how long to build a westfield?

[NDT]

I have a couple of weeks free in February!
Doable?

[westyman]

yes, as long as you have every single part available at the beginning and a couple of people to help you out and you know what you are doing.

PS.
Took me 13 months on my own, was self employed and worked 6 days a week though

[eliot]

My mate is about 2 years into his build. Lack of time being the main problem.
There will always be some little part that needs shipping that slows you down.
Good selection of hand tools, decent drill, air saw or jigsaw, stepped drils, angle grinder will prove useful also.
Air riveter gun will speed things up no-end also. Be wary of purchasing puny compressors though.

[hal 1]

What do westfield reckon ?

If you've two weeks at say ten hours per day = 140 hrs is it possible in that time ?

Again presuming all parts and tools are to hand

[sjg]

I believe Mark Evans did his Westfield for "A Racing Car is Born" in 2 weeks but he did have a big, spacious workshop, every tool under the sun, an extra pair of hands (and sometimes another guy from Westfield) and did some very long days.

I guess if you were buying the complete kit, got it all to your garage, checked the parts and did some prep before the 2 weeks, you could certainly get the bulk of it done, leaving the fiddly tidying up jobs and pre-SVA stuff. You will need an extra person or two at various points but with some careful planning you could keep yourself busy all the time.

[Wacky Racer]

NDT said:

I have a couple of weeks free in February! Doable?

More like two months imo...

(Ex Westfield builder)

[Justin S]

Racing through it invariably causes short cuts.Westfield are pretty good at supplying the kits,but it's not always correct.Not that they won't send it next day,just can stop you doing vital jobs 'til the parts arrive.Some jobs will take longer than you bargained for,such as panelling and body fitment.Others like the engine need to be installed 'properly' IE all hose clips tight etc and that takes a bit of time and patience.I would say,that full time,with vehicle and/or westfield knowledge maybe 3 to 4 weeks.My mates car is at westfields at the moment and two guys working fulltime to re-chassis a 500 mile car(don't ask!!) takes 3 working weeks and they have everything at their fingertips.

[Barry Ashcroft]

The factory take about 70 hours to build a car.
I HONESTLY reckon I could start a build Friday evening and SVA the folowing Friday if I had everything to hand.

So two weeks for a complete say zetec car no problems.

Built my car everything except install the engine in a week last christmas posted it all on the wscc board room to prove it.

where are you I don't mind giving you a hand if local

Barry

[spaximus]

Yes it is easily doable if you get all the bits beforehand. The time is in getting the bits yourself, reconditioning, then powdercoated and painted then finding the bits you thought went together don't. If it is a time thing buy the Westfield in a box, £13999 all in with everything you need all guarenteed to go together with no running about. Doing it this way all the ally panels and the brake lines etc come fitted which saves a huge amount of time.

[CorseChris]

Built ours over a 5 week period...but the bulk was 2 weeks solid effort. Took a fortnight off and got stuck in. This was starting with the un-paneled powdercoated chassis. I had already sorted out the engine, box, uprights hubs etc ready to drop in while waiting for the kit to arrive so it was basically a bolt-it-together exercise. Total of about 350 hours IIRC...but it was over 14 years ago.

As observed, depends on how complete a kit you buy and how much has already been done for you. Panels & piping takes quite a lot of time.

...but don't rush it - enjoy it! Real pleasure to build a Westy.

[steve_D]

CorseChris said:

........but don't rush it - enjoy it! Real pleasure to build a Westy.

This sums up my thoughts.
If you don't have the time to build it at a gentle pace and enjoy the experience then go buy a built one.
You are individual and you will want your car that way (otherwise you would not be building a kit) so each part you fit needs to be considered for:-
Should the part be painted/chromed
The right colour.
Is it the right choice.
Is it where you want it.
Would something else suit you better.
Will it look right (aligned correctly i.e. brake pipe runs).
Etc.

You may not realistically expect your car to win any contests at a Westfield meet but you would expect your neighbour or the guy on the street to believe it could and this all takes time.

Do yourself and the car a favour and give it several months.

Steve
Ultima GTR 18 months.

[NDT]

steve_D said:

CorseChris said: ........but don't rush it - enjoy it! Real pleasure to build a Westy. This sums up my thoughts. If you don't have the time to build it at a gentle pace and enjoy the experience then go buy a built one. You are individual and you will want your car that way (otherwise you would not be building a kit) so each part you fit needs to be considered for:- Should the part be painted/chromed The right colour. Is it the right choice. Is it where you want it. Would something else suit you better. Will it look right (aligned correctly i.e. brake pipe runs). Etc. You may not realistically expect your car to win any contests at a Westfield meet but you would expect your neighbour or the guy on the street to believe it could and this all takes time. Do yourself and the car a favour and give it several months. Steve Ultima GTR 18 months.

sadly not an option!
New job (with long hours plus commute) starting mid Feb, baby on the way end March.
Won't be working much in January (working out notice) and planning some time off in Feb, so I've got a very limited window for a build.
Probably look about for a built one...