Customer Installs - Post Your Pics!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 7
From: Used to be in Nor Cal, now working in Seoul
Finally installed ETS 3.0" IC
Due to exceptionally cold and snowy winter, I have been putting off the IC install for about 2 months.
Definitely the ETS IC looks great, and performs well, but install was not the easiest.
I wouldn't say the fitment was poor at all, but installing with stock LICP was not easy. Because power steering cooler pipe was touching the left mounting bracket of the IC, and the stock LICP mounting hole needs to share the same mounting point.
For better lining up of the pipes, I had to remove a rubber insulator from the stock LICP and give up the other stock LICP mounting bolt to get more flexible positioning.
Also I had to trim the right radiator air guide a little bit, which was quite easy.
I guess if I got ETS LICP v2 at the same time, the whole installation might become much easier, because it has no mounting brackets.
Although ETS stated EVO8 install might need some trimming, but I did not have to trim anything to reinstall the stock crash beam and the front bumper cover back.
With included metal spacers, the IC clears the radiator fan and the power steering cooler tube, but it was pretty close. There was much more room between the front side of the IC and the crash beam, I wish ETS designed 3.0" IC postion a little bit forward to get more clearance on the back side.
Although I stated some minor install issues here (I know I am a picky customer (and engineer)), considering each IC is hand-made, I can tell ETS ICs are made with very tight quality control.
ETS 3.0" IC provides enough performance with minimal weight increase, also great price and customer service.
I think I can improve the fitment a little bit more by adding couple of washers to the spacers, and some trimming of the front bumper cover.
But I guess that requires ETS LICP.
I only tried ~30 miles of highway driving after install, but the increase of turbo lag was minimal, and it pulls a little bit stronger after full boost build up till redline.
When I have some time for logging and tuning, I will test if boost can be increased a little bit without knock thanks to increased cooling.
My friend who helped me with the install (also letting me use his lift and tools) asked me if ETS makes TMIC for his 04 Subaru STi. So I told him it is too bad that ETS makes these goodies for EVOs only.
Definitely the ETS IC looks great, and performs well, but install was not the easiest.
I wouldn't say the fitment was poor at all, but installing with stock LICP was not easy. Because power steering cooler pipe was touching the left mounting bracket of the IC, and the stock LICP mounting hole needs to share the same mounting point.
For better lining up of the pipes, I had to remove a rubber insulator from the stock LICP and give up the other stock LICP mounting bolt to get more flexible positioning.
Also I had to trim the right radiator air guide a little bit, which was quite easy.
I guess if I got ETS LICP v2 at the same time, the whole installation might become much easier, because it has no mounting brackets.
Although ETS stated EVO8 install might need some trimming, but I did not have to trim anything to reinstall the stock crash beam and the front bumper cover back.
With included metal spacers, the IC clears the radiator fan and the power steering cooler tube, but it was pretty close. There was much more room between the front side of the IC and the crash beam, I wish ETS designed 3.0" IC postion a little bit forward to get more clearance on the back side.
Although I stated some minor install issues here (I know I am a picky customer (and engineer)), considering each IC is hand-made, I can tell ETS ICs are made with very tight quality control.
ETS 3.0" IC provides enough performance with minimal weight increase, also great price and customer service.
I think I can improve the fitment a little bit more by adding couple of washers to the spacers, and some trimming of the front bumper cover.
But I guess that requires ETS LICP.
I only tried ~30 miles of highway driving after install, but the increase of turbo lag was minimal, and it pulls a little bit stronger after full boost build up till redline.
When I have some time for logging and tuning, I will test if boost can be increased a little bit without knock thanks to increased cooling.
My friend who helped me with the install (also letting me use his lift and tools) asked me if ETS makes TMIC for his 04 Subaru STi. So I told him it is too bad that ETS makes these goodies for EVOs only.
Last edited by ace33joe; Feb 28, 2010 at 01:22 AM.
My friend who helped me with the install (also letting me use his lift and tools) asked me if ETS makes TMIC for his 04 Subaru STi. So I told him it is too bad that ETS makes these goodies for EVOs only.
Heres my install post. I got the first or maybe one of the first and only gold annodized 3.5 fmic kits with polished ss piping with the ss recirc pipe. 
The quality was legit! Install as previously noted not so easy. We had some issues with the uicp hitting the gear shift levers ontop of the tranny. On the MR when you try and put it in reverse the lever pops up to put it in reverse and everytime I did that it wouldnt let me put it in gear thats because it was hitting agaiinst the uicp. I am guessing obviously the gsr and rs dont have these issues. However I had to adjust the uicp a little to get it to work and that was all that was needed. But I can feel everytime I try and put it in reverse it almost not letting me.
However here are some teaser pics of the kit.
I actually have gotten alot of compliments on the kit! I didnt think it really was going to look that good but it actually does! I know you cant see from the pics but it almost matches my te37 volks as well cause I have them in bronze
The quality was legit! Install as previously noted not so easy. We had some issues with the uicp hitting the gear shift levers ontop of the tranny. On the MR when you try and put it in reverse the lever pops up to put it in reverse and everytime I did that it wouldnt let me put it in gear thats because it was hitting agaiinst the uicp. I am guessing obviously the gsr and rs dont have these issues. However I had to adjust the uicp a little to get it to work and that was all that was needed. But I can feel everytime I try and put it in reverse it almost not letting me.
However here are some teaser pics of the kit.
I actually have gotten alot of compliments on the kit! I didnt think it really was going to look that good but it actually does! I know you cant see from the pics but it almost matches my te37 volks as well cause I have them in bronze
Thread Starter
Former Sponsor
iTrader: (91)
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,685
Likes: 54
From: Vancouver, WA
Dang there is a shadow on the intercooler, next time it's bright out side, we need to get a pic of the gold intercooler in the light I'm sure it pops like the one on our white supra.
Your car is very clean!!
Michael
I'm sure it pops like the one on our white supra.Your car is very clean!!
Michael
Yea sorry guys the weather has been ****ty lately so the lighting kinda sucks! But we have some decent weather today and tomorrow so I will
hopefully get some better pics for you guys.
hopefully get some better pics for you guys.
Yea sorry guys the weather has been ****ty lately so the lighting kinda sucks! But we have some decent weather today and tomorrow so I will
hopefully get some better pics for you guys.
hopefully get some better pics for you guys.
Not to be a jerk, but my brother has had a gold anodized ets on his 2g eclipse for almost a year now..... However, that looks really good on WW!!!
How is the gold holding up so far?? My brother's car is his DD and we have noticed it has faded a very small amount....
Last edited by xturdfergusonx; Oct 3, 2010 at 10:37 AM.
