13 replies to this topic

[olosteve]

I want to remove the plastic arch extentions, 1988 Mayfair, and bring the 12" wheels back within the shell. Is this possible and if it is can anyone please share that knowledge. Thank you.

[james962]

I believe the plastic arches are pop riveted, so you can just drill them out to remove the arch.

[JonnyAlpha]

Can you posts a photo?

 

I'm only an enthusiastic amateur but I guess it all depends on how the modification was done in the first place, I just searched and found loads of posts on wheel conversions.

 

If the arches are the plastic screw on type - no brainer as I'm sure you knew but if they are moulded on then a little more work involved in removing them but again based on how they have been fitted, (rivetted, screwed, glued, filled and painted?).  

 

As far as moving the wheels form my search it would appear that a 1988 Mini had 12 inch wheels as standard? So if they have been widened enough to warrant wheel arches I guess someone fitted spacers or wider wheels? 

 

Before cracking do some investigating, i.e. have a good look at your mini and take and post photos and get some more advice from some of the more experienced guys on here.

 

Good luck

Edited by JonnyAlpha, 06 February 2014 - 12:22 PM.

[tiger99]

Arches were standard, along with 12" wheels, from 1984, because in that year 8.4" disc brakes were fitted to all models. It seems unlikely that you will be able to get wheels that will fit within the bodywork without fouling the brakes, but if you do, they will be narrower than those that you now have, as it is not possible just to increase the wheel offset to move them inwards, without messing up the scrub radiua, and the handling. Width has to be removed from the inside and outside of the wheel.

 

I happen to think that Minis without arch extensions look much better, so I fully understand why you would want to do this, and wish you every success. Your best bet may be to go to 10" wheels, which involves changing the brakes from 8.4" discs to 7.9", or using MK 2 Fiesta brakes, either of which is a fair bit of work and money. It would handle better on 10" wheels.

 

There may be someone along, with expert knowledge of every single wheel available for Minis, who may know of a 12" wheel that will do the job, but I would not be too optimistic. However, in the 1960s, some people allegedly used Hillman Imp wheels, which are 12", albeit they were probably going on drum braked cars, and Imp wheels may be rare now.

[olosteve]

Top Man, tiger99, thought it might be a lot of work.

Didn't want to go down the 10" route as the car is an, automatic and already a tad undergeared.

Edited by olosteve, 06 February 2014 - 06:29 PM.

[Tamworthbay]

I have had 12x5s running 145s with discs but no arches. They don't stick out more than a couple of mm. You may need to check the offset of the wheels just to make sure.

[AndyR]

I believe a 12 x 5 with et 42 or 12 x 4.75 with et 40 should work, or the standard 12 x 4.5 rover / austin steelies should also work.  

 

Andy

[Alex_B]

I used to run standard 12" steels without arches on mine which had the 8.4" setup, so you should be able to get away with it, you only need to drill out the pop rivets if the arches are indeed the standard 'special' arches 

[Tamworthbay]

I used to run standard 12" steels without arches on mine which had the 8.4" setup, so you should be able to get away with it, you only need to drill out the pop rivets if the arches are indeed the standard 'special' arches 

That looks very nice indeed.

[Alex_B]

Its an old photo now, just after she got resprayed, shes a bit different now and certainly not in as good condition but that will be changing soon! 

[Rog46]

I used to run standard 12" steels without arches on mine which had the 8.4" setup, so you should be able to get away with it, you only need to drill out the pop rivets if the arches are indeed the standard 'special' arches 

Very nice I agree much better without the arch extensions !

[tiger99]

If it is only a few mm, the MOT man will probably not take much notice, but you could even get complete coverage by fitting the wings slightly wider next time the front end has major rust repairs. There is scope, by fiddling with the A panels, the wing to scuttle gap (usually needs some reshaping there anyway), etc, to gain a slight amount of width, at the expense of larger bonnet gaps. But sometimes the bonnet is too wide anyway.

 

Or, even without replacing anything, there is possibly scope for carefully bending the lower edge of the wing and A panel outwards slightly. There is a device called a wheel arch roller for doing that, but I do not necessarily recommend its use. A very gentle roll back and forth, without applying too much pressure, "may" widen the wing slightly, but I suggest that if you do try that, you should first be very sure that 14A7602, the little wing to A panel joint stiffner, is fitted, or it may buckle at the joint.

 

If anyone does try using a wheel arch roller, please post some pictures as it is likely to be interesting to a number of people.

 

http://www.ebay.co.u...&ff14=95&ff19=0

[Tamworthbay]

If it is only a few mm, the MOT man will probably not take much notice, but you could even get complete coverage by fitting the wings slightly wider next time the front end has major rust repairs. There is scope, by fiddling with the A panels, the wing to scuttle gap (usually needs some reshaping there anyway), etc, to gain a slight amount of width, at the expense of larger bonnet gaps. But sometimes the bonnet is too wide anyway.
 
Or, even without replacing anything, there is possibly scope for carefully bending the lower edge of the wing and A panel outwards slightly. There is a device called a wheel arch roller for doing that, but I do not necessarily recommend its use. A very gentle roll back and forth, without applying too much pressure, "may" widen the wing slightly, but I suggest that if you do try that, you should first be very sure that 14A7602, the little wing to A panel joint stiffner, is fitted, or it may buckle at the joint.
 
If anyone does try using a wheel arch roller, please post some pictures as it is likely to be interesting to a number of people.
 
http://www.ebay.co.u...&ff14=95&ff19=0

Or infinitely simpler, just use the plastic or chrome trim that runs the full length

[tiger99]

Well, you legally need the trim anyway, to avoid prosecution for having a sharp edge, so I was assuming that the wheels were protruding slightly beyond that. I suppose a slightly wider trim could be fitted, if available?