Custom Tmic for $250

I couldn't justify spending $900 on a process west or spearco so I just built this. Total cost was $243. Core is 8"x20"x3.5". Got about 10 hours into fabing it up and welding. Borrowed a welder from my work and watched some YouTube videos on how to tig weld aluminum.

Huge thumbs up for DIY. Maybe a custom Aluminum Strut tower brace next?
May have to make a new tmic to fit under the tower brace though.

Props for making it yourself, doesn't look too shabby.
Have you been retuned since installing it? Have you customised the hood splitter to fit the whole core?

Originally Posted by Jeriah Moon

Huge thumbs up for DIY. Maybe a custom Aluminum Strut tower brace next?
May have to make a new tmic to fit under the tower brace though.

Considering strut braces are bling in these cars I wouldn't scrap $250 for one.

My bad, I having racing in my blood

Look's like a lot of love went into that tmic, I bet it would fetch more then $250.

Here's a few more pictures including the Intercooler I started with. I cut those end tanks off.

This intercooler is the same thickness and width as the Process West but 4" longer and equal size to the Spearco. Mine sits centered though, unlike the Spearco.

Originally Posted by PtPixel

Props for making it yourself, doesn't look too shabby.
Have you been retuned since installing it? Have you customised the hood splitter to fit the whole core?



Considering strut braces are bling in these cars I wouldn't scrap $250 for one.

The hood splitter is in the works. Ended up being a pretty simple design. I have not modified the tune yet but I can tell from Learning View that the car is a lot happier. I have a BNR 18G and have been running the stock TMIC with U channel holding it together.

Next is injectors and fuel pump.

Yeah probably not going to get a strut brace on with this.

strut brace on these cars is about useless IMO.

Nice job, you better watch out some of us may be sending you money to make some of those.

Any pictures of how it attaches to the TB ?

Originally Posted by Max Capacity

strut brace on these cars is about useless IMO.

Nice job, you better watch out some of us may be sending you money to make some of those.

Any pictures of how it attaches to the TB ?

I should have taken some more pics before I installed it but basically it attaches similar to the Process West or Spearco on the hot side using an adapter flange. I made the flange so it utilizes the stock "O" ring that is in the stock TMIC. If you look close in one of those pictures you can kinda see the flange. So its 2" to 2.5" silicon 90 degree from the turbo to intercooler.

On the cold side its a 2.75" 90 degree out of the intercooler to a 2.75" 45 degree to the throttle body.

Good work, I like it!

Nice job! needs moar pics so i can try and replicate it.

This is sweet. What's your time worth? 250 in parts plus 10 hours of work could mean another 600-700 dollar tmic. You've got the satisfaction of doing it yourself though. Any interest in making more for members as an alternative to all the expensive tmic options?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by mitskip

This is sweet. What's your time worth? 250 in parts plus 10 hours of work could mean another 600-700 dollar tmic. You've got the satisfaction of doing it yourself though. Any interest in making more for members as an alternative to all the expensive tmic options?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I wish I could produce and sell these at a better price than the current options but I'm just a weekend warrior

How hard is it to get the dip stick out of the tranny ?

Us 5mt guy's will want to know that ?

I can get the dip stick out but I'm not sure how accurate the reading would be after tipping the stick horizontal to work it around the IC. The clutch fluid reservoir on the other hand is impossible. The intercooler will have to be removed to check/fill. Not a big deal (to me) because at this point I can have it off and back on in about 15 minutes.

If you were to take up making a few and selling it.. would you?