So who has built a westfield type kit?

[patmahe]

Hi All,

Just wondering who has had experience of this. How does the reality match the fantasy. Do costs spiral out of control, do you need to be a mechanical genius or is it like putting a big meccano set.

All comments appreciated.

Cheers

[GreigM]

I've not built one from scratch, but have dismantled and rebuilt several times. You don't need to be a mechanical genius, but having some basic experience behind a spanner would be a good place to start (i.e. could you change a set of brake pads, or do a basic oil change). Having the correct tools and a suitable place to work make a huge difference.

You should try asking on the WSCC site as there are a lot of people currently building and a lot of build blogs etc..add to that an absolute wealth of knowledge

Costs wise really depends on what you want to achieve - a basic car to say "I built this" won't vary much from the basic cost, but its easy to upgrade. Also with a little bit of experience from the WSCC folks could save you time and money by telling you the best place to source parts.

I'd love to build one from scratch myself, but the IVA at the end puts me off.

[Dusty964]

Same again- not built one from scratch, but stripped right down bodily, and rebuilt an engine twice on a westy.

Get the relevant manual for whatever the donor is, it's not too hard at all- if you have a little mechanical knowledge.
There is plenty of info on the Internet, and take plenty of photos of anything you are unsure about it as you take it apart.
Oh, and don't try and lift a xflow out of the front on your own- you will screw your back up

[GreigM]

Dusty964 said:

you will screw your back up

or even a "relatively" lightweight diff which threw my back out - small spaces and heavy stuff is why they rent/sell engine cranes

[patmahe]

So what I'm hearing is that a decent garage is as important as anything else. How much space is enough?

[GreigM]

enough space so you can comfortably work on the car and store all the parts/tools etc - remember even once you have the basic rolling chassis, you will have boxes with bodywork etc and that all takes space....too little space and you'll drop/break/scratch stuff and be pissed at yourself.

[Kinky]

Pat,

PHer OilyRagMan aka Alex built a Westie; and gorgeous it is too.

He's got a build diary. Might be a worth an email to him

[Paul Drawmer]

When you say 'Westfield type' - do you actually mean a Westfield? Not all 7 type car kits are as well thought out as others. Those which have sold in reasonable quantities over the years, and (sometimes) cost more than others; might reasonably be expected to be less hassle than a cheaper, low volume product.

Some of the less expensive kit prices are achieved by requiring the home builder to do more work. In most kits, deviating from the standard will increase the work for the builder. Many builders modify the car as they build, which means extra work.

[one eyed mick]

patmahe said:

So what I'm hearing is that a decent garage is as important as anything else. How much space is enough?

As much as possible idealy 25 ft x10 ft internal ,it has happened in smaller but needs v/carefull planning and well disicplined tidyness, my ops only , not done a build but find a 17 x 8 limiting

[Westyman]

I built a westfield in 1999-2000 in a single garage. not easy but it can be done, in the same way that you can poke yourself in the eye with a sharp stick. wheter ot not that's a good idea is down to you.

garage was completley empty when I started - bought the kit 1 month after moving into the house.Now, 13 yrs later with all the accumulated crap in the garage, it's very, very hard to do even basic stuff on my stylus.

If you do buy a westie, it is like bolting together a big meccano kit, ask on wscc.co.uk, loads of tips and free advice

[The Black Flash]

patmahe said:

Hi All,
Do costs spiral out of control

Easily. HTH

[westy turbo]

I've built one from kit,all went fine,just needs some money and alot of patience

[R1 Indy]

Yes costs will spiral out of controll if you are not carefull.

I budgeted around £7-8K when I started the MK. But have ended up nearer £14K!

As long as you have basic mechanical knowledge, a bit of patience, the tools and google you will be fine.

[CorseChris]

Built one back in '91 and apart from a few bits being late to arrive, it was, on the whole, a total pleasure to build. Took 5 weeks IIRC. We still have the car today and I have to say, it's been great. Have done a few minor mods over the years, but mostly to do with keeping it reliable. It started with a 1690 Xflow and 4 speed box, but put a Zetec and 5 speed in it about 6 years back as the Xflow was starting to get a bit heavy on oil useage. Recently did a bit of a refresh with some new rear lights and other cosmetic bits, changed all the brakes (drums to discs at the back, M16 to Powerlites at the front, big discs at the front) and had it resprayed - it's like a new car again.

As has been said, there's loads of hlep available so if it's going to be a Westfield rather than one of the many and varied other clones, then do join the WSCC and get full use of the forums.

Budget wise - almost any project can suffer creep if you aren't realistic to start with. Don't try and do it on the cheap - it'll be frustrating, likely take a lot longer and will probably end up forcing compromises you'll likely end up reversing later on, at more cost in time and money. Second hand parts can often be worthwhile, but do be careful - make sure you know exactly what you are getting and if it's right for your project.

Again, if you go with a known product, you can likely get pretty close the the finished budget on paper long before you spend any money.

Some mechanical sympathy is always good - if in doubt, ask.

FWIW, in the time since building the Westy, I've built 2 other cars and rebuilt a 3rd - we still have the Westy, the others have all gone to pastures new for various reasons.

Forgot to say - done all my building in a small-ish single garage with a narrow drive....and of all the aspects of car/kit car ownership/maintenance/contruction, that lack of space has been by far the most frustrating and troublesome. At one point, I had a chassis and bodywork for a Stratos copy sat on trolleys on the patio (had to remove the fence to get it in), 2 tin-tops on the front garden, a Marcos in the drive and the Westy in the garage. Having to make space to work on the cars added hours to every session, and often, if it was raining etc, meant nothing got done. Madness!

Now down to the two tin-tops parked out the front and the garage is given over to the Westy. I can do most jobs on the car under cover now. It's just possible to work on the suspension but a bit more space would be heaven.

Edited by CorseChris on Monday 23 July 09:16

[one eyed mick]

Brilliant sensible comment from someone who knows !! [no conn,just think it's the most sensimle post I ve seen on any forum ]

[amvs]

patmahe said:

So what I'm hearing is that a decent garage is as important as anything else. How much space is enough?

I built a Westfield Seight in a modern (i.e. small) single garage - more space would have been nice, but it was do-able. Best thing I would recommend would be get yourself some sturdy a-frames about 750mm high and on lockable castors. It makes working on the car a whole lot easier