FAO Widearch people, what have you done to your originals?

Discussion and technical advice for 84-89 AW10 & AW11 MR2. 3A-LU, 4A-GE, 4A-GZE.

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AdamP
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Re: FAO Widearch people, what have you done to your originals?

Post by AdamP »

PW@Woodsport wrote:There's nothing mechanically wrong with using spacers from an engineering point of view, Mr2 Ferrari replicas use an 8" rear spacer and a 6" front spacer without any safety issues, sort of puts the 20-30mm spacers normal folk use into perspective. I'll grab a pic of them tomorrow if you like so you can chuckle at the width of them.

I have used up to a 30mm spacer on Mk1's for many years to fill arches out with no problems at all.


I really hope that no one uses 6 or 8 inch spacers :O :O :O that is VERY wrong from an engineering point of view!
PW@Woodsport
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Re: FAO Widearch people, what have you done to your originals?

Post by PW@Woodsport »

All of the Ferrari replicas have 8" spacers, I kid you not, but they never seem to suffer any wheel bearing failures, testament to the Toyota bearing I suppose.
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Neil_turbo
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Re: FAO Widearch people, what have you done to your originals?

Post by Neil_turbo »

i have finally got round to this, it has admittadly been put off as it is one of those where once you have started there really is no going back!

To recap the issue was as the wheels are wider they were sitting right under the original arch, leaving no travel at all! This is where the arch needed to be...

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I didnt know whether the arches were orginal or not, and how they would be attached to the inner arch, so i made a small cut so i could see what i was working with...
(turns out they were the originals, so to be fair in good condition for the age!)

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After this i started cutting, trying to avoid the inner arch as this could then be bought up to meet the raised original, and peeled it away

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Again making sure not to cut the inner, i cut the slits into the original and bent the tabs out. Once it was free from the inner arch the outer was sooo wobbly, so essenial the two were rejoined.

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I then "encouraged" the inner arch up, this took quite a bit of effort! (Second time round i removed the paint for welding first)

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The cuts were then seem welded up, penetrating throughto the inner arch underneath.

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This was then tidies up and a few more spot welds added to the edges to ensure everything was joined..

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In all i have gained just over 2" of wheel travel which should suffice! The new flared arches look much better without the original sat behind them, will put a few more pictures up once the hubs are back on and wheels attached
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