Anyone down to help with a couple installs?

[roninsoldier83]

Right on, sounds good. Yup, I know that area well... This should double for a good learning experience on my end.

I'll be the guy with this look on his face--->

You won't be the only one with that look on your face

I've actually never installed a FMIC on a Subaru.... as shocking as that might be, and it's been years since I installed a turbo on a Subaru, so this should be interesting.

Shouldn't be that tough though:

1. Remove front bumper.
2. Drain radiator (well, not necessary, but coolant will leak out of the lines going to the turbo if not drained/would need to cap the lines off).
3. Remove TMIC & brackets.
4. Remove windshield washer fluid bottle.
5. Remove AEM CAI.
6. Remove oil & coolant lines from turbo.
7. Remove inlet hose clamp.
8. Break loose bolts on DP & up-pipe (most physically exerting part of the entire job).
9. Remove turbo.
10. Install new turbo, reconnect inlet hose, coolant & oil lines, tighten bolts.
11. Remove bumper beam.
12. Mount welded FMIC/replacement bumper beam.
13. Run IC piping from compressor outlet to FMIC, FMIC to throttle body.
14. Check fitment, tighten down FMIC piping clamps.
15. Refill radiator with fluid (if drained earlier).
16. Put front bumper back on.
17. Start car, let idle for at least 5 minutes (for oil to route to/lubricate turbo).
18. Check for leaks & CEL's.

19. Basically wait to drive car hard until tuned/try not to drive car


^^^Not necessarily in that exact order, but something like that. This is one of the few FMIC's that requires NO trimming of the front bumper/frame... unfortunately, there is a downside to a simple installation, it requires losing windshield wiper tank However, since I have an STI (not a WRX), I already have a plan for that (someone had a GREAT idea on IWSTI!), which is swap windshield wiper lines with intercooler sprayer lines (since it will no longer be needed...), so I would just fill windshield wiper fluid from the trunk lol.

The only thing I'm worried about now is parts arriving like they should... namely the FMIC, the company I ordered from has a bad reputation of not shipping parts in a timely, or even reasonable manner. Some people receive their FMIC's in under a week from them, others... well, some have waited months. I was told yesterday that the FMIC's were in stock, and would ship today, but, no way to know if the guy was just blowing smoke up my ass, ya know? Just wait and hope for the best.

Although I was told by another vendor (Oakos.com who has always been an AWESOME and super reliable vendor, been ordering from them for years!!) that the turbo shipped out today! So, hopefully that's one part that's on it's way. We'll see about the others.

[roninsoldier83]

Yeah it was fun. You don't ever want to do a Greddy kit on an 8. I'm sure when/if ever I get my Esmeril kit it will go smoothly. Esecially since I have lift access and all the tools you can think of at my disposal.

It was a tight squeze by the manifold. I was able to get the socket all the way on. But by the time I got to it the to half of the bolt was stripped.

I'm sure the STI has a lot of wiggle room to work with.

As far as wiggle room is concerned... well, it's depending on what you're doing lol. Turbo? Yes, for the most part. Exhaust? Yes. Intake? Pulleys? Yes. Yes. Headers/exhaust manifold? Yes. TMIC? Depending, my APS TMIC BARELY fit, and I mean barely, PITA to get onto both the turbo outlet & throttle body coupler as there's less than a fraction of an inch between the AC hardline & where the huge TMIC mounts, whereas the stock TMIC comes in and out without much of an issue (not as "tall" as the APS). Inlet hose? F*ck that... POS... it's routed under the IM, and has more things connected to it that anything ever should have. Worst install even on my STI For a part that has less of a gain than any other part on my STI lol. Up-pipe? Another PITA install, as it's between the bottom the the turbine housing & top of the headers/exhaust manifold, very tough to get to, thankful my STI's up-pipe is catless stock (my WRX had a cat in it, I hated swapping that thing).

So, really it depends on what you're working on.

So, when's the turbo kit going on? When you order it, let me know, and I'm definitely down to lend a hand/stand there looking confused

[MazdaTom]

Depending on time and date, I could be in. I have tools and know how to swing a hammer!

[GR-8]

As far as wiggle room is concerned... well, it's depending on what you're doing lol. Turbo? Yes, for the most part. Exhaust? Yes. Intake? Pulleys? Yes. Yes. Headers/exhaust manifold? Yes. TMIC? Depending, my APS TMIC BARELY fit, and I mean barely, PITA to get onto both the turbo outlet & throttle body coupler as there's less than a fraction of an inch between the AC hardline & where the huge TMIC mounts, whereas the stock TMIC comes in and out without much of an issue (not as "tall" as the APS). Inlet hose? F*ck that... POS... it's routed under the IM, and has more things connected to it that anything ever should have. Worst install even on my STI For a part that has less of a gain than any other part on my STI lol. Up-pipe? Another PITA install, as it's between the bottom the the turbine housing & top of the headers/exhaust manifold, very tough to get to, thankful my STI's up-pipe is catless stock (my WRX had a cat in it, I hated swapping that thing).

So, really it depends on what you're working on.

So, when's the turbo kit going on? When you order it, let me know, and I'm definitely down to lend a hand/stand there looking confused

So I take it as a yes..... lots of wiggle room for what you are doing.

When I save up the money. I get close to having it then it goes away. If I'm not in Greece this Summer hopefully I'll be for sure ordering in August. But if it's by then I'll wait till December when they have their Holiday sale. It's usually a coule hundred less around then.

[roninsoldier83]

Depending on time and date, I could be in. I have tools and know how to swing a hammer!

Nice!! Hammer skills FTW!!

Seriously, it's sad, I don't even own a Mazda anymore, and yet, this is the only forum I'm posting this on lol. For the most part, I don't get along too well with most of the "usual posters" over on AWDPirates... but you guys are all so damn friendly

[kingtut]

Thanks for the rundown //[(Jim, I need that rundown!) <-- for the Office fans out there:)]// on what steps you plan on taking. I hope to make it...fingers crossed you get your parts sooner, rather than later.

[Rich]

I can lend a hand for an hour or two depending on date/time. I have lots of tools, jack, jack stands, creeper, and beer.

[roninsoldier83]

Nice Rich! Although I'll be more than happy to supply the beer

[kingtut]

Nice Rich! Although I'll be more than happy to supply the beer

beer AND newb-naivety (i.e. ME)....this is gonna be good:lol:

[roninsoldier83]

beer AND newb-naivety (i.e. ME)....this is gonna be good:lol:

LOL.... man, I remember one of the first times we had people over to out place with lots of alcohol involved... which, it's tough to explain. My wife is the property manager of a storage facility, and as such, we have a free apartment right upstairs from where she works (I'm SOOOO jealous of her work commute ... all the way down the stairs lol), which also means, we live in a business area, and have no neighbors

St. Patrick's days a couple years ago (I'm Irish, so it's one of the few holidays I care for lol), we had quite a few people over, one of them being Josh (turbo99jetta)... well, after way too many Jager-Bombs, we had this bright idea. We're on private property, with no neighbors, and we have a golf cart on site... yeah, that kind of idea. This ends with me driving the golf cart drunk with if my memory serves me correct, about 6+ people hanging off/in the golf cart (rated for 2 lol), and me purposely/Jackass style driving the golf cart into a wall at it's uber-low top speed (<5mph). Needless to say, the wife was pissed lol, I cracked the windshield. The next day I made a drive up to the only place I could find that had a windshield for it in stock (in Commerce City), it cost me $97 and about an hour of my time to put the new windshield in.... money well spent

Fortunately, I don't drink like that when working on the car, as it can promote breaking things lol.

[kingtut]

LOL, I think I know just the PS place you guys reside at! It's pretty big, isn't it?

[roninsoldier83]

LOL, I think I know just the PS place you guys reside at! It's pretty big, isn't it?

Yeah, it's decent sized, 3 buildings on site. I've always wanted to have people over for a paintball match inside one of the buildings, but always hesitated as I didn't want to have to clean up the mess lol.

[kingtut]

Yeah, it's decent sized, 3 buildings on site. I've always wanted to have people over for a paintball match inside one of the buildings, but always hesitated as I didn't want to have to clean up the mess lol.

I haven't played PB in years- still have my old F1 Illustrator:p

[roninsoldier83]

I haven't played PB in years- still have my old F1 Illustrator:p

Yeah me neither, not since my days back in the Army on the weekends with my buddies Tron & Jimmy. One of the few things I miss about working for Uncle Sam lol.

That and Sprockets... place on post (Ft. Hood, TX) that would let you rent a bay with a hydraulic lift for a whopping $5/hour, and sign out pretty much any tool you could think of for no charge. They also had a machine shop, welding shop, engine hoists ect. I really miss that place

Hydraulic lift>jack stands.

[kingtut]

Yeah me neither, not since my days back in the Army on the weekends with my buddies Tron & Jimmy. One of the few things I miss about working for Uncle Sam lol.

That and Sprockets... place on post (Ft. Hood, TX) that would let you rent a bay with a hydraulic lift for a whopping $5/hour, and sign out pretty much any tool you could think of for no charge. They also had a machine shop, welding shop, engine hoists ect. I really miss that place

Hydraulic lift>jack stands.

Nice, gotta love fringe benefits:) I'm always jealous of my family members in law enforcement. Range time, ammo, gunsmith, etc...all free-O-charge.