It has come time to get started on the rear wheel arch mods which I have been wanting to do for some time now[:p] The end result should see some 275/40/R17s tucked away under the back on 9.5" rims.I should also be able to run 26.0x10.0x15 drag slicks...that should take care of the traction issue's[%][(#)][;^)] Suprisingly enough,the humble Mk1 Cortina has plenty of room under the back to start with,but has a very poorly placed inner wheel arch section which limits how far out to the quarter panel you can come with a wheel and tyre...hence why my 17's sit in so far at the rear.With a piece of sheet metal about 75mm wide and about 1m long fitted in the right spot,you can go from fiting a 215 to a 275 tyre[:p] 275's under a small ford...now that should look phat Work should start within 2 weeks

Sounds like a similar thing to the rear of the Escorts to[xo]. I have not come up with a good way of attaching the new inner guard to the guard Panel yet thou. I have spot welded one but i am not totaly happy with that so i was thinking of just using some stickerflex on the other one when i decide if i go for full tubs or not.[x2x] I would be interested to see how you end up doing it Phil.[%]

I had intended to sikaflex the infills in but after a recent minor mishap,some paint work is required so they will be welded in now

Excellent, I look forward to reading more as you progress !

This is a good oportunity to get all of the mods out of the way. Do you have a timeline for when you might be back on the street.[;^)] I am not sure we will ever all have our cars on the road at the same time.[:-(]

It will hopefully be only minimal time off the road.Essentially just while it is at the panel shop for the wheel arch infills and then making the new exhaust once the turbo manifold we spoke about is fitted.I will reassemble everything once I have the new manifold flanges jigged so it will still be mobile

Geez Phil, you really don't muck around do you. It sounds hardcore man.. Looking forward to seeing the results.

It sounds hardcore,but probably wont really be Its suprising how big the rear wheel arches are in a mk 1 corty...just a bit of sheet metal work,you couldnt really call it tubbed...technically[:p] Im hoping to borrow a friends 285/35/18's off his stanza to use as a guide.If they fit,then everything I want to throw under the back should fit with no worries You can fit 255's as a tight squeeze width wise as standard but you wouldn't want to drive on them[%] Im hoping to get it in to the panel shop the weekend after easter.

Here are some picks of the factory arches as Ford issued them...

This is the area I intend to reclaim...[%]