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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: pauld_88 on 09 July 2009, 09:56

Title: De-Arching
Post by: pauld_88 on 09 July 2009, 09:56
how hard is it to de arch the golf mk3 is it just as simple as unclipping the plastic trim and then obviously cleaning up the paint under the trim to try and make sure i dont have bad fade effect! will it look ok?
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: ace on 09 July 2009, 10:05
just drill the rivets in the arch and pull it off. hope u dnt have any rust under there  :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: Wayne on 09 July 2009, 10:11
You also need to replace the door mouldings with cl spec as they are narrower than the GTI spec.

(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/Vw%20Golf/golf4.jpg)
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: pauld_88 on 09 July 2009, 10:28
You also need to replace the door mouldings with cl spec as they are narrower than the GTI spec.

(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/Vw%20Golf/golf4.jpg)

its fine its gti8v   :smiley:
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: Wayne on 09 July 2009, 10:52
No GTI ones are wrong as the parts on the wing are built into the arch moulding so when you remove them you need to replace the moulding, what I did was fit a complete cl set.

My car was a GTI
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: louis_23 on 09 July 2009, 12:01
alot of people will dis agree with me! but i say DON'T do it!

i cant see why every one is mad on ripping the arches off looks better with them and also its what makes the mk3 gti a mk3 gti imo. look at cars like shep gti's i think it is perfect example of how a mk3 gti should look, nice subtle mods and kept there arches (the identity of a mk3)  :cool: dose look nice with out arches but imo not as good.   :smiley:
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: louis_23 on 09 July 2009, 12:05
sorry repost arhhhh  :embarassed:
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: louis_23 on 09 July 2009, 12:06
two of them arhhhh what am i doing  :embarassed:  :embarassed:  :embarassed:
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: Wayne on 09 July 2009, 12:23
alot of people will dis agree with me! but i say DON'T do it!

i cant see why every one is mad on ripping the arches off looks better with them and also its what makes the mk3 gti a mk3 gti imo. look at cars like shep gti's i think it is perfect example of how a mk3 gti should look, nice subtle mods and kept there arches (the identity of a mk3)  :cool: dose look nice with out arches but imo not as good.   :smiley:

Yes they make it a GTI however if you want to run bigger wheels it is a lot easier without them.
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: shepgti on 09 July 2009, 12:26
alot of people will dis agree with me! but i say DON'T do it!

i cant see why every one is mad on ripping the arches off looks better with them and also its what makes the mk3 gti a mk3 gti imo. look at cars like shep gti's i think it is perfect example of how a mk3 gti should look, nice subtle mods and kept there arches (the identity of a mk3)  :cool: dose look nice with out arches but imo not as good.   :smiley:

Yes they make it a GTI however if you want to run bigger wheels it is a lot easier without them.

can be done with the arches in place, just have to try a little harder :wink: joe managed it on his SE :rolleyes:
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: Petec82 on 09 July 2009, 12:32
alot of people will dis agree with me! but i say DON'T do it!

i cant see why every one is mad on ripping the arches off looks better with them and also its what makes the mk3 gti a mk3 gti imo. look at cars like shep gti's i think it is perfect example of how a mk3 gti should look, nice subtle mods and kept there arches (the identity of a mk3)  :cool: dose look nice with out arches but imo not as good.   :smiley:

+1. I prefer mk3's with the arches!
Pete :smiley:
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: VR6-Joe on 09 July 2009, 14:36
alot of people will dis agree with me! but i say DON'T do it!

i cant see why every one is mad on ripping the arches off looks better with them and also its what makes the mk3 gti a mk3 gti imo. look at cars like shep gti's i think it is perfect example of how a mk3 gti should look, nice subtle mods and kept there arches (the identity of a mk3)  :cool: dose look nice with out arches but imo not as good.   :smiley:

Yes they make it a GTI however if you want to run bigger wheels it is a lot easier without them.

can be done with the arches in place, just have to try a little harder :wink: joe managed it on his SE :rolleyes:

Too right :wink:

There's no way I was binning the arches, I think they looked spot on. I was completely feeling the green + black theme I had going on too :cool:
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: Wayne on 09 July 2009, 16:03
alot of people will dis agree with me! but i say DON'T do it!

i cant see why every one is mad on ripping the arches off looks better with them and also its what makes the mk3 gti a mk3 gti imo. look at cars like shep gti's i think it is perfect example of how a mk3 gti should look, nice subtle mods and kept there arches (the identity of a mk3)  :cool: dose look nice with out arches but imo not as good.   :smiley:

Yes they make it a GTI however if you want to run bigger wheels it is a lot easier without them.

can be done with the arches in place, just have to try a little harder :wink: joe managed it on his SE :rolleyes:

Yes maybe but I had to trim the rear arch lips back to get clearance, I then did not have enough left to pop rivet the cover on, looked at bonding them on but to me it looked cleaner without plus gets rid of the water / rust / dirt traps.
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: chezney55 on 09 July 2009, 17:39
arches defo on!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: funkyfive on 09 July 2009, 21:25
50/50 i am also not sure.
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: spunkymonkey on 10 July 2009, 00:11
It really depends on what look your trying to achieve. i think if you go the seventeens, 40mm drop type of route then the arches on.

But if its euro then the arches off, wheels never look as wide with them on
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: vee-dub90 on 10 July 2009, 00:24
without i say.
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: IAN C on 10 July 2009, 00:42
if your gonna take them off make sure you have no rust. took mine off 3 days ago needed 2 front wings  :sick: but i must say i think it does look better nice clean look. :tongue:
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: JP16V on 10 July 2009, 10:27
Yeah I'm 50/50 on this too. Never really thought about it much for my car til I saw James Ford's 16V with them off, running dark grey #schmidt MLs, a US spec tail gate and jetta grille (page 108 of Performance VW June 09). I think de-arching can make a really clean line right round the car if the rest of the car and stance are right. Oh and BTW - he's kept his original gti side strips and not replaced them with CL ones and it looks fine!

So, er, yeah....well there really isn't a right or a wrong really is there??
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: Wayne on 10 July 2009, 10:43
Yeah I'm 50/50 on this too. Never really thought about it much for my car til I saw James Ford's 16V with them off, running dark grey #schmidt MLs, a US spec tail gate and jetta grille (page 108 of Performance VW June 09). I think de-arching can make a really clean line right round the car if the rest of the car and stance are right. Oh and BTW - he's kept his original gti side strips and not replaced them with CL ones and it looks fine!

So, er, yeah....well there really isn't a right or a wrong really is there??

You can keep the GTI trims however the small parts on the wing are part of the arch mouldings so they need replacing when you remove the arches, I have seen people use CL trims but leave the other mouldings but to me looks wrong as they do not match up.
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: JP16V on 10 July 2009, 10:50
doh, yeah, get what you mean now! Cheers Wayne
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: funkyfive on 10 July 2009, 13:10
Whats peoples thoughts on getting all the outside trim colour coded?
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: Wayne on 10 July 2009, 13:16
Whats peoples thoughts on getting all the outside trim colour coded?

Have seen a couple done and it never looks right to be honest.
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: ace on 10 July 2009, 14:40
yeah seen it on some, but looks odd.

de-arch, drop and deep dish!!!!!!
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: Manxmann on 11 July 2009, 15:10
I have two 96 MK3's one's a GTI 16v the other's a vr6 both 5 door, both Dragon green.

The GTI has arches the VR6 is arch less with colour coded smooth bumpers etc.

Without doubt the GTI looks far better.

Having had a 96 GTI 8v 3door in the past that I made the mistake of removing the arches on all I can say is sometimes its better to not know whats under there and leave well alone.  :wink:
Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: rclifton4 on 11 July 2009, 17:23
Personally i prefer with arches on, plus i dont know the condition on my arches underneath lol

Could be very costly

Title: Re: De-Arching
Post by: Guy on 12 July 2009, 09:20
i like the de-arched look, it is cleaner, i just haven't had the balls to go for it.. don't know what nasties will lie beneath!