Interior Exterior
Q:
I've been promising some pictures for awhile, so here they are. These are the Reverie carbon fiber side scoops, painted Bordeaux Red Pearl to match the car. I'm very happy with the way they came out. They not only look cool, they keep the car cool too. I don't think I've seen the engine temp above 193 since I installed these. I also have the ITG CAI and I think that in addition to more air being pushed towards it, the grills in these side scoops do a better job of catching large crap than the stock grills do before its sucked into the intake.
That said, I must issue some warnings. These scoops are not simple bolt on affairs. Some creativity and fabrication is in order. The two main issues are mounting and sealing the gap around the edges as it is not a perfect fit.
There are three mounting positions. The rearward stock bolt position is no problem. Then there is a tab on the top side that you need to drill a hole into the body to screw into. I used a sheet metal screw. The problem is that you cannot screw down too tightly or it will start to deform the scoop. So you have to find a compromise. The 3rd mounting position is a CF strip that extends inward. I couldn't quite understand the Reverie instructions, as they talked about removing the screw to the stock mounting point (using some weird screwdriver I never could find) but the little black plastic tab in that position on my car is riveted in, not screwed in. So I ended up just epoxying it to the black tab.
Then there is the issue with gap. The scoops do not fit perfectly. In the instructions they mention some Reverie inner scoops that can be used and also the possibility of mounting the stock scoops inside the CF scoops. Well, I didn't have the inner scoops and it seemed crazy to me to try to make the stock scoops fit inside the CF scoops (also, I tried just to see how they would fit and they didn't fit together). So I ended up trying several things to try to cleanly fill the gap between the edge of the scoops and the rear clam. I ended up using some thin (1/8") black foam rubber on the inside, held to the inside with adhesive, and coated on the outside with black RTV. I'm actually surprised how good it looks and I think it will hold for awhile. Eventually I may just use fiberglass to bond the scoops to the rear clam, but I didn't want to do that at first in case I changed my mind. You can see the foam rubber in the gap in these pictures if you look closely, but I think there's less of a gap on the other side, and either way you don't notice it when you're at normal eye level (the camera is low for these pictures).
Anyway, here they are. I like them. Maybe you will too.
A:
WOW!! That's bee-YOO-tiful!!!
A:
Nice job, looks very clean to me. I've ordered mine and am nervous about
the install after what I've read so far. I'm thinking I'll leave mine CF.
A:
I've put off ordering them after hearing that they don't stay on very well...
I'd be interested to hear if any of you have any problems keeping them attached.
A:
i have no problem with mine staying on, u just have to install them right
A:
I'm pretty sure mine aren't going anywhere. As Aztec said, it depends on the install.
Edit: And I've had the car on track several times at 125+ mph since putting these on.
A:
Your car looks excellent! Mine are fresh out of the paint shop(Chrome Orange) and should be installed next week. I was thinking that a thin strip of 3M/stoneguard type material adhered to the leading edge would aleviate a future (knashing of teeth) paint issue.
I thought that Revrie's choice of screen was not too visualy appealing. I would opt for a much heavier mesh screen. I wonder if a heavier mesh actually moves more air than the finer mesh used on the scoops.
Cheers!
A:
That looks awesome. Now that I know what it looks like on BRP, I'll have to move it up on the priority list.
Now, I just wish SOMEONE would come out with a set of these in FRP for ~$300 or so. If I'm going to paint them (I prefer them painted), I ain't spending the money for beautiful hand laid CF. A few ounces isn't worth the cash to me.
-Dave
'05 Elise (BRP, Touring, Hardtop, Quicksilver)
'05 Evo VIII (his)
'03 Evo VIII (hers)
'00 Donzi 29' w/7.4L Mercruiser MPi Bravo 3 drive ~400hp!
A:
Looks awesome!!!!
A:
Your car looks excellent! Mine are fresh out of the paint shop(Chrome Orange) and should be installed next week. I was thinking that a thin strip of 3M/stoneguard type material adhered to the leading edge would aliviate a future (knashing of teeth) paint issue.
I thought that Revrie's choice of screen was not too visualy appealing. I would opt for a much heavier mesh screen. I wonder if a heavier mesh actually moves more air than the finer mesh used on the scoops.
Cheers!
Thanks!
That would be a good idea to put some type of protective material there. I do have a few small nicks on the leading edge.
A:
Just put my scoops on today, turned out well but will test your patience.
The driver's side takes longer because you have to work around the intake snorkel (still deciding on which CAI). The instructions are not too helpful.
A couple tips:
1) dry fit the assembly by placing duct tape over the pilot holes for the screws, start the screws into the duct tape so you don't have to fumble around in that small space with screws and washers.
2) attach the back end (loosely) with the bolt from the oem scoop. Then, tap the upper screw in (slightly) to mark where to drill(or use a self-tapping screw). Take the whole thing out and either drill or use a self-tapping screw into the upper bracket holder which can be reached from the outside now (much easier than trying to reach from the inside). I used a very small self tapping screw, remove it from the hole, and start it back into the duct tape on the bracket. Put the whole assembly back in.
3) VERY IMPORTANT: place at least 3 or 4 washers on the bolt from the oem
scoop before tightening it in for your final assembly. If you don't, the bolt will crack the clam. I almost made this mistake but luckily I stopped as soon as I felt resistance (The oem scoop has a thicker attachment point).
4) It is extremely difficult to reach the lower bracket screw. I ended up using a screw on the top bracket, oem bolt on the rear attachment point and superglue and duct tape on the lower bracket. Then I duct taped the entire (inside) periphery of the scoop. It is NOT going anywhere! Test blast to 120 mph , A-OK!
5) take your time! Took me 4 hrs. to do the first one, 1 hour to do the second
They look great and probably weigh within an once or two of the oem plastic grills despite being much larger.