Victory Performance Rocks!, I'll try to keep this short but it's not Options

[awd4kicks]

This past Summer I finally got my 2.4 stroker together and started looking for the remaining parts to assemble my project with the FP3052 ball bearing turbo set-up I had decided on. One of the major upgrades I needed to put in place was a good front mount. For the past couple of years I've been aware of Victory Performance's sweet looking FMICs with the rounded end tanks. As luck would have it we had a newer member 'Turbohcar', post up an ad for high performance parts from a buddy of his. One of these was the Victory Performance 1G Street FMIC I had been longing for.

After much converstaion through Turbohcar and the seller I finally sent off a money order for $800 to the seller for the unused but not-new Victory Performance FMIC. This was a $300 savings plus the seller included shipping. So as you can see this started out as an awesome deal in my book.

When I received the FMIC kit everything was there and in great shape except for the passenger side intercooler pipes, all the couplings and clamps. As a plus the throttle body elbow that came with the set-up was manufactured for a blow through configuration which is what I really wanted. But with some parts wissing, again went much time and converstaion with the seller.

This is when I first talked to Scott at Victory Performance. I called him to get an estimate for the remaining pipes, couplings and clamps required. Although Scott had never sold me anything before, he was willing to send me two raw pipes and all the couplings and clamps for a very cheap price and was also willing to include the shipping! WHAT? Scott couldn't supply pipes preped for the blow through set-up, but this was surprising customer service to me. As generous as that was I held out as long as I could for the original seller to come through. With no resolution and about 2 weeks left before our rescheduled Sport Compact Drag Challenge I finally broke down and purchased the remaining Blow through pipes, coupling and clamps required from Dejon. These guys were also VERY helpful in splitting their normal pipe kit and Fullthrottle supplied the T-bolt clamps at incredible prices.

I have to say this FMIC went in like a glove! The rounded end tanks fit in between the bumper mounts perfectly and the top was low enough that I only had to remove a 45 degree section of the bumper from top rear to the bottom front. I was even able to leave the stock license place mounting holes in place for that stock stealth look. The mounts for the FMIC fit to pre tapped holes already present in the front of the Talons frame. While the only cutting that was really required was to open up the holes through the front of the car for the piping and relocating the radiator overflow bottle. This FMIC was engineered very well to fit the DSM!

Once everything was together and the initial engine break-in proceedure was executed, I had to do some fine tuning with the piping to make it stay together at 20psi. That was expected and no big deal. The day before SCDC I had sprung another boost leak that I could not locate, so 99spyder graciously towed the Talon to Cordova with tools and parts to repair most leaks. Upon arrival Spy, Turbohcar and I found the huge leak at the passenger side FMIC end tank! Holy Crap I've never seen anything like that before and I was surprised that it happend with only 20psi.

Back at home I called Scott at Victory Performance with the news to make sure this FMIC was correct for my engine configuration and intended use. I told him I planned to have a local fabricator repair it and he told me if I have any more problems to send the FMIC back to him and he would repair it or replace it at NO CHARGE! So I employed Eric Vicary of North Pekin and 'Midwest Fabricators'(?) to straighten the end tank plating and tig weld the broken seams. Eric had the repair finished within a couple days for a very respectable $30.

The next night I had the FMIC installed and began retesting to start tuning. Within about 5-8 20 psi passes through a few gears the FMIC again ruptured. This time it was at both end tanks. Wow!

It took me a couple weeks to get everything together, but I got a hold of Scott at Victory Performance and he planned to stick by his word. I sent off the FMIC in early December with an estimate from Scott that it would take a couple weeks. Knowing how most DSM shops are slow and that I have still never purchaesd anything from Victory Performance....I honestly didn't expect to see the FMIC back for a few months. I'm not kidding....

Well time passed and I left a couple phone messages at like 2 and a half weeks and a week after that with no response, but no real surprise either. Then right after the forth week Scott e-mailed me and said he appoligized for the delay over the holidays but planned to have the FMIC out soon. The following week he got my work address and sent the FMIC out that day still at absolutely no charge to me. I recieved it the next day and could tell that he replace the endtanks with heavier material and the welds at the core are 2-3 times wider! Very well built.

As any of you would have, I installed the new and improved FMIC that night. Oh it was better! It held the glorious boost up to 20 psi with ease. I even upped the MBC for a quick 3rd gear throttle stab up to 28 PSI and it held no problem! What a positive end to a crazy FMIC story.

Unfortunately, with the weak links strengthened all the way to the throttle body, I'm pretty sure I blew out my Cometic HP head gasket this same night at 20-25 psi even though it was squeazed by brand new ARP head studs and a fresh cylinder head.

So one story ends...another begins. I just hope this one ends as well as the Victory Performance FMIC story has. Thanks Scott!