Classic Arch Extensions

[MattD]

Today.... I have mostly been eating GRP dust.....

Come on then guys.. Will this work, or look like Carlos Fandango add-ons ??

Finally stopped "thinking about it" & started to get on with lowering the car & the mods to suit.

I've been running around since Sept with the car jacked up to stop my new rubber hitting the arches on all 4 corners.

Rob has given me some good guidance on ride height to aim for, which will need the arches widened by about 25mm on the front, poss a bit more on the back.

The intention is to re join the arch lip I chopped off today at the bottom corners, change the angle to suit, & add a thin, inch wide, strip of mat to the inside. Then fill & blend the top edge & arch lips into the existing bodywork.
Bit like an Escort X-Pack, sort of half-way to an RT

Its either that or Rob's tried & tested (& simple) method !

Comments ??

Cheers

Matt

[gnalist]

Not sure about Carlos or the Escort x-pack... more of an age to remember the Mexico bulges... BUT if it's done well it'll look fine... heck they added some bulges to an AC and they came up with the Cobra (plus sodding big engine etc.) and that went down well, besides as you mention the RT is further and looks good .. personally think the only way anyone anyone could mess a curved flowing line car like the Stylus is by adding hardcore angles to bodymods, sure it'll look fine fella.

[stylussprinter]

Well done Matt , although I expect your heart went ooh - er once you started actually cutting with no way back It'll look good after all the rubbing down/painting , just take your time because once the paint goes on you can then see how well you rubbed/filled OR NOT

Rob(pic' of my chopping and F/Glassing)






Then I did it some more after having it ripped off at the NORTH WEALD sprint Bit wider this time DON'T forget the holes for more bite Matt

[MattD]

Well in between visits to boths mum's & the weather...

I had another go, & got it re-attached.

Once you've got over the initial "what have I done" shock, its actually good fun getting all sticky.
Takes me back to the joys of building it ... 5 yrs ago now...

Remembering getting those bl**dy doors sorted ! (took me 6 weekends)
Still, that's a problem Tim's sorted on new builds.

Bought a decent fret-saw yesterday, so the other side fell off too. No going back now !!

Here's a few shots of progress.. And a Photoshop guess of the finished shape.

[stylussprinter]

Didn't realise you were going to retain the rim that was cut off
Rob

[MattD]

Hi Rob

Yep, decided I wanted to keep it. Will probably trim it right back once its all set.

Got another layer of tissue to go on the top side, then P38 skim over the top.

The backs will be more a challenge, more meat to come off, more chance to screw it up !
Baby Bruv's gonna blow them all back in when its done.

Matt

[MattD]

Here's how it looks after today.

Bit daunting, but no going back now
Just got the other rear & the filling, sanding & painting to do

Matt