Mazda Westfield

[arej]

I am thinking at some point of building my own Westfield with the Mazda 1600 engine. What is needed from the donor car apart from the engine and transmission and where can I get the appropriate parts from?!
Thanks, hope everyone had as great a time in Le Mans as I did!

[TigerK]

I don't know for sure, but I'd assume the plan is to get hold of an MX5 and be prepared to break it for all the parts required. I'd expect it to use things like rear diff, hubs and the like. Should be a cracking car. Good luck

Edited by TigerK on Thursday 21st June 08:02

[Woody]

Have you looked at This Article and the subsequent discussion. Lots of useful info in both, and also worth looking at this, it's USA based but gives lots of info on the build etc.

Looking at doing one of these myself in the next couple of years as a bit of a track machine.

Chris

[Simon E]

Also have a look at this site, I think its a guy in Belgium building one...

http://westfield.devocht.com


Cheerio

Simon

[BoRED S2upid]

Simon E said:

Also have a look at this site, I think its a guy in Belgium building one...

http://westfield.devocht.com


Cheerio

Simon

Thats a really good site. Looks like the 1.8 is the better donor. Westfields do look simple to build but im scared to give it a go, even though I know a good mechanic who I am sure could help with the mechanical bits and bobs.

[Chris71]

A mate of my fathers who isn't especially mechanically minded built his westfield in two weekends. They're as idiot proof as kits get I'm told. Even Jeremy Clarkson can build one and it's got to be even simpler with a single donor.

[LocoBlade]

Chris71 said:

A mate of my fathers who isn't especially mechanically minded built his westfield in two weekends. They're as idiot proof as kits get I'm told. Even Jeremy Clarkson can build one and it's got to be even simpler with a single donor.

A bit of pub talk optimism there I think, either the kit was virtually built for them already and it was just finished off in two weekends, or he had about 6 helpers and literally threw it together with no care for quality because having helped a mate build one there's no way a couple of people could build a half decently finished Westie in 2 weekends.

As to Clarkson, that was a Caterham, which look a lot easier to build than a Westie as a lot of the time consuming things (panelling, brake lines etc) are already done for you.

[Chris71]

LocoBlade said:

Chris71 said:

A mate of my fathers who isn't especially mechanically minded built his westfield in two weekends. They're as idiot proof as kits get I'm told. Even Jeremy Clarkson can build one and it's got to be even simpler with a single donor.

A bit of pub talk optimism there I think, either the kit was virtually built for them already and it was just finished off in two weekends, or he had about 6 helpers and literally threw it together with no care for quality because having helped a mate build one there's no way a couple of people could build a half decently finished Westie in 2 weekends.

As to Clarkson, that was a Caterham, which look a lot easier to build than a Westie as a lot of the time consuming things (panelling, brake lines etc) are already done for you.

I thought this was a Westfield, but I might be wrong. He had all the holes drilled, all panels finished and stuff like that though - it was a very complete kit, but there's no reason why the OP shouldn't get one in the same state.

[haggle]

hmmmm seeing as westies are all fiberglass mounted on a space frame i dont see there being any pannel beating i have been told they are only a small set down from chaterhams in build it your self easiness

[LocoBlade]

Yep there's no panel beating with a Westie, but compared to what I saw on Top Gear with the Caterham, I'd say there is significantly more work involved in building a Westie.

For starters you do need (or at least did need) to drill and rivet all panels / tubes which takes time to get right and usually required a bit of dremelling etc to get things spot on, then you need to do all the plumbing of brake hoses etc. Getting all the body mounted and correctly aligned is a fair task as well, its not just a matter of dropping it onto pre-set mounting points etc, it too needs a bit of dremel work and then drilling / rivetting in place which takes time to get aligned properly.

Have a look at this build diary of a Megablade build that took about 5 weeks from delivery of the full kit to being ready for SVA to get a good idea of what is involved. Knowing Bob who's car it is, he's a very competent builder (no pun intended!), and as the almost daily entries testify he didn't hang around doing nothing for weeks on end. There's another build diary of a close mate's car here which is also worth a look at. Both build sites are of bike engine'd kits, but the build time will be similar for other Westies, if anything a BEC with no windscreen (so no wipers / washers / heater) and a stripped out interior is going to be quicker to build than some.

Dont let any of this put you off though as they are not difficult to build, but rattle it off in one weekend you won't.

Chris

[Woody]

You can buy the Westie in various states of build - i.e. with all aluminium panels fitted right up to a rolling chassis etc. Just depends on how much you want to spend up front and how much work you want to do.

Chris

[LocoBlade]

Yep I spoke to my mate who built one and he said the same, evidently you can basically pay the factory an hourly rate to build it for you up to a certain level of finish, but if you get them to do too much then its going to cost you a lot more and its hardly the point of a kit car then, so Ill stand by my original comment that you couldn't build a Westie KIT in a couple of weekends, although obviously you could probably finish off a part built one.

Edited by LocoBlade on Saturday 23 June 14:43

[arej]

Thanks LocoBlade, I am a friend of Bob's (and have read his build diaries past and present) and know about his Megablade. And thanks everybody else for advice and websites.
In response to the building options etc I'd want to build it from the start as opposed to buying a rolling chassis or getting to Westfield to start it off as that in a way defeats the point of getting a kit I think and it would be nice to follow the build through.
What I was asking is more about the MX5 parts. There is a £4000 option from westfield for the "full package" which still requires you to get an MX5 engine and the starter pack. This package I think contains all the components that you would otherwise salvage from an MX5? If you don't get this does it require buying an MX5 and ripping it apart to steal all the parts? 2 things - if you don't get the full package what is the best way of getting the required parts without destructing a working MX5 (as that seems a bit pointless) and if you do get it how do I get an MX5 engine? How much should I expect to pay for these parts?
Hope this makes sense and thanks if you can answer any of these questions!

[LocoBlade]

Sorry yep we got a bit off topic there

I would normally suggest looking/asking on the WSCC as you'll get 10x more people on there who will know such things as on a general kit car forum like this, but its been down for a couple of days seemingly because the domain name has expired or not been renewed properly.

£4k for a Mazda package that doesnt include the engine sounds a lot though, you could get a whole MX5 for less than that and sell the unrequired bits to make some money back!

Edited by LocoBlade on Saturday 23 June 16:50

[grahambell]

arej said:

There is a £4000 option from westfield for the "full package" which still requires you to get an MX5 engine and the starter pack. This package I think contains all the components that you would otherwise salvage from an MX5?

Westfield are the best people to speak to about that, but pretty sure that DOESN'T inclued the MX5 bits.

As I said in my write up for PH, spending £6,450 with Westfield got you everything apart from the MX5 bits. With scrap MX5s being available from around £500 that means you're looking at £7,000 to build one of these cars.

There are companies that will strip MX5s down and just supply a parts package, though don't know any names offhand and it'll cost more than buying a donor. Suggest trying a Google search for MX5 breakers.

[LocoBlade]

Ah that makes more sense if its £4k for the starter kit without donor parts etc.

[arej]

This full package I was talking about is called the Mazda SDV Completion Package and contains:
Items included in the
SINGLE DONOR VEHICLE
COMPLETION PACKAGE FOR MAZDA
Please note: Requires additional purchase of SDV starter
kit and 1600 Mazda donor vehicle to complete.
SVA PLASTIC COVER KIT
RACK MOUNTING KIT
HOSE - 8MM BORE FUEL
TRACK ROD END
BALL JOINT SET
FUEL PUMP KIT
SHOCK ABSORBER SET
STEERING RACK
FASTENER KIT
ALUMINIUM RADIATOR
EXPANSION TANK + CAP
WINDSCREEN WASHER, PUMP & TANK
SHORT RANGE TANK STRAP
FUEL TANK RETURN ADAPTOR + FUEL TANK + HOSES + INLET
RADIATOR MOUNTING BRACKET
THERMOSTAT WASHER
EXPANSION TANK MOUNTING BRACKET
FAN MOUNTING KIT
PAIR OF INTERIOR PANELS
FASTENER KIT
WINDSCREEN, WIPER AND WASH STUFF
REAR NO PLATE MOUNT
WIRING GROMMETS
FOG / REVERSE LAMP LEVELLING BRACKET
HOSE CLAMPS
COVER FOR WINDSCREEN WIPER MOTOR
INDICATOR POD
WING MIRRORS
NOSE GRILL
3 POINT SAFETY BELT
ROLL BAR
SILENCER
EXHAUST COVER
KICK STRIP
ADJUSTABLE SPORT SEATS
CARPET SET
DASHBOARD
CRASH PAD COVERED
FASTENER KIT
EXHAUST MANIFOLD
PROPSHAFT
BATTERY LEADS AND CLAMPS
GEAR KNOB ALUM.WITH LOGO
STEERING WHEEL, HUB KIT & PAD
GEAR KNOB ALUM
BRAKE PIPE CLIPS
TIE RAP CLIPS
FUEL PIPE
CLEVIS PIN
LIGHT SET INCLUDING:
HEADLAMPS, FRONT INDICATORS, REVERSING
LIGHT, SIDE INDICATORS, NUMBER PLATE LIGHT, REAR
LIGHT UNIT & FOG LIGHT

Do you know if this package is essential to the overall kit or can this stuff be salvaged from elsewhere (an MX5), if it can be then it makes the build a lot cheaper!!

[LocoBlade]

The fact that they suggest you need the donor MX5 in addition to this kit would suggest that you'll need this lot to build the kit. Certainly things like shocks, lighting kit, silencer, dash etc will be bespoke Westfield or at the very least only common only to other kit cars. Other bits like prop and steering rack will obviously be present in the donor car but the fact that Westfield supply them seperately would suggest the donor car parts aren't suitable, for example the MX5 will probably have power steering making the rack unsuitable.

Chris

[Woody]

Off the top of my head from the MX5 you'll need:

Engine + Ancillary's
Gear box
Diff
Prop shaft & drive shafts - think you have to have one of then altered
Brakes inc servo etc
Instrument Cluster
Wiring loom (although you can buy a westfield one)
And a few other bits.

Remember though if you don't buy a 'donor' car you'll have to get a 'Q' plate when registering it as opposed to the original donor MX5 reg.

Also rememeber that the bits in the 'kit' are all SVA compliant, if you source from elsewhere you may have issues when tested.

Regards

Chris

Edited by Woody on Tuesday 26th June 21:06

[arej]

So basically the advice is that that package is needed and to buy an MX5 donor car for the aforementioned parts and registration reasons!
In terms of buying an MX5 there seem to be quite a few which have been written off or have fairly major body damage but are still running fine, I'm guessing this is ideal in terms of cost reasons and not wasting a perfectly good MX5!
Also can I check registration rules, if it is a single donor then you get the registration of the original donor car, multiple donors is Q plated? Under what circumstances can you get a brand new registration?
Sorry about all the questions and thanks for all of the answers!