I know it's been a LONG time since I've been posting here, but I've recently started the final assembly push on my car. That said, I thought some might be interested in how this FMIC deal is turning out. I had originally planned to do a horizontal FMIC based off of the LS1 guy on Tech who did it, but had reservations on it due to the LT1 differences with the fog lights, ect.

Well......this came out better than expected.

Going with the horizontal mount. To my knowledge I've yet to see one done with a big FMIC to an LT1 T/A. This is a 24x12x4 core Ebay piece.


Ebay Intercooler with the already attached top and bottom mounting points. Straight through the radiator support hammering down the top section to allow bolt movement and pull, and voila! Still have room for the A/C condenser without interference.


An idea of the ground clearance....even with the radiator support, higher than the air dam. The strings are a little loose, the front will tuck up a little more.




Side view with the nose sitting in place. It's being pushed a tad but this is due to the underside NOT being trimmed.


No signs of ANYTHING from the nose view. Awesome.


View from backside with nose on. I think I'm going to clearance the center of the impact bar, and possibly make a shroud on the front side for a puller fan for more positive airflow.


Underside view. Trim the nose leaving a little lip to hide the front lower edge of the intercooler. I'm thinking this is going to work VERY well and the only sacrifice will be part of the underside of the nose. The airflow to the condenser and radiator shouldn't be affected because the air is merely flowing through the intercooler, and if I shroud the front and use a puller then that air will be going straight back through the condenser and radiator too. I'm VERY hopeful about this setup. No comments about the nose, it's been off the car for months and I KNOW it needs painting on the underside.

 

Looks great!!!!!!! I would cut away as much plastic as possible though to expose all the fins on the IC.

 

Yeah, that will be trimmed back to the point that only a little lip is covering the top edge of the FMIC. That was just a quick "lets see how the nose fits initially" test fit of the bumper cover. I was VERY pleased at how this fit in there. Figure some metal straps to the top of the impact bar in conjunction with the bolts at the bottom of the FMIC should be plenty to restrain it sufficiently.

 

I think a puller fan will help you. The only concern I'd have is seeing that front bumper has taken some hits on the bottom... hopefully you have enough clearance.

 

Sounds great Sean!

 

Those bumper scrapes were from my old driveway that had a VERY steep entry angle. I steer clear of that stuff anymore because my vette nose is lower than the T/A.

 

Looking good Sean, glad to see you back in the saddle dude. How long before you think you're done. Hope your doing well.

Silas,

 

It looks like it is going to pretty much block all of the airflow to your radiator. have you given any thought to what to do about that? Or are you not too worried about it? It looks awesome though, total sleeper look

 

Silas, hopefully it'll be fired up within a few weeks. Still need to do the cold side, get fans, fuel pressure regulator (will be started on a stocker most likely), find a driveshaft, reseal the rear end, get the turbo kit fitting well (It's on it's way back to Jon right now), and some other small stuff. I'm doing OK otherwise, all things considered.

Airflow to the radiator should be unaffected. If you look at how most vertical FMIC's are mounted, right in front and above the airdam in the traditional fashion, that puts a hurting on the radiator airflow. With it layed down like this, air simply travels through the IC as advertised, and proceeds through the radiator afterwards unaffected.

 

Looks great to me. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to seeing how it performs.

 

One last couple of pics, completely mounted now. The fan I may leave flat or may angle the front up (it's a puller obviously) and make a shroud for the front part of the intercooler for a more positive air pull.

It's VERY sturdily mounted, almost no movement at all. Straps are on the front for support only, it actually stayed in place without those but I want them there as a crutch. I'll probably replace those soft straps with some thicker gauge sheet metal straps that aren't as malleable.

 

Looking good- couple of ideas for you-

Since you aren't going to have the direct vertical airflow I would maximize every sq in of air getting thru. Maybe cut the rest of the bumper support bottom out as much as possible- could always cut it back- bend it up on an angle and re-weld it to give it some support again.

As far as the intercooler itself any chance you could drop the back down 1.5-2" with some brackets to give it a slight angle. Another benefit to this would be it would allow the intercooler to be pushed under the rad support in the event of a slight front end collision or worse. With it mounted horizontal I would be afraid any impact would bend up the rad support. If you are concerned about the cooler showing a quick shot of flat black spray paint would certainly hide it.

Just a couple ideas..but I do like the creativity- good job!

 

I thought about dropping the back down a tad, but the problem is that then it would sit lower than the radiator support and I'd DEFINITELY run the risk of scraping the intercooler rear end on the ground. As of right now it's dead even with the radiator support bracket and I'm comfortable with that.

Can't really cut the bumper support anymore or else I'd lose the fog light mounts. Hence the fan sitting there. I could cut out to the fogs, but I'd lose the internal support brackets by doing that and I'd rather not give up that rigidity in there. Would like to keep something to absorb an impact as I'd see the intercooler folding like the french if I got in a front end collision.

Not saying I won't do any of these in the future, just want to see how it's performing as-is first.

 

I too have a horizontal IC mount. I had run a p600b in the past, and, Procharger did run a small IC under in front of the air damb (they changed design). I have no blocking of the rad front air deflector (damb) since I have retined the horizontal design.

The IC mounts to the engine K-member (2-slide bolts) and a modified 3-bolt rad mount (since I moved the rad). I run a small air scoop (bottom) to direct flow from under the damb up thru the IC core. I don't have that low clearance problem (up front) due to the IC being moved to the rear (it clears better due to being close to the front suspension).

I have scraped the air scoop, and had to do some beating (sheet metal) and re-fab, but, somtimes that's the price of performance. It works fine, and 3 bolts and the rad + support frame is out. Very easy for maintenance. I have a gm level 2 slp option package, so, the car is a bit lower than stock.

I fabbed a steel frame to hold the IC and it also serves as a skid bar to protect the IC. Been running it 5 years+. Not many like the IC down-low location.
B. (97ss - 383/ D1 MM6)

Some pics...
hhttp://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/mzgp5x/rad%20move%204th%20gen/