mounting a fmic

[54321chris]

What's my best bet for piping a fmic?  I thought about ordering a piping kit but don't know which one will fit.  Or I've heard taking it to a muffler shop is an option.  Are mandrel bends the only way to go, or is it mostly aesthetic? 
Anyone who's bought a piping kit, chime in on which one you got and how it worked out. 
Oh yeah, the car is a mk2 Jetta with a 1.6 GTD transplant.  The intake manifold points to the driver side.

[Syncroincity]

Mandel bends will ensure smooth airflow, it's not just for looks.

[Smokey Eddy]

people will yell and complain about this but i see no problem with using ABS plumbing pipe. People think it melts but it doesn't if you use a good rubber coupling from the turbo to the pipe. And plastic bends are smooth like mandrel bends too .

At least mine hasn't yet from 25+ psi.

I got my top of the line piping from home depot Cost me something like $25. the rubber couplings aren't cheap. like $10 each. but the lengths of pipe are super cheap.

[Syncroincity]

Check your local parts store, I found a mock-up kit at a store here (Strauss) that has all sorts of plastic bends & different lengths of straight pipe for only $15 or about that. The pipes are all swiss-cheesed with holes, it's strictly to design your intake plumbing layout. The company that makes it also will refund the purchase price if you buy some of the real pipe sections that they make.
It's 3" dia pipe.

[54321chris]

Yeah, me too.  It's so cheap!  And if it doesn't work out in the car, I can use it to install a sink in my garage... 

[jtanguay]

the line from the turbo to intercooler should be steel.  ABS can withstand quite a bit of heat, but the intake temperature at 25+ psi on a nice hot day can exceed 250F.  with not too much intake restriction, you might be able to get away with it, but i and many others would not recommend it.  as for the line exiting the intercooler, it can be ABS as the temperature will be lower at that side (hopefully  )

another problem with using ABS is the sharp edges of the connectors.  you'd need to file down the inside a bit to ensure a smooth flow.

and another reason the ABS melts may be in part due to it being close to hot engine components.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

Sure you mean ABS? ABS is tough and flexible,used in a canoe for example that can smash and bend around a boulder and not break. Plumbing stuff is usually PVC in this part of the world.

[Jettage1]

I think the black stuff is ABS...

[Rabbit on Roids]

you guys are not going to like the abs, trust me. it does not take the heat the turbo puts out. ive been there and done that. IT DOES NOT WORK. use small exhaust tubing. lots of times the guy that runs the exhaust shop will give you a good deal bending up a couple intercooler pipes. but ABS plastic sewer pipe will just melt. trust me. you are going to be saving a nickle now, but your going to spend a dollar later to fix it. and besides, these things are turds when the intercooler hoses blow off.

[TurboJ]

Blow up a boost pipe -> blow up a turbo

DO NOT DO IT.
Stainless steel or aluminum, and well clamped connectors. Those should also be silicone or nitrile rubber etc,
stuff that can take the heat and vibration. T-bolt clamps too.
Don't think for a second that a cheap boost pipe will truly be cheap
(unless you know where to find cheap turbos by the dozen)

Just my 2c...

[Rabbit on Roids]

in other words, dont half ass the turbo setup. if you are going to be re routing your charge piping, then use good stuff. build your charge piping way overkill. but keep the diameter as small as possible, it cuts your lag times. and just think, when plastic explodes, what happens? it makes lots of fast little bits.. what happens if your turbo inhales a chunk? oh, nothin, it will be fine, cause everyone knows that cancer never killed anyone!!!