FMIC on a CSX

[ShadowFromHell]

Hey guys,
I have a 89 CSX that is currenty getting a rebuilt motor. I have a "few" TD's and know how mucha FMIC helps on a TD over the stock side mount. It was a night and day diff on my 89 T2 tona. Anyways, I want to add a larger front mounted intercooler to it, but without doing any cutting. Has anyone done this before? I know I have to go to a mini van condenser, and thats okay but I dont want to modify the core suport at all. If you have some pics of what you have done, and what kind of IC it is that would be awsome.

thanks guys
Dustin

Here is a pic right after the motor lost oil pressure
http://www.509dodgeboys.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/normal_100_0051.jpg

[GLHNSLHT2]

A cummins fits with just some enlargement to two stock holes in the rad support. Barely even notice they're there. Plus you can leave your stock a/c and have a full size rad if you want. Best i/c for a shadow. Have one in a buddies 91 and he loves it. As well as my shelbyZ as you've seen.

[csxtra]

Dustin,

Another option...

An L-body condenser will fit MUCH better than a minivan condenser. When I put the FMIC in my CSX years ago, I tried the minivan condenser, but it is a little too tall, and the inlet/outlet flange is angled in such a way that the A/C lines will go right into the alternator.

The L-body condenser is about 2" narrower than the P-body one, and if you mount it about 1/2" to the right of where it normally sits, you'll have enough clearance to run hoses through where the stocker was without any cutting (although I recommend using door edge guards on any sharp edges of the core support, so it doesn't cut hoses).

As far as intercoolers go, go for one of the designs that have the inlet and outlet on the same side, with vertical cooling tubes. They don't cool as well as others, but they flow much better (and they'll flow and cool better than your old stocker anyway).

If you get one with the right dimensions, you can paint it black and hide it behind the bumper, so you won't see anything from the front of the car.:thumb:

The only cutting you may have to do is removing the angled support that goes up to support the hood latch, depending on the IC you go with.

Unfortunately I don't have any pics of my install for you, but I hope this has helped.

Warren

[ShadowFromHell]

that's on what I was thinking, but really didn't wanna remove the center brace. I had no problem removing it on my 88 ES, but its not a 1 of 500 car. Thanks for the info on the condenser thou, and L body ones are easy to come by around here. I saw some pics of a conquest one in a shadow a while back without cutting the center brace. I picked one of those up, so I may have bigger inlets but put on it and run it. If not, Ill probably go with a spearco knock off, with same side tubes.

looking at this one

http://a763.g.akamai.net/7/763/1644/2/app.infopia.com/img/image/fp/VPID/2768322

http://app.infopia.com/Shop/Control/Product/fp/vpid/2768322/vpcsid/0/SFV/31982

I could go the cummins route, but I really don't want to do anything that isn't reversible, no matter how small. Also, Ive NEVER came across a 1g cummins in a Jy around here. Those trucks are like gold in this area. They don't die, just keep getting fixed. Hell, I paid 2400 for my 300k 90 4wd cummins, and it was a good buy, peeling paint and all.

[csxtra]

The intercooler in the pic is the same one I have in my CSX. It might fit with the support bracket still in, I had to take mine out to fit my previous dual-stock-core IC.

If you angle it so that the bottom is really close to the core support and the top is close to the bumper, it will probably fit with the support in place.

[GLHNSLHT2]

cummins requires no removal of the centerbrace :)

[badandy]

cummins requires no removal of the centerbrace :)
But it does require enlarging of the factory holes on either side of the radiator. Has anyone ever flowed a Cummins? I know they cool great (had one in my Daytona) but I have always wondered about flow. I really don't like how the inlet/outlet are fairly abrupt 90 deg. bends either...seems like that would create flow loss as well?

[Aries_Turbo]

i dont think they cool all that well either.

"mark" has an ebay special intercooler on his R/T im pretty sure and it cools well and flows pretty well too. see what kind he got.

Brian

[GLHNSLHT2]

Well last time I watched the temps off it they were only about 20 degrees over ambient. And as for flow I was able to shift 300rpm higher after putting it in. The 90' turns on the inlet/outlets are specially formed to help yank the air around the corner. I can't remember the name of them right off hand but Semi's use them a lot but in larger sizes because of the lack of room for big radius bends under the hood.

[jckrieger]

You can fit the ebay special spearco knockoff in a P body, but like was said before, you have to angle the cooler. This basically hoses airflow because it pulls the cooler away from the radiator fan and presses it up against the bumper. Now if you cut down the bumper....

[Turbo224]

This is the ebay cooler I am running. I got rid of my AC, but with a minivan condensor you could have this in with out any cutting. All I had to do was drill a few holes.

http://www.turbododge.com/dodge_pictures/files/9/3/3/3/newIC.jpg

http://www.turbododge.com/dodge_pictures/files/9/3/3/3/ICmockup.jpg

http://www.turbododge.com/dodge_pictures/files/9/3/3/3/ICinstalled4_773352.jpg

http://www.turbododge.com/dodge_pictures/files/9/3/3/3/radiatorbrackets.jpg

[GLHNSLHT2]

OMG a dual pass unit, Sorry but you doubled your restriction.

[Turbo224]

OMG a dual pass unit, Sorry but you doubled your restriction.

Yeah, I realize that, but its worth it to me to not have to cut up the car. besides, dont ya think its going to flow a tad bit more than stock?

[stereo]

If you want a great intercooler that will pop right in and have no problems with go with an early turbo supra intercooler. I have one on my csx-t and my brother in laws ran one on both his csx's and his old lancer. they cool well and flow very well. you may know boyd with the ugly brown omni, but he runs one and he's dropped into the 11's with one. it won't be a restriction and it will fit right in with no problem.

[GLHNSLHT2]

last supra i/c I saw was very restrictive and not that big. http://www.pnw-sdac.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=624
Pics of a Cummins in a Shadow. Very little cutting and you can see how easy it is to make brackets for.