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 Jan 5, 2005 | 11:32 AM
  #1  
circusmagic's Avatar
Thread Starter
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 0
From: las vegas
ARC product review

has anyone tried ACR products that available for US consumers? Induction Box? BOV? Intercooler Kit?
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2005 | 12:05 PM
  #2  
Jason's Avatar
The one
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,862
Likes: 5
From: Fort Worth, TX
overpriced and not worth the money.

Jason
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2005 | 12:19 PM
  #3  
israel's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, KS
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?
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2005 | 01:11 PM
  #4  
Rated R1's Avatar
Oji San
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 916
Likes: 0
From: Lexington, SC
I heard APC makes some good stuff!
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2005 | 02:24 PM
  #5  
scratchjunkie's Avatar
sexy no jutsu
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 0
From: planet arium
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.
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2005 | 02:33 PM
  #6  
RE Suzuki's Avatar
I speak Japanglish
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 1
From: bayarea, ca
I think the ARC induction box looks really nice. It goes well with greddy smic
Attached Thumbnails ARC product review-hood-open-2.jpg  
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2005 | 02:35 PM
  #7  
M104-AMG's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 6
From: FL
How does their stock mount intercooler (SMIC) compare ?

:-) neil
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2005 | 06:26 PM
  #8  
JRX
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Japan
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.
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2007 | 07:11 PM
  #9  
MADDSLOW's Avatar
17 second FD
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,436
Likes: 1
From: Poughkeepsie, New York
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?
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2007 | 07:49 PM
  #10  
RX7 RAGE's Avatar
Bann3d. I got OWNED!!!
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,015
Likes: 67
From: San Diego, CA
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.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2007 | 02:06 AM
  #11  
MADDSLOW's Avatar
17 second FD
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,436
Likes: 1
From: Poughkeepsie, New York
hmm... guess there weren't a lot of people interested in checking numbers after they installed it

Anybody notice I spelled "efficiency" wrong
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2007 | 02:28 AM
  #12  
WaLieN's Avatar
Call me gramps!
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, MI
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).
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2007 | 02:57 AM
  #13  
Natey's Avatar
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,495
Likes: 1,484
From: West Coast
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.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2007 | 04:06 AM
  #14  
WaLieN's Avatar
Call me gramps!
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, MI
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.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2007 | 10:11 AM
  #15  
Natey's Avatar
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,495
Likes: 1,484
From: West Coast
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?
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2007 | 03:26 PM
  #16  
MADDSLOW's Avatar
17 second FD
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,436
Likes: 1
From: Poughkeepsie, New York
Yeah I remember reading something about the ARC intercoolers having a unique core only used by them.
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2007 | 11:34 AM
  #17  
7 BOUND's Avatar
127,338 OEM, 11.5psi
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 936
Likes: 0
From: MARYLAND
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.

Reply
Old Jun 26, 2007 | 05:35 PM
  #18  
dradon03's Avatar
Derwin
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,888
Likes: 0
From: MTL, QC
EUGH, I see XS Power on the right....
Reply
Old Aug 3, 2007 | 02:48 PM
  #19  
MADDSLOW's Avatar
17 second FD
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,436
Likes: 1
From: Poughkeepsie, New York
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...
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
joel(PA)
Group Buy & Product Dev. FD RX-7
8
Oct 4, 2015 06:07 PM
jim_chung
1st Gen General Discussion
10
Oct 4, 2015 09:09 AM
series1rx7
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
3
Sep 27, 2015 05:46 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:32 AM.