14 replies to this topic

[Minimad100]

As title, has anyone got mambas with sportspack arches?

Also opinions on white or silver mambas on red cooper sportspack?!

Here's a picture of the car



Cheers guys

Edited by Minimad100, 18 January 2014 - 07:03 PM.

[Minimad100]

Wow no replies! Even with a picture and I know how much you guys love a picture!!

[Chris1992]

wheres MiniGrin? suprised he hasnt posted. hes got 13" mambas with sportspacks. looks pretty sweet too!

[Minimad100]

I've just had a look at the pictures on his profile they look very nice!!! Perhaps I'll give him a PM!!! Cheers!!!

[MiniGrin]

Hiya  
beautiful mpi
I have some 13 X 7 black deep dished mambas. 
Quality wise they are brilliant, especially the really great brushed Stainless dishes. and so far still looking like new after 4 months ish of daily use. 
They fit the sports packs .... just the rims hang well out of the arches, but as the tyres are stretched over the rims the tread is just tucked under the arch, this makes it legal. Also makes your mini look a lot fatter/meaner, and fills the arches really well. But there are some issues with catching. nothing tooooo bad, but it is a little annoying, if you have people in the back, your rear wheels will catch whenever you drive over anything, pot holes, bumps, stones, specs of dust but with no one in the back the back is just fine. The front is very very close and does catch on bumpy bends, so any corner with an uneven, rippled or sloped steeply the wheels do catch on the metal inner arch, not a hell of a lot, but it does pull on your wheel a little. This is increased depending on how many passengers you have. 
Only other issue is that I now only have 3/4 to 1 turn of lock now as they catch on the plastic arches. 

The catching isn't the end of the world, ive lived with this commuting 70 miles a day in it on a huge range of road types, and it doesn't pose too much of an issue, a bit annoying, but not too bad.

This can be remedied by having the metal part of the arch (behind the sports pack one) cut away, looks the same from the outside.
I think the JC works cars already have this, done from the factory, not that sure tho. Mine is a JC works, however has been restored with standard cooper wings, giving me the issues.

Any other questions feel free to pm me (or just comment on here, ill follow it).
James :)

Edited by MiniGrin, 23 January 2014 - 10:59 PM.

[MiniGrin]

Here are some pictures of mine :)

 

 

 

[Minimad100]

Cheers for that mate!!! They look brilliant!!! I might ask a silly question, but when we put the wings on, we used a template to cut away for the sportpacks! Would this solve the catching? Or would it require further cutting? I just love the look of them!!

[MiniGrin]

ooooo maybe, yea i recon that might have been you could be all clear, it may still have issues with the wheel turn still only being 1 turn not 2.5, but this is never an issue, unless in a really really tight car park, your arms will have to get a bigger work out
Yea the catching on bumps should be sorted on yours then. Even if not, you can still drive the car with the catching over bumps and then get the arches cut out later on, quite an inexpensive job and most mini body specialists can do it easily and well.

And yea its a great retro looking mod, completely changes the look of the car, looks lower, meaner, fatter and retro modded love em

[Minimad100]

The turning is not such an issue, I just don't want to damage the car!! Haha I need the exercise anyway!!!! Haha but yeah I love the look of 13x7 but mambas are just a bit different to the usual ultralites but I think for the colour of my car I would go silver or white rather than the black.... Even though black is true mamba colour it doesn't look right on a red car with a white roof.... But they look fantastic on your blue!!!!!

[MiniGrin]

yea i was originally going to got for some cream ones, to match my roof, but changed my mind whilst stood in reception at my local mini parts shop to black XD 
well mine have been catching a little now for the last few months, all the dames as has been done is that its took come of the paint off of the arches (sp ones, just above the wheel on the backs) but you cant notice it so no issues there, the fronts have just taken the paint off the metal arches, but this cannot be seen ether, so no issues there. So don't worry itle be no issues.

[Chris1992]

Cheers for that mate!!! They look brilliant!!! I might ask a silly question, but when we put the wings on, we used a template to cut away for the sportpacks! Would this solve the catching? Or would it require further cutting? I just love the look of them!!

 

cut with the templates, then if u need to cut more away later just go at it with the angle grinder some more  . thats what i had to do. i also stretched the front of the plastic arches forward, clamped them in place, and fibreglassed behind them. this solved some of the catching... i am pretty slammed tho lol,

[Minimad100]

Hahaha yeah I love the black on yours!!! And that's good them!!! Cheers for all your help!!!!!

[Minimad100]

Cheers for that mate!!! They look brilliant!!! I might ask a silly question, but when we put the wings on, we used a template to cut away for the sportpacks! Would this solve the catching? Or would it require further cutting? I just love the look of them!!

 
cut with the templates, then if u need to cut more away later just go at it with the angle grinder some more  . thats what i had to do. i also stretched the front of the plastic arches forward, clamped them in place, and fibreglassed behind them. this solved some of the catching... i am pretty slammed tho lol,

Cheers chris!! I've never thought to fibreglass behind them!!!!!! Great idea!!!!

[Chris1992]

 

 

Cheers for that mate!!! They look brilliant!!! I might ask a silly question, but when we put the wings on, we used a template to cut away for the sportpacks! Would this solve the catching? Or would it require further cutting? I just love the look of them!!

 
cut with the templates, then if u need to cut more away later just go at it with the angle grinder some more  . thats what i had to do. i also stretched the front of the plastic arches forward, clamped them in place, and fibreglassed behind them. this solved some of the catching... i am pretty slammed tho lol,

Cheers chris!! I've never thought to fibreglass behind them!!!!!! Great idea!!!!

 

no worries man! although when i did it i had the car in bits so i was able to put a G-clamp in the hole where the headlight goes, then hook the other end under the front of the arch to gently stretch it forward while i fiberglassed it 

[Minimad100]

Nicely done mate!!! Hopefully they will fit with no issues!!!!