11 replies to this topic

[01smartc]

Hi all, ive just fitted one of fortech arches... took me ages to get the fit right but its held on with bolts for now and looks ok.

My problem is theres a massive gap between the body and the arch underneath, surley this is going to get full of poo and water? How can i fill this in?

Do people fill it over or what?

Pics to show you what i mean...

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[AndyR]

This is just a suggestion as i have no experience with body kits.

But you could try getting some 2mm polyprop or homopolymer sheet (prob can find it on ebay) and make an inner arch to bridge the gap. The polyprob should be light enough and if you have a hot air gun you can heat the sheet up and form it into place.

Like i said its just a suggestion, but i hope it helps!

[mini_lad_1990]

get bigger wheels to fit the arches!!

i aint a clue what else you can do mate personally those arches are for track use in my eyes but thats just me

cheers

[mike.]

Why would it matter if water getts up there? Its not a particularly vunerable area so aslong as its well protected then it'll be fine. Make sure the area is well painted and that theres no little chips in the paint that water could creep under.

Then since those arches will be a permanent mod theres nothing to stop you stop chipping or even undersealing the area.

[Southy]

My mate Rick has this body kit fitted to his mini and his is exactly the same, he doesnt take his out in the rain tho (10K+ show car i can see why) but he is in the process of trying to make some vacumed form wheel arch inserts to stop the dirt getting up there, but atm he has it all painted and ston chipped and it very easily washes off underneath it

[01smartc]

Well actually it is a track car, its a fully blown hillclimb mini. Im going to be fitting wider alloys with slicks, they are just what i had lying around to get the arch centre!

Im thinking expanding foam?

[Southy]

Nah i wouldnt do expanding foam, its rather heavy once it goes hard not too mention it can soak up moisture so may cause more trouble than its worth....I think the idea of moulded liners is the best

[01smartc]

Surley its only as heavy as when its wet? ... its just air bubbles after all?

Id fill the arch with it then glass it over to seal it in!

[panelbeaterpeter]

I'd try and make an inner arch section out of flexi plastic like what's been mentioned. You could use foam like you suggested, but it would be a bit messy and would be tricky to shape and get looking half professional. Oh and expanding foam isn't porous as I had previously thought, it's a closed cell structure and can't soak up or trap moisture unless it's damaged.

Edited by panelbeaterpeter, 30 May 2008 - 10:01 PM.

[01smartc]

Whoops should have waited for the guru to post, what i've done is taped over the gap between the outer arch and inner arch and then pumped in as much foam as i could! ... Its expanded inside and is hopefully exactly the right shape!

We will see in the morn when i take the tape off!

[mike.]

Thinking about it your could probably have taped over the gap then used fibreglass resin and matting over the top. That'd give you a good fibreglass arch inner that can be bonded into place and painted etc for a professional finish.

[ludsonline]

Have a look here...

http://www.autofashion.co.uk/jason's_fortek.htm