RealBeale
Active Member
I looked at getting some arches made using the ones from the body kit as a sort of template. However the biggest hurdle was the bumpers. I wanted to make the arches a 1 piece item but then I would be limited to a facelift, as this is what my Freelander is. So a second set of arches would need to have been made for earlier models which would double the development costs. I toyed with the idea of 2 piece arches but would still need to have 2 different styles for the bumpers. Either way it would have been expensive. I gave up in the end. But I'd still like a set. I even looked at a full rally style wide body kit, mocking up different ideas on a scale model.
RealBeale
Active Member
The wide arches on the Evoque are more like it. This is the thing I was thinking of.
RealBeale
Active Member
That's how I started with mine. I cut the ribs out and filled the gaps. Took them to my fibreglass guy who explained it wasn't as simple as I thought.They would need to be pegged and filled to make them wider. I'd have to have them built up on the vehicle which could ruin the paintwork, plus the vehicle would have to be left with him while he did the job, which would be done in between his regular fibreglassing work, which meant potentially being without the vehicle for months. The arches were "lost " at some point. Don't know where they ended up. If I could get a facelift set cheap enough I'd just modify the arches as I did before and stick them on. They're not really any wider but are deeper. But I think may give the illusion of being far bigger if fitted without the rest of that hideous body kit. I'm sure the bodykit was modelled on a Ju-52 !!
The ones on that Evoque above are exactly how I had envisioned the arches I wanted made up for my Freelander about 7 years ago. That's how far back I started the now defunct project. I had my old blue V6 back then..................................happy days.
The ones on that Evoque above are exactly how I had envisioned the arches I wanted made up for my Freelander about 7 years ago. That's how far back I started the now defunct project. I had my old blue V6 back then..................................happy days.
Diesel Do
Well-Known Member
I was measuring up a pre facelift one and recon it was about 15 mm each side which would be about right. I have a friend that can do grp but it's a lot of faf as you say. If I was going to that much trouble if probably make a kit like on the yellow drawing.
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RealBeale
Active Member
I came across these when I was doing some research years ago. (currently on Ebay) Their website also had the same style for many vehicles including the pre-facelift Freelander in a silver/gold colour . ISTR they were damn expensive - around £400 Euros , and they never ever replied to my emails. I may have a pic on one of my old memory sticks. I'll try and dig it out. Exactly the same as in the Touareg in the pics, but on a Freelander.
RealBeale
Active Member
I used that for the wide body idea I had. I cut the flat top off the spare wing that's used to bolt the wing to the car and held it against the wing on the car with the bonnet closed. The vertical inside rear of the wing plastic seems a very natural template when using this as a guide against the vehicle and this gives approximately the right width for a bodykit. The front of the wing was then pegged/spaced the same width as the rear. Immediately you could see the effect . I held it in place with tape and it looked "right". I had a "why hasn't this been done before" moment.
Unfortunately I needed to do the rears, but being metal - and double skinned, it became another shelved idea. I had access to a couple of body shells via a breaker in Cannock but I needed to use an angle grinder to cut a rear panels out and it was so noisy people on the trading estate complained so I was asked to stop.
Then there's the bumpers to modify. Far easier on the pre-facelift.
If I had a garage I could have done it.
Unfortunately I needed to do the rears, but being metal - and double skinned, it became another shelved idea. I had access to a couple of body shells via a breaker in Cannock but I needed to use an angle grinder to cut a rear panels out and it was so noisy people on the trading estate complained so I was asked to stop.
Then there's the bumpers to modify. Far easier on the pre-facelift.
If I had a garage I could have done it.
