Hi all , I need to extend my wheel arches on my Fiat barchetta 500 (1.7 16v) The body is fibre glass, which would be the best way to alter them???

Cardboard and Prit-Stik

More fibreglass or moulded plastic. Go for carbon fibre if you want to.

Maybe there are kits you can buy for them ??? Worth a look around.

I take it u want to make them wider?
Shug.

Yep, Got 205 instead of 175. I've changed the engine from a 25 bhp to a 139 bhp .

I have no inner arche would it be better to build one to give it strength or woulf that be a waiste of time and weight?

If u just want "extensions" on the width without building a plug for new moulds, simply cut up the middle of your current wings open the two halves out to the required width to suit the new wheel profile, and close the gap up with combination of csm and surface filler, presto two plugs for new wings. Oh and lots of gloop n gunge I suspect however that the rear wings and arches are an integral part of the body, is that the case? A pic would be helpful
Shug.

[Edited on 3/1/04 by Hugh Paterson]

....or you could do it in steel, you can buy arch repair sections for most cars, they are about £8 each, just find something similar to you arches but a little wider.

Alain, just looked at the photos 139 bhp
and I thought I was mad, u done any grp work before?

Nope but have done a bit of normal fibreglass, nothing much. Why are you voluntering to help me out ?!!
CCould use all the help I can get.

U got to be kidding, I have enough on my plate up here in no mans land without contemplating a couple of days in Derby to do yours as well. I was going to suggest that without the base skills or some one close at hand to give u a hand, it might be worth a quote from your local Grp shop, its not difficult just messy its just a reprofile job, but it will need painting too, and I would suggest if u are going to do a hatchet version u use epoxy resin in lieu of polyester, stronger job but more expensive in raw material. Do u know any local body shop bods?
Shug.

Dont know any but will search. Thank anyways. will take your advice.

If you are doing it like the old escort flare it would be best to extend your inner arch and bond it to the outer for strength and to keep out any crud thrown up by the wheels. You could bond to the existing arch and blend it with some filler if you are only covering a bit more tyre.

yours, Pete.

[Edited on 3/1/04 by Peteff]

I could but I haven't got an inner arch so will have to fabricat one. does any one know of a company selling fibreglass arches or just fibre glass and resin? Internet based preferably.

http://www.cfsnet.co.uk/acatalog/
Brilliant place.
Good advice and cheap prices.
Pat...