Had a little go of the "Pikey Mod" on Saturday... having not really been impressed by the retro jobs I'd seen previously, I decided I'd try a different approach. So began to drill holes , lots of holes... 234 to be exact...

The intercooler:

The grid:

The centre holes:

The holes (all 234 of them):

3.5 hours later... it was all back together:

Noticed any difference yet?

You clearly have a lot more patience than me

Different. Only thing is that some crap might get through them, but with holes that small I think it will be marginal, and you've achieved venting too. Edit: My pikey'd wheel arch is available for free, for anyone who's happy to do a full swap with me.

Noticed any difference yet?

Haven't really driven it too much tbh, but sure It'll help on those hot days...

@ Jason, There only 6mm holes, so pretty small, nothing too big should get through...

Try something out now you've done this.

After a run on a hot day where you have been using the aircon get out with the engine and aircon going. out your hand over the holes and you will be seriously surprised at the amount of hot air is now being let out.

Then turn the aircon off. You will notice the heat has all but vanished.

The aircon fan seems to pump hot air from the condensor through the intercooler, which was something you could never know if you hadn't done the mod. Also think of the fact that air had no where to go before the mod.

I can see 235 to be honest It does look.. smart though.

Why didn't you clean your wheel arch/caliper/arch liner whilst it was off?

Tut Tut:D

I'd be wary of getting 5mm pieces of grit battering the intercooler tbh.:P

It looks good, but it is much easier just to retro fit the Audi TT arch liner, that way you'll also avoid muck being chucked back into the intercooler.

Looks great, but have to agree, better to spend

Isn't there a pikey mod on here somewhere, using a slotted aluminium ventilation panel (painted black) fixed over a square cut out of the wheel liner?

Looked very neat IIRC.

EDIT : I think this was the one I was thinking of....

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/fabia/pikey-mod-no-2-intercooler-has-airflow/47646/?highlight=wheel+arch

I hope you counter sunk all of the holes on the inside to aid air-flow ?

Looks great, but have to agree, better to spend

I hope you counter sunk all of the holes on the inside to aid air-flow ?

Don't Joke... I did! I drilled 234 5mm holes from one direction and noticed I had a small burr intercooler side, so I drilled them all again (6mm) in the other direction, so the burr would be tyre side! :P Now the air will flow easier from the intercooler, but dirt will get caught up on the burrs tyre side... genius or anal... you decide!

Chris

I hope you've declared it to your insurance co.

I hope you've declared it to your insurance co.

I've not added anything new to the car, simply taken 234 6mm circular pieces of plastic from it!

Or 0.026 m2

I hope you've declared it to your insurance co.

They'd probably void his premium up on some trumped-up excuse like....

"the hot air from the intercooler warming up the offside tyre and thus giving it better grip than the nearside, therefore affecting the handling of the car";)

the hot air from the intercooler warming up the offside tyre and thus giving it better grip than the nearside, therefore affecting the handling of the car";)

Now your just talking rubbish!

Interesting take on it. not sure i could be that patient drilling all those holes.

It seems lots of people are making their own mod of this concept, but is a direct replacement liner available from another car? I thought on one of the older threads someone said there wasnt.

The Ibiza is very similar, i'm not sure if anyone has tried it however the TT arch liner is still the "real deal" mod.

The Ibiza one is 30% larger than the TT one, just go to a seat dealer and ask for MY04 offside liner, same shape but sill needs cut out as mountings are different

genius or anal... you decide!

Chris

My answer to this question usually depends on who's offering.

Good effort though.

That's the neatest pikey mod I've seen so far - you have oodles of patience, respect!

Try something out now you've done this.

After a run on a hot day where you have been using the aircon get out with the engine and aircon going. out your hand over the holes and you will be seriously surprised at the amount of hot air is now being let out.

Then turn the aircon off. You will notice the heat has all but vanished.

The aircon fan seems to pump hot air from the condensor through the intercooler, which was something you could never know if you hadn't done the mod. Also think of the fact that air had no where to go before the mod.

So this means that there is a benefit in leaving IN the pikey mods after slipping down the slippery slope a bit and getting a proper FMIC??

Cheers

Bas

wonder how much weight is saved.......