With all the recent discussion about v-mounts, I thought I would share some thoughts and pics of my install.

Overall, the install was quite challenging, requiring lots of minor adjustments, line routing, cutting, fitting/refitting, and even some creativity (the Dremel tool was extremely helpful). It took about a weeks worth of time, for 4-5 hours a day; although, I could have finished sooner if I did not clean/fix other non-vmount related items in the engine bay. The instructions provided by Chuck at rotaryextreme were adequate, but I up making some revisions in order to make the install cleaner.

The most difficult/frustrating part of the assembly dealt with the radiator. Bracket installation, exact radiator angle/placement was really tedious, but would've been much easier with extra hands. My car for some reason didn't have the OEM toe hooks and I had to fabricate my own adding to the installation time. Without a OEM toe hook template I had to hope/pray that holes i drilled were in their precise location. Also, I can now truly see why the instructions repeatedly mentioned, "do not tighten fully tigthen the bolts" until set, because I found myself having to loosen bolts, readjust, and retighten numerous times.

In the hot/humid VA weather, I didn't think I could survive without A/C and decided to keep it with the install (which is possible with the RE v-mount kit). During the install I almost convinced myself that it might not be worth it, but in hindisght I'm glad I kept the A/C. The v-mount kit requires bending the A/C lines into various conformations and flipping the A/C condensor. The kit didn't come with some spacers/brackets that were mentioned in the instuctions so I fabricated my own and got creative with the mounting. I ended up having to cut and weld a couple of the lines as well, but overall it was worth keeping.

Fortunately, the intercooler and shielding install was much easier. I then bolted on the rotary extreme mini battery kit and HKS RS intake, and I could finally start to see the v-mount taking form. However these feelings of "almost success" were soon proven to be premature as I had not yet tackled the power steering line routing and undertray modification. EVERYTHING must be routed as high as possible to get as much ground clearance as possible and this was no easy task by any means. I exhausted my hand/arm muscles and zip-tie supply trying to achieve this and then came the undertray. A lot of the tray had to be cut away to allow it to fit under the radiator and power steering lines. Even with the previous rerouting, trying to bolt the undertray to the stock bolt hole locations was a true pain since the radiator, fans, p/s lines were pushing the tray downward and away from the holes. Somehow, I was able to get it to fit with much tugging/forcing/yelling. The remainder of the install was unremarkable after going through the above.

In regards to performance: previously, after running the car hard at the track under full boost I would see peak temperatures of 95 degrees, but now under the same conditions I haven't seen it rise above 84 degrees, even with the A/C condensor blocking airflow to the radiator. I'm also boosting a little higher ~1bar with this higher flowing intercooler.
I'm really happy with the results of the v-mount kit albeit the challenging install and have provided some pics I just took. I wish I had my digital camera around to log each step of the install but can only provide you with the finished product.

Enjoy:




a couple non-related photos...

 

Very nice.

 

Beautiful I wish I had the room to do a V-mount

 

Wow. Your engine bay is like identical to what a buddies of mine used to look like. The V-Mount is a great set-up....enjoy

-Adam

 

Great job she came out sweet!!

 

damn that looks nice, the color of the car looks nice as well

wat kinda wheels are those?

 

Thanks for the comments everyone. The wheels are Fikse FM/10s.

 

Nice job! I can understand the agony and pain you went through during the install but when you look at the end product it kinda makes it all worth it. Nice car dude. Real sharp

 

so you haven't seen it go above 84 degrees in water temps right? What are your intake temps?

 

damm cant wait to get mine installed, still waiting on the filters to come in....

 

Looks Sweet!!!! Love the color, what is the color code? If you don't mind me askin'

Alex

 

Nice Job Man. Looks Good.

 

While I took it out the other day, I believe I saw the the intake temps rise to 41 degrees while sitting in traffic, driving on the freeway was a different story as it dropped quickly from there. The paint is House of Kolors Candy Cobalt Blue.

 

hey, anymore pics of your entire car?

 

ur whole car looks gorgeous

 

thats a nice color!

 

A JOB WELL DONE!!!!!
thanks fro the pics

 

to car: "You.. look... MARVELOUS!!!!!!"

 

Good job.

When I got to the undertray, I called Chuck and he sent me some spacers. However, my tray is probably lower than yours, and I will hit speedbumps unless I virtually stup, and its clearance is down to about 3 inches.

 

here comes dumbass question of the day guys. please keep in mind that i know nothing about A/C systems on these cars. by having to cut/bend those lines, you had to discharge the A/C system first and then have it recharged afterwards right? if so... that really sucks because i have a 93 and i hear the stuff i need for my A/C is nigh-on impossible to find and expensive as **** when you can.

 

RXJJang,
Where in Virginia are you located?

 

come on man, PM him, i really don't wanna have to post my question 5 times because it got burried in personal chit chat. i dug this out of a search JUST so i didn't have ot make a new post... but then, i guess you want me to make a new post about a topic that's been covered

bump for my question about the A/C please.

 

If you have to cut the lines, then yes you do have to discharge the A/C system...and you SHOULD take it to a shop that is capable of discharging it. If you have a 93, then ya, the stuff (R-12 i think) is extremely hard to find, terrible for the environment, and damn expensive (my room mate last year works at a Caddy/Hummer dealership back home, and he said it's ~$130/pound), but it works a ****-ton better than R-134 (i have R-12 on my '92 ranger, got it refilled for free by a friend who works at the local ford dealership). I think i got it for free because of them not being allowed to sell it, or they couldn't find anyone to buy it and they wanted to get rid of it without having to pay for hazardous disposal. anywho, you can have your system converted to R-134, which i think is expensive, but then you don't have to search for R-12 to refill your system. hope that helps

 

caddy/hummer dealer... so take about 75% off that cost and that's what it'd be at a normal shop apparently there's a local guy here that had quoted my buddy $50-$100 to recharge his 300Z with the R-12... so at least its not TOO rediculous.

thanks alot man, i appreciate the help/info.

 

You can find that stuff on ebay.