http://quantumforum.proboards.com/threa ... extensions
They were a success and did the job rather well, a massive extension wasn’t required just enough to cover about 10mm of tread poking out the side of the arch, the end result was subtle yet very effective and gave more detail to the car, the only hassle was making them since the rigid PVC moulding needed to be heated up and manipulated into place, not something you would want to do often.
Onto the Midas…..
As with the Quantum the front wheels did protrude out the side of the arches on the Midas even with the standard rover metro alloys on, the Vauxhall wheels I had machined to fit only stick out 1mm more – the net result is around 12-13mm.
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150321_105622_zpsrinalrrn.jpg)
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150321_105631_zps27up02x2.jpg)
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150321_105647_zpssig84lou.jpg)
Not fancying making another set of tile trim extensions, and thinking I’m probably not the only person who has had the desire to add a small wheel arch extension on for whatever reason, I set about trying to get something made commercially, so I designed a profile that I felt would give the desired effect once extruded in flexible PVC, not as easy as it sounds since it had to be reworked 3 times to produce a profile that would extrude evenly, then I contacted several companies who specialise in both custom extrusions and full scale production runs in thousands of meters, once id whittled down the short list I paid for the extrusion die to be made and a prototype run produced.
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150312_144410_zpskdypt8it.jpg)
I set about trial fitting them, after one or two hiccups with adhesion failure of the double sided tape (would you believe not all double sided tapes are created equal?) where it started to peel over time I found the tape that was made foir the job in the shape of 3M VHB 4147F after hours and hours of comparing performance data of many brands of tape.
ever wondered what £96 of double sided tape looks like?
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150327_232237_zpsi7l8asax.jpg)
Ok so there’s 33m of it and I can now get short rolls bulk discount to less than a tenner each.
So, tape applied, the 1mm rebate at the top hides the tape from view and seals the arch against the bodywork, the underside lip creates an aditional strong bond surface area for the whole assembly to attach to the car with but more importantly protects the paintwork (now vulnerable to chips thrown up by wider wheels) from damage.
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150321_232547_zpsitkiaoya.jpg)
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150323_074103_zpskqvzeojc.jpg)
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150331_132235_zpsixozeptj.jpg)
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150331_132250_zpsjcvbfrof.jpg)
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150331_132259_zpsgrn1cbxv.jpg)
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150331_132313_zpsamewhclh.jpg)
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150331_132323_zpshlb33bsl.jpg)
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150331_132335_zps1oxplzky.jpg)
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150331_132353_zpsixembk5l.jpg)
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150331_132433_zpskxecy92i.jpg)
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150331_132513_zpscdgon32x.jpg)
![Image](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/jindal/jindal030/IMG_20150331_132534_zpsosqegrjp.jpg)
again, please excuse the state of the car, this is real world testing in action here
Additionally the soft nature of the moulding cushions the arch protrusion from knocks and scrapes without problem, they just absorb impact and bounce back – great for tight car parks or off-roading (maybe not in a Midas), they could be painted with a plasticiser but to be honest I think black is – well the new black, take a look at the high end BMWs and Mercs at the moment, all have gloss black highlights such as skirts and spoilers so the deep black fits in quite well, they are satin as standard but some back to black brings them up a deep gloss.
The flexibility is great conforming to all contours no problem and not deforming out of shape at all, the polymer used was developed specifically with this end product in mind.
The finished result looks better than I imagined it would and gives the car a more production feel.
Ill be having a full production run made in the next month or 2 and will bring them to market soon after, eventually creating a website and adding to the range in terms of sizes and styles, ill keep you posted.