Which TMIC?

I am looking to replace my TMIC, I want the Process West for LegacyGT but I cant get it anywhere. Any others? I have heard bad things about Perrin and some others, are any as good as Process West?

I have a Perrin and I had my local tuner install it when they tuned it. It has not given me any problems it's been on and off a few times since and always sealed with rtv. I've heard avo fits better then the Perrin because it's a little thinner and doesn't hit the clutch master cylinder.

Process west is the best tmic. Fms makes a similar knock off style. Which ever you buy I recommend a good turbo blanket.

Perrin here. I've had it off and on about 1/2 dozen times in the last month trying to chase down a vacuum leak. It's really not too bad to work with. First time is always a bitch, but I can get it off and on in less than 10 minutes now. No leaks of any kind from it.

You can always get the STI clutch master cylider reservoir to replace the Legacy one so the Perrin will not hit it too. This is what I did.

How is the AVO?

Word of mouth is that it fits better. No first hand experiance.

as I understand the AVO is the #2 TMIC after PW.
its construction is higher quality, it fits better than the perrin or IPR, and retains the factory engine cover. They usually fetch a pretty penny when they come up used if the FS thread.

I have an IPR (perrin knockoff) and it works just fine.

Grimmspeed is developing a new TMIC for our platform, which should be in the same class as the PW.

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthrea...ti-212367.html

I am still quite pleased with my PW TMIC. I've started toying with the idea of going FMIC (ETS) for Stage 3 - if so I'll have a PW for sale

Originally Posted by 2006 SpecB

How is the AVO?

I can pull my avo in under 2 minutes. I can reinstall it in about the same amount of time.

If it was a race I could probably do better lol.

The fit is perfect and I use the stock throttle body coupler.
It also has the wings for fastening the engine cover in place.

Have a Perrin, going back to bullet proof stocker for now.

Once my car has it’s colonoscopy I may need it again.

Considering machining the compressor side so the Mr. Gasket seal isn't lifting the IC 1/8”, thinking this would then be totally bullet proof at that point. I kept blowing stock seals on the Perrin through the locator tab. Was about to high temp RTV the booger with the stock seal until I found the GM thermo seal posts.

Originally Posted by chato

as I understand the AVO is the #2 TMIC after PW.
its construction is higher quality, it fits better than the perrin or IPR, and retains the factory engine cover. They usually fetch a pretty penny when they come up used if the FS thread.

I have an IPR (perrin knockoff) and it works just fine.

I have an IPR as well and never an issue with it. It fits fine, looks fine, and works fine. BUT, if you put this big piece of aluminum over the top of the engine, make sure and do the turbo blanket mentioned above. Thermal Zero has pretty good blankets that fit VF series turbos well for a very reasonable cost.

@catalyst x2
probably worth waiting to see what grimmspeed comes up with.
if your stocker is leaking, get the bulletproof kit from BMB for the meantime.

I am kind of torn between the PW and the AVO. Looks like the AVO is the slickest install and least invasive and a little cheaper than the PW, but will I notice any performance upgrade from having the PW? I am a mild stage 1 with Cobb accessport, cat back exhaust and probably will do nothing else to the car, except maybe a catted downpipe.

Thoughts?

At Stage 1 just bullet proof your stock TMIC with the kit from BMB (I did this at Stage 1 as well and his kits are a simple, high quality setup). You may lose performance at Stage 1 with a bigger TMIC (pressure drop across the core). Also the AVO acts like a big heat sink attached directly to your turbo flange. The plastic end tanks of the stock TMIC prevent this. The PW eliminates this issue as well with silicone couplers (Grimmspeed will likely be setup this way as well).

Bigger TMIC and/or FMIC are usually tied to Stage 3 and beyond. I did my PW in preparation for Stage 3. I had to do a new custom Stage 2 tune with it after the swap from my BP'd TMIC.

AVO fitment is straightforward, easy, and the engine cover still fits with some minor trimming.

The downside to the AVO is the following: the bottom BPV/BOV bolt hole actually goes through all the way to the endtank, which means it's a possible vacuum leak. In order to seal things up correctly, RTV should be put on the threads of the lower bolt and then threaded on.

Why the hole goes through all the way is a complete mystery to me.

Thank you all for the thoughtful posts. I decided to go to stock, to many unknows otherwise.