Page 1 of 3

SMIC Arch Mod (AKA Pikey MOD)

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:37 pm
by whitegtipolo
Was my day off today so i thought id give this mod i go that i saw on a fabia forum!

Went round few shops and sourced these bits cost all together bout £6 inc paint matt black
Image

First Remove ya wheel
Image

Now you can see the intercooler with the splash gaurd removed and before the air flow went to nowhere LOL
Image

Then cut out ya Hole
Image

Then screw ya vent on. I picked one that vents to the side so the air can flow out of the arch
Image

I then cleaned the vent and arch with brake cleaner and painted it both sides and refit to vehicle
Image

Then refit the wheel and enjoy LOL
Image

Hope this helps anyone thinking of doing it!

took bout 1hr start to finish looks good too

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:55 pm
by loud
nice job, was thinking about it getting dirty and s**t but then thought...it's not going to get anywhere near as dirty as a FMIC! :)

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:08 pm
by Tim_GTi
Nice one mate, looks alot smarter with it painted and on the inside of the arch lining!

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:41 pm
by Rich_T
nice work!!!

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:42 pm
by KennyPOLO_Gti
Good job. Feel any difference?>

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:23 pm
by whitegtipolo
KennyPOLO_Gti wrote:Good job. Feel any difference?>
Hard to say really but i have read on vw vortex that it did reduce intake temps quite alot on warm days (in the usa) on golfs etc. but it makes sense cos its all enclosed standard cant even escape at the bottom if you look its all enclosed . its worth 6 pounds anyway looks good too!! think ill be putting some shults over that paint to protect the vent more , but it is galvanized with aluminum so shouldn't rust. :wink:

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:03 pm
by david burton
vents angled to the floor would protect it a bit more.

I imagine even some holes at the top might allow better air flow (over standard). is there nowhere for it to escape out the back of the arch?

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:08 pm
by whitegtipolo
david burton wrote:vents angled to the floor would protect it a bit more.

I imagine even some holes at the top might allow better air flow (over standard). is there nowhere for it to escape out the back of the arch?
wont really make a difference which way vents go cos of gap anyhow, and if it wants to get in it will LOL only water and that anyway ill have got rid of it b4 anything rusts LOL :lol: no their is no where for it to vent its a really bad design!

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:33 am
by polo1.9TDI SPORT
wOW , LOOKING GOOD! Especially being black.
Going to ask a weird question on this intercooler stuff. Do the 1.9 TDi have intercoolers? Sorry for a real lame question. I thought they did due to the turbo. And is it in the same place??
Thanks

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:34 am
by david burton
whitegtipolo wrote: wont really make a difference which way vents go cos of gap anyhow, and if it wants to get in it will LOL only water and that anyway ill have got rid of it b4 anything rusts LOL :lol: no their is no where for it to vent its a really bad design!
it would make a difference to stones being flung around the arch by the tyre tread. if they angle down to the ground then there's much less chance of a stone being thrown in by the tyre tread due to the rotational direction of the tyre. water isn't really an issue but I'd have thought debris could be.

if I could have a choice between angling them up, or down, or sideways, I'd pick angling down.

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:22 pm
by KennyPOLO_Gti
What bout a FMIC, as someone said before, how much debris does that get flung at it!?? :roll:

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:28 pm
by DanDiesel
looks like a good mod but i am suprised that VW didn't put this on the car in the first place. my SMIC is in the same place but i already have the arch liner vent!

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:50 pm
by dino
Nice mod!
DanDiesel wrote:looks like a good mod but i am suprised that VW didn't put this on the car in the first place. my SMIC is in the same place but i already have the arch liner vent!
What angle do the vents go out of interest lol

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:50 pm
by DanDiesel
downwards :D

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:53 pm
by whitegtipolo
DanDiesel wrote:downwards :D
any pics of the seat arch vents? wonder if the arch would fit polo? Also why does everyone have to pick at mods lol!! :?