If I had music to play while you were reading this it would be something to the effect of Rick Springfields Jesse’s Girl or Queen’s We are the Champion. The Perrin boys would be in the background working on the car and I would be cracking a cold beer. Oh wait, that is to much like the village people, my bad. LOL! I guess the rumor started to float around about 4-6 months ago that Perrin Performance was going to release a front mount intercooler for the WRX and STI. Knowing that we were going to be building Project WRX II which is a 2004 WRX, we were on it! Since Perrin and Vivid Racing are related by Rob and Dan’s uncles, sisters, nephew, cousins, photographers, hairstylist, boyfriend…it was only right that Vivid would debut the best FMIC on the market!
The Perrin FMIC is undoubtly ready to destroy the competition. Bigger then TurboXS, bigger then MRT, and nicer then APS. The bar and plate design core includes everything you need to fit to your 2002-on WRX or STI. The polished piping is all included as well as a flange to bolt your stock or stock fitting BOV on. The kit also includes all hosing, bracketry, and a bumper beam for NO CUTTING of the factory bumper beam. What gives Perrin the extra advantage is they also include a new Radiator Overflow Tank which is similar to their oil catch can. The full silicon tank fits neatly in the engine bay and ads style to the car.
Lets talk about the install for the Perrin FMIC. Since all the piping and all hardware is included the kit was not that difficult to install. After we removed the front bumper and bumper beam, the intercooler with aftermarket bumper beam bolted right up. We then removed the stock intercooler and begin running the piping.
Even with our HKS turbo kit and HKS intake the piping still fit no problem. Much like the other FMIC’s on the market, the piping runs down where the factory radiator overflow tank is and then wraps around to the core. On the other side, the hose comes off the throttle body and runs through the first hole on the fender. It then drops down and connects to the core with ease.
Our now big problem which is the same with all FMIC kits is to get the front bumper to fit. Once everything was installed and we got the car working, we picked the front bumper up and begin to see where we needed to cut. Once we trimmed the inner part of the bumper, we then refitted and made additional cuts. After sanding it down and getting the final adjustments done, Jerry Stiller popped out and said, "Bop ba da ba!"
Concluding the FMIC install and product, we enjoyed the process. There was beer and chicken wings involved and a cover shoot for Import Racer the next day. Look for the mag around November. I think for the price of $1599 retail Perrin has put their foot down in the intercooler market for Subaru. The other companies should be worried as this USA made system is quality, performs, and is a true bolt on need. Dyno tests are sure to show up soon, but we all no the benefits of a FMIC. And if you don’t, make sure to call us. We are now taking names for this product as it will be released in 3 weeks or so from today (Aug. 6, 2003), and there will be only one place to get it, Vivid Racing!
