FMIC fitting

[Danio]

Hi everybody!

I've recently come the proud owner of a Direnza FMIC and I've been researching for a while now and found some information but not quite enough..

Does anyone have a fitting guide for a FMIC on a cupra?

I've heard getting the bumper off is the worst part, but is the rest just straight forward?

What needs to be removed/replaced?

Where does the FMIC mount to?

Do I need to remove my fog lights to fit the bumper?

Thanks

 

[Danio]

Anyone?

 

[Klaus71]

When I fitted my Toyosports intercooler, the hardest part was getting the front bumper back on and aligned properly, getting everything off is the easy part.

Your best bet is to google search for some pictures. Some of these will link to guides and ideas. I found a few under 'wellycooler' etc. Copied the brackets, routing and pipe requirements (all 2.5").

As I wanted a nice smooth pipe flow with as few right angles as possible, I sacrificed the fogs. Had to get quite ruthless with cutting the rear of the front bumper in order to clear everything. You don't want any body work touching the hosing at all if possible as it will just eat through in a very short time.

Looks evil when you're doing it but once all back together, hides it well.

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=363310

Probably the best source of info I found for my own needs.

 

[Danio]

Cheers for the info! I've looked at that guide and also got a couple of pictures I can use as a reference!

Jus trying to work out what gets replaced by the new pipes and if anything gets removed..

How long would you say it takes to fit?

 

[Klaus71]

Well obviously the standard intercoolers, cross pipe and pipework up to the MAP pipe and from the hard turbo pipe get junked.

I had to remove the foglights, the horn get remounted to the drivers side (using the bracket bolt studs on the drivers side)

I also cut the cross members on the slam panel front section and also the crash bar gets a beating with the angle grinder. On this bit I drlled out the spot welds before cutting a section out to clear the new cooler.

I used the original MAP pipe on mine and also replaced the MAP to throttle body 's' pipe with one that allows a cold air feed placement of the dump valve. Haven't done this yet but whilst all was apart I thought I'd fit it to give myself the option.

Whilst the bumper and inner arches were off I also carried out the fan resistor mod as mine were knackered. Also took advantage and fitted a short gear shift linkage and badger5 80mm intake kit, filter and heat shield. Also fitted a cold air feed duct from down by the fog light area up to the intake filter.

Breaking it down, the intercooler took about 6 hours start to finish, the rest of it I took my time and completed over the weekend. For me, the car was off road Friday afternoon and test running Sunday morning (could have done it Saturday late afternoon by I'd been rehydrating with stella whilst doing the hard work).

It's all in the preparation, get yourself all the aluminium bar/right angle that you need for brackets, once the cooler is mounted the pipework comes easy. Use swaged solid connecting pipework (so the silicone pipes don't pop off under pressure and good quality hose clamps.

Do the job properly, do it once, even if it means spending a few extra quid on parts.

 

[Danio]

Wow.. Sounds like a whole lot of work! I was expecting maybe an hour or so, maybe take it in to work on a Saturday morning lol!

Looks like it probably won't be getting done any time soon!

What size is your FMIC then?

 

[Klaus71]

600 x 300 x 76mm

Just fitting the intercooler will probably take around half a day or so. All depends on your available tools, prowess with a spanner and knowledge of what you're doing.

Take your time, make it look good rather than throwing it in like some of the sh*te installs I've seen