3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

ARC product review

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-05-05, 11:32 AM
  #1  
Rotary Enthusiast

Thread Starter
 
circusmagic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: las vegas
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ARC product review

has anyone tried ACR products that available for US consumers? Induction Box? BOV? Intercooler Kit?
Old 01-05-05, 12:05 PM
  #2  
The one
iTrader: (5)
 
Jason's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 3,862
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
overpriced and not worth the money.

Jason
Old 01-05-05, 12:19 PM
  #3  
Senior Member

iTrader: (3)
 
israel's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Kansas City, KS
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
and, you might have better SEARCH results if you spell it ARC. imo they fall into the category of japanese bling parts. i'm sure they work ok, but for the money you could buy two of a less 'JDM' part that would work just as well. but it's your car, and if JDM bling is what you're after, then proceed.

edit: oh yeah, and the ARC induction box won't fit with the ARC fmic, what's up with that?
Old 01-05-05, 01:11 PM
  #4  
Oji San

 
Rated R1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Lexington, SC
Posts: 916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I heard APC makes some good stuff!
Old 01-05-05, 02:24 PM
  #5  
sexy no jutsu

 
scratchjunkie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: planet arium
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
not really a fan of the arc intake, its up there with pettits for sure. but i heard all the 240 guys drool over arc stuff.
Old 01-05-05, 02:33 PM
  #6  
I speak Japanglish

 
RE Suzuki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: bayarea, ca
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I think the ARC induction box looks really nice. It goes well with greddy smic
Attached Thumbnails ARC product review-hood-open-2.jpg  
Old 01-05-05, 02:35 PM
  #7  
Rotary Freak

iTrader: (8)
 
M104-AMG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: FL
Posts: 2,857
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
How does their stock mount intercooler (SMIC) compare ?

:-) neil
Old 01-05-05, 06:26 PM
  #8  
JRX
Junior Member

 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Japan
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No performance figures...

but their radiators (and other cooling gear) are ultra light, and the apparent cooling efficiency of their front mount intercoolers for GTRs is very good. It is not all just for looks.

As far as I am aware the ARC intercooler cores are of design unique to them.

J.
Old 06-22-07, 07:11 PM
  #9  
17 second FD

iTrader: (11)
 
MADDSLOW's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Poughkeepsie, New York
Posts: 2,436
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Just had to dig up this thread. I'm buying the ARC SMIC tomorrow. Just curious as to how much more effeciency it will have over the stocker. Anybody have any numbers? Intake temps, dyno, boost threshold, anything?
Old 06-22-07, 07:49 PM
  #10  
Bann3d. I got OWNED!!!

iTrader: (22)
 
RX7 RAGE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 5,014
Received 63 Likes on 22 Posts
Originally Posted by MADDSLOW
Just had to dig up this thread. I'm buying the ARC SMIC tomorrow. Just curious as to how much more effeciency it will have over the stocker. Anybody have any numbers? Intake temps, dyno, boost threshold, anything?
My friend has an ARC SMIC in his FD but we don't know any numbers for it. It is a little bigger than the stock one so it can't be worse.
Old 06-23-07, 02:06 AM
  #11  
17 second FD

iTrader: (11)
 
MADDSLOW's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Poughkeepsie, New York
Posts: 2,436
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
hmm... guess there weren't a lot of people interested in checking numbers after they installed it

Anybody notice I spelled "efficiency" wrong
Old 06-23-07, 02:28 AM
  #12  
Call me gramps!

 
WaLieN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 2,334
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's been a while since I did my research on SMICs, but I had a list going on with their drop pressures/dimensions/etc.

IIRC, ARC manufactures two SMICs. One is slightly larger than stock, one is essentially a stock SMIC with metal endtanks. The ARC line of SMICs are essentially worthless, especially considering the price.

If you want to get a decent SMIC that is larger than stock, bolts right in without ANY mods to the air duct, the BLITZ is a good choice.

Otherwise, I'd go with a PFS (comes with a duct), M2 (comes a duct), Greddy/Trust (no duct, needs modified duct).
Old 06-23-07, 02:57 AM
  #13  
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary

iTrader: (19)
 
Natey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: West Coast
Posts: 4,458
Received 1,442 Likes on 746 Posts
Worthless?
My car runs a little cooler and I swear I picked up a few HP when I installed my ARC SMIC. The fitment is absolutely perfect (stock battery, radiator and intake here ) and although there are bigger SMIC's out there, those of us that have to worry about visual inspections will be happy with this set-up. I know I am.

My stock duct matched up damn well to the ARC. A little Gorilla Tape was all I needed to seal it up perfectly.
Old 06-23-07, 04:06 AM
  #14  
Call me gramps!

 
WaLieN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 2,334
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Natey
Worthless?
My car runs a little cooler and I swear I picked up a few HP when I installed my ARC SMIC. The fitment is absolutely perfect (stock battery, radiator and intake here ) and although there are bigger SMIC's out there, those of us that have to worry about visual inspections will be happy with this set-up. I know I am.

My stock duct matched up damn well to the ARC. A little Gorilla Tape was all I needed to seal it up perfectly.
You'll pass the CA visual inspection just fine with any IC in CA.

I said that they are "essentially" worthless, which what I meant was that for what you're paying, you might as well go for a much better/larger/cheaper alternative.

Stock: 2.5x11.5x4.5 = 129 in^3
ARC: 2.5x12x6 = 180 in^3
Blitz: 11.0x5.5x4.0 = 242 in^3
PFS: 3.5x10.4x10.5 = 382 in^3
Greddy: 4x12.5x7.5 = 375 in^3

That's pretty shitty, IMO. It's hardly larger than stock. ARC just makes sub-par products for the FD, sorry.

Clearly, if you want something that will fit PERFECTLY with both the stock duct, intake, and battery, the Blitz unit is a far better choice. In addition, you can mask the Blitz SMIC to look like a stock IC. AdamC has used filler (epoxy, iirc) to hide the "Blitz" print on the endtank along with some paint and sanding. Then again, CA emissions allow aftermarket intercoolers.

Let's not even get into the pricing on ARC products for the FD, because it's not even arguable. So yeah, I was kinda being nice by saying that ARC products are essentially worthless, because they're basically entirely worthless. Sure, it's a great option over a the stock IC, but the stock IC is pretty **** poor as it is. At a mere 10PSI, you're seeing a pressure drop of 2PSI+ across the core. Any upgrade, even the cheap ebay ones, are better than stock, but that does not mean it's a "good" IC.

Let's take a look at another example of a crappy ARC product:

The "ARC Super Air Induction Box"
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ARC-C...spagenameZWDVW

The intake box has two filters, one on each end. Gee, super induction huh?


NOT!
The only thing that is super about it is the hot *** air it's sucking through the bottom filter via the radiator fans. And the top filter? Well, it's sucking in stagnant hot air as well.

Face it man, just because it's "JDM mad tyte ARC" doesn't mean it does jack ****.

If anyone wants a quality SMIC that will fit without a hitch with the stock duct and airbox, get the BLITZ unit.
Old 06-23-07, 10:11 AM
  #15  
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary

iTrader: (19)
 
Natey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: West Coast
Posts: 4,458
Received 1,442 Likes on 746 Posts
Thanks for the insults, there, big guy, but unless you've compared, in your car, the ARC SMIC with the Blitz, PFS and others, then your long-winded post is nothing but opinion. If you have, then post up the results.
Are the designs of all the cores and the way the air passes through them identical? How bout the materials that they're made with?
Old 06-23-07, 03:26 PM
  #16  
17 second FD

iTrader: (11)
 
MADDSLOW's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Poughkeepsie, New York
Posts: 2,436
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Yeah I remember reading something about the ARC intercoolers having a unique core only used by them.
Old 06-26-07, 11:34 AM
  #17  
127,338 OEM, 11.5psi

 
7 BOUND's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: MARYLAND
Posts: 936
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
well here is my 2c, had the ARC intake box and rare RACE SPEC SMIC and i loveeeed it. only reason i dont have it is becuase i want to go front mount with my t-78, but i can deffently see a difference. If you can find a RACE SPEC ARC SMIC you will see that it has the same thickness as a front mount. but again i lov the brand just that it cost a lot. i did a lot of research on the ARC line. ps if you look at the reg SMIC ARC you can see that the RACE SPEC is much thicker than the normal one.

Old 06-26-07, 05:35 PM
  #18  
Derwin

iTrader: (2)
 
dradon03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MTL, QC
Posts: 2,888
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
EUGH, I see XS Power on the right....
Old 08-03-07, 02:48 PM
  #19  
17 second FD

iTrader: (11)
 
MADDSLOW's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Poughkeepsie, New York
Posts: 2,436
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I bought the ARC SMIC, and installed it in my car. I was VERY disappointed with the results. While I hadn't checked the numbers my stock I/C was making, when I installed the ARC, my numbers were constantly around very high 50s/mid 60s. The ARC was in great shape, with very few bent fins. I was so frustrated with high intake temps, that I decided to sell it and buy a Greddy SM, and sell the ARC immediately. After the ARC sold, I put the stocker in there until my Greddy arrived, and my intake temps went down about 30 degrees farenheit! I couldn't believe it. I feel bad for the guy I sold mine to...
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
joel(PA)
Group Buy & Product Dev. FD RX-7
8
10-04-15 06:07 PM
jim_chung
1st Gen General Discussion
10
10-04-15 09:09 AM
series1rx7
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
3
09-27-15 05:46 PM



Quick Reply: ARC product review



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:09 AM.