So I am about to install a Nisei 1 piece UICP onto my evo x....it comes with silicone couplers with t bolt clamps....it looks like a pretty straight forward install...but the part where the pipe mates to the IC seems to worry me...it looks like a real tight fit down there so I'm wondering if any special tools would be needed? Will my 3/8th inch ratchet and 10mm deep socket be enough for this job?

UPDATED: 11/20/09

Alright! Just got done installing....here are a few impressions of the install

1. Clearance is not an issue....just remove the 12mm bolt that holds the factory horn in place....then use a long extension and a swivel joint to get the angle right for the clamps...the point of it is to attack it from TOP so your ratchet can get alot of clicks....with a long extension and swivel joint, you may attack it from above....

2. It does sit a tad bit to the right side of the engine bay....but it seems like everybody else has this as well....the two 12mm bolts that hold the pipe onto the firewall lined up perfect

3. I ended up bending the pipe a little....as all of you know, we MUST have these intercooler pipes on REALLY tight in order for boost not to leak, or even worse, pop off....well I tighten that SOB real freaking hard....I used a 3/8th drive ratchet and it's not even that large....well, ended up bending it a bit where the turbo outlet meets the beginning of the UICP

Went slow at first....and didn't venture far off from my house because I was fearful that my UICP was going to pop off.....after I got her warmed up, I went WOT and holy smokes....the tach needle races to redline faster than ever! The overall powerband has been improved and I am impressed with this piece...

After I went for a drive, I popped the hood and took my ratchet to re torque the bolts....It didn't budge at all...will check again tomorrow morning when it gets cold

Anyway thats it for now...VERY EASY install....the only hard parts I could think of....wrestling around with the stock UICP because its on there so freaking tight...

 

Yeah your good to go, very strait-foward and easy to install. Should take you all of 20 mins, I'll be up for that long if you have any problems.

 

Yeah it's pretty straight forward install, just that if you are trying to install it without taking off your front bumper, it does take a bit of patience.

 

This is exactly what you're looking for. With the front bumper on you'll only get 1-3 clicks of any standard ratchet, or about 2-6 clicks on a more baller ratchet with much finer teeth.

For the upper clamp I used a deep socket paired with a screw driver. I put the deep socket on the clamp and then put the screw driver (with a 1/4" drive on the end) through the upper grill mesh and into the deep socket, then just turned righty-tighty.

The lower clamp took about 5 minutes of the previously mentioned 1-3 clicks at a time

Oh and a ratcheting combo wrench would work great if you have one handy.

 

yeah i plan to put it on with my bumper still on....

so the install will be pretty straight forward....just take a long time to tighten the clamp where it meets the FMIC? because the fact that its so tight down there?

 

Correct. It's a little rough in there.

There's a good chance you'll have fitment issues on the UICP...

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...ll-review.html

 

gloves.

i bled like a stuck pic from the damn heat shield.

 

damn thats weird...i thought nisei was good quality...hopefully mine isn't as bad when installing

 

its easy took 15 mins, just make sure you bolt the hose clamps tight !!

 

When he says rough he doesn't mean the piping, he means that there isn't very much space to work with if you are trying to install it without removing the front bumper.

 

What heat shield?

 

The heat shield by the turbo/manifold. Damn heat shield is pretty sharp over there. I didn't wear gloves when installing mine, but I read that review and was just extra careful around there.

 

Definitely get a 1/4 drive ratchet with a small handle. I was so happy I had one when I saw the clearance of my 3/8 drive ratchet only allowed for a single click. FYI after installing my intercooler last week I really wished I had taken the bumper off to do the UICP. The bumper comes off in about 2 minutes and there are good how-tos in the other forum section. I think I spent more time with the damn UICP because of the bumper than I would have spent taking the bumper off, especially when you factor in the boost leak I had to fix after not tightening the lower IC connection enough.

LOL, yeah and gloves if you care about getting cut, I got cut from both my UICP and my intake install. The heat shield is sharp!

 

yup. had a small extension on the ratchet and when i was tightening the back clamp i bumped the top of it...

 

I'm going to give this a shot soon...wish me luck guys....I'll be posted soon about the success or epic failure! lol