I have a dilemma and I would like some opinions. My 500 is just about to go in to have the body tidied up before fitting the new 1284cc engine. The arches are going to be rivinutted onto the body a la bodieanddoyle. I have a set of +3cm fiberglass arches, I trial fitted the pair of wider wheels onto the back and all of the extra width pokes out (as planned). I have ordered a set of +10cm arches but cant decide what to do with the front. The steering on a 500 is much better with the narrower front wheels. As I see it I have a few choices:
1) Use the +3cm arches on the front as planned, possibly with a small spacer to push the front track out a little
2) Use the new wide +10cm front arches to match the back, with big spacers – but I don't want to get too 'chop shop' in the wheel spacer department
3) Use the new wide +10cm front arches to match the back with pair of wider front wheels to match the offset/width of the rears
4) Get/fabricate a third set of aches which are between the +3 cm ones and the +10 am ones that are going on the rear and use a 30 odd mm spacer
I know the 80's 911 turbos R5 Turbo's (mid engine) etc had a wider rear track but I don't want to look stupid (or nay more stupid than a man of my large stature looks, squeezed into a 500) and the plan is to improve the handling if possible. Eventually the front suspension will be converted to double wishbones and the track can be increase to suit, also as the arches are going to be rivinutted on, it will be easy to change sizes.
The pics show some positive camber which will become slight negative when the engine is in place (more if the new sump allows for more of a drop). Also I have included a pic of an Abarth 2000OT which was kinda the initial inspiration.
Your views would be much appreciated
And the inspiration
1) Use the +3cm arches on the front as planned, possibly with a small spacer to push the front track out a little
2) Use the new wide +10cm front arches to match the back, with big spacers – but I don't want to get too 'chop shop' in the wheel spacer department
3) Use the new wide +10cm front arches to match the back with pair of wider front wheels to match the offset/width of the rears
4) Get/fabricate a third set of aches which are between the +3 cm ones and the +10 am ones that are going on the rear and use a 30 odd mm spacer
I know the 80's 911 turbos R5 Turbo's (mid engine) etc had a wider rear track but I don't want to look stupid (or nay more stupid than a man of my large stature looks, squeezed into a 500) and the plan is to improve the handling if possible. Eventually the front suspension will be converted to double wishbones and the track can be increase to suit, also as the arches are going to be rivinutted on, it will be easy to change sizes.
The pics show some positive camber which will become slight negative when the engine is in place (more if the new sump allows for more of a drop). Also I have included a pic of an Abarth 2000OT which was kinda the initial inspiration.
Your views would be much appreciated
And the inspiration