Fitting wider Group 2 wheel arches to cover new tyres on Lucy's Mini
After fitting a Revolution wheel and Falken 165 tyre package, the owner found the standard plastic arches too narrow to cover the tyres. The write-up walks through stripping the old arches, treating rust, priming and painting the bodywork and new fibreglass Group 2 arches, then riveting them on and fitting black side trims over the arches and sills.
Specs
As stated in the original write-up.
- Wheels
- Revolution Wheel
- Tyres
- Falken, 165 width
- Body
- Group 2 fibreglass wide wheel arches with black side trims
- Paint
- Red bodywork
Parts used
Parts named as used in the original write-up, grouped the way the Parts page groups them. Where one of the shops we index lists the same thing for this car, it is shown underneath with a link to the shop.
Wheels & Tyres 2
- Revolution WheelRevolution
New wheel fitted that required wider arch clearance
In the shops
Revolution Grp4 Wheel Insert ↗
C Bradley Motorsport· £4.29 GBP
9.0x13 Revolution Competition Wheel ↗C Bradley Motorsport· £128.40 GBP
8.0x13 Revolution Competition Wheel ↗C Bradley Motorsport· £123.50 GBP - Falken 165 tyresFalken
Wider tyre fitted alongside the new wheels, prompting the arch upgrade
In the shops
Tyre 165 x 15" Radial ↗MGbits4U· £140.76 GBP
Falken Tyre 145/80x10 ↗Motaclan Limited· £55.08 GBP
Tube tyre inner 165 x 14in ↗
Body & Trim 8
- Group 2 fibreglass wheel arches
Wider arches fitted to all four corners to cover the new tyres, cut and drilled to fit the body seams
- Black side trims
Fitted over the outer lip of each arch and along the sills for appearance and to cover the sharp sill edge
In the shops
Side Lamp Plinth, Left, Black ↗
Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $3.35 USD
Side Lamp Plinth, Right, Black ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $3.89 USD
Left Front Side Lamp Plinth, Black ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $3.85 USD - Rubber arch gaskets
Fitted to the inner lip of each arch to protect the paint and seal against water ingress
In the shops
Spitfire & GT6 Wheel Arch Rubber Seal ↗
TRGB· £3.25 GBPw arch trim rubber between arches roll ↗Wheel arch rubber trim between arches pr ↗ - Long-headed pot rivetslocal hardware store
Used instead of self-tapping screws to secure the arches, chosen to resist theft and to suit the gasket-induced gap
- Small washers
Fitted behind the pot rivets in oversized holes to give the rivets a secure purchase
- Rust killer
Applied to treat rust found on the wings, body and sills before filling
- Body filler
Used to fill holes left from old fixings and rust damage before priming
- Primer and top coat paint
Applied in multiple coats to the body and the new arches before fitting
In the shops
Spray Paint, Top Frame, Beige ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $32.99 USD
Spray Paint, Engine Primer, Grey ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $17.99 USD
English Dull-Coat Top, Black Vinyl ↗Moss Motors – Triumph TR6/TR250· $894.19 USD
Photos
9 pictures collected from the write-up, in the order they were posted, shown from My Mini Project. A picture opens larger here, with the way through to the page it is on.
How it was done
Starting condition
After fitting a wider wheel and 165 tyre package, the owner found the standard plastic arches did not cover the tyres and decided to source Group 2 fibreglass arches with black trims for the arches and sills.
Removal and rust repair
The old plastic arches were removed by drilling out pot rivets. The wings, body and sills were then inspected, wire-brushed and ground to clear rust and broken fixings, treated with rust killer, and any holes filled with body filler left to harden overnight.
Priming and painting
The body and the four new arches were masked and sprayed with primer, checked for runs, then given further coats of primer and top coat, each layer about an hour apart, with drying time left overnight between stages.
Fitting the arches
Each arch was offered up, marked and trimmed to clear the body seams, then test-fitted before final paint. Because the arches used rubber sealing gaskets that held them slightly proud of the body, longer-headed pot rivets and washers were used to secure them firmly instead of self-tapping screws.
Fitting the trims
Black trims were worked onto the outer lip of each arch and over the sills using a screwdriver to open gaps and a hammer to tap the trim into place, then trimmed to length with wire snippers, finishing one side before repeating on the other.
Progress so far
With all four arches and trims fitted, the Mini now clears the 165 tyres, and the owner reports the sill trim also stopped catching ankles on the sharp metal edge underneath.
A summary in our own words. The full account, with all its detail, is in the original write-up: read it at My Mini Project ↗
Worth knowing
- Do not cut off the lower lip of the wheel arch opening, as it protects tyres if suspension fails
- Group 2 arch gaskets hold the arch slightly proud of the body, so longer pot rivets are needed than standard
- Use washers behind pot rivets when fixing holes are worn oversized, to stop the rivet pulling through
- Pot rivets are preferred over self-tapping screws to make the arches harder to steal