compressor housings...

[roplusbee]

Wow. That is good to know. The only problem I have is sending my T25 to FP. That means I will be without a ride for a while. I will check the classifieds for a stock T25. Anyone willing to let one go? Guess I should just buckle down and get the real GT28RS instead of trying to cut corners. Cutting corners is always a receipe for disaster. Thanks for reeling me back in.

[float_6969]

Be aware that the RS has a .86 turbine housing and will be quite laggy on the small displacement CA. The GT28R is a much better suited turbo for our motors.

[roplusbee]

I am leaning more toward getting a FPBig28 upgrade performed on the T25. I just have to time it so that the turbo is away while am working on something else or away. I am still looking for a T28 though. If I can get one cheap, I'll use it until my upgrade is complete.

[roplusbee]

Ok. I brought this one back to ask about MAF to turbo piping. I know the rubber one should be good. I just want to get all of that type of stuff out of my engine bay. Do the cone filters come w/ the pipe to the turbo? Like Apexi Power Intake? May be a noobish question, but I searched for a while using various combos of keywords. Thanks guys.

[burntricer]

that is what im going to do to keep a low profile, paint it flat black, in the bumper (pignose) and you wont see it

[float_6969]

There is a hard pipe available, please check the "float's upgrade guide" in the stickies for a link.

No, most cone filters don't come with the pipe, but Apex, IMHO does make the best unit.

[rico05]

Just an FYI Ryan. I had an SR specific suction pipe made for me custom, and it didn't work. Mind you I have a T25G and CA inlet flange, so that may be why, but considering that is the combo you have to use for the CA, I assume that the issue will be the same for everyone. I had to have the SR one modified for me to get it to work. Also, Chris got his from the same guy for his GT28R.

http://www.pipingpro.com

[roplusbee]

Thanks guys. I will look into it.

[float_6969]

What didn't work?