wheel arch extensions

[norma]

Ok, so after 11 years of Stylus ownership I'm finally fed up with 195 tyres rubbing in the arches, so I intend to fit some bolt on arches.
Now this could go wrong and look totally gash, but if I do it right, I think the car will look a lot meaner and more purposefull.
I intend to push the wheels out at least 25mm all round and drop the old girl on her arse.
Its time to start the 'mean look' project, had enough of pretty, want MEAN & PURPOSEFUL!!!

Anyway - i digress, question is...... has anyone ever fitted bolt on extensions, and if so, who, where? what do they look like???

Think I'll be starting a new build thread......

[stylussprinter]

Whether you extend them as I did or use bolt on arches , it's not enough just to extend --- you'll have to take height out of them too . Regarding bolt on or bond on , Matt's uncle did exactly that but fillered them over nicely afterwards . His purple Stylus is on this forum . If you need some measurements to judge how much to cut out , give me a PM for email and photos ok .

[kevp]

I used some MX5 extensions, something like
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-Mx5-Eun ... 3cb7d54a97

I dont think these are the ones though. Mine could be bolted or fixed in. i dont think the finnish was good enough to just bolt on. Im sure mine where half the price. They are the right size.

I will try & upload a pic.

[MattD]

Whether you extend them as I did or use bolt on arches , it's not enough just to extend --- you'll have to take height out of them too . Regarding bolt on or bond on , Matt's uncle did exactly that but fillered them over nicely afterwards . His purple Stylus is on this forum . If you need some measurements to judge how much to cut out , give me a PM for email and photos ok .

Yep, the extensions on Ken's V8 are VW Golf.

[DH2]

I have a pair of rear wheel spacers from my RT in my "to sell" pile, if they are of any use/interest to you...

Dave

[norma]

Thanks for the comments guys.
I quite fancy keeping the arches as 'bolt on' as that way, I can get away with a small colour difference between body work and arch. If I fill and blend, then I will need to fork out for a respray.....
I've found some that are a really good match - oh and yes Rob, I realise I need to cut some arch out to make room - didn't realise you had arch extensions - wouldn't mind a few pics, think you have my email still?
instead of spacers I would go for wheels witha zero offset, currently running compomotive MO's witha 25mm offset and I dont think I'd have much trouble selling them to a mkii escort rally boy...
If the arches dont look right, maybe just drop to 185's on 14" rims.......how would 185's handle 200 bhp @ wheels?????
I suppose if I stick to sticky tyres 185's should be ok???? thoughts????

[mikeb]

185/60 R888's on 14" rims are great fun with 225hp! Having a quaife atb diff makes it even more fun.

[norma]

185/60 R888's on 14" rims are great fun with 225hp! Having a quaife atb diff makes it even more fun.

sounds good - i have an atb too.
do you reckon you have enough rubber to get around corners quickly? or do you end up drifting like Mr Drift from driftsville?

[Antnicuk]

kev, do you have pics of the mx5 arches fitted?

[stylussprinter]

'' Norma '' ---- there's no way I'd get my car down to 87mm's under the front lower chassis rail without lots of work on the arches . I've actually cut f/glass from all four arches three times over the 11 yrs it's been built but it doesn't notice much in photos because I carefully blended the flared 50mm's extentions into the body . I painted with a brush the first twice but last time , due to the accident on track it got a front end respray but the rears are still hand painted .
If you put a straight edge across the front wings in line with the wheel centres , I cut out the arches 65mm's under that straight edge all around the wheel/tyre to body gap -- also cut 40mm's from the lower front wing towards the A frame for wheel steering clearance .
Same at the rear but at 125mm's under a straight edge , laid diagonally across the flat edge behind the cockpit to wheel centre.
PM your email , I've lost it --- ugh

[mikeb]

just as fast now going around corners as it was when I only had 125h and then 189hp. The difference is I have to feed in the power more progressively compared with just pushing my foot to the bulkhead soon after the apex.

I've not trackdayed with the new engine at 225 but I can easily break traction in 3rd gear in the dry in a straight line when it comes on cam. Appreciation of the consequences of getting it wrong is required. Scarier but more exciting!

[mikeb]

Antnicuk's 350bhp must be positively frightening !!!!!! I'd do it but baby atlas/gearbox/brake upgrades put put me off.

[kevp]

For some strange reason I dont seem to have any photos this year of my car, to show the arches. But here is a pic of the arches themselves.

At the moment £78 inc PP from here - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190624099462? ... 1423.l2661

I will try & get a photo this weekend.

[norma]

ooh I'd love to see a photo of those arches fitted please!