ARC product review
#3
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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?
edit: oh yeah, and the ARC induction box won't fit with the ARC fmic, what's up with that?
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#8
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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.
As far as I am aware the ARC intercooler cores are of design unique to them.
J.
#9
17 second FD
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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?
#12
Call me gramps!
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).
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).
#13
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
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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.
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.
#14
Call me gramps!
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.
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.
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!
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.
#15
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
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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?
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?
#17
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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.
#19
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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...
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