Discussion
As a long-time lurker of this particular section, I thought it about time that I post something up about my own toy...
A bit of background first. Very long story short, I'd wanted a Caterham/Westfield since I was a nipper. Then when I could afford one, boring stuff like buying houses, having kids, etc got in the way.
In that time, CaterFields went from being very reasonably priced factory-built new to a bit of a stretch. So I started looking down the Locost route and even bought the Haynes manual, then realised that I was a bit s**t at welding...
Had a fair few motorbikes in the mean time, but still had to scratch that Lotus 7-styled itch.
Finally scratched that itch a few weeks ago - a bargain on eBay. Down in the ar$e end of the Midlands, which meant a train-ride down for the pick-up and a drive home. No problem seeing as the weather was unseasonably favourable - just a shame it got decidedly grim between the idea being hatched and the actual pickup.
A pic from the ad:
Top-up of the 20-litre tank needed on pick-up - I get the feeling that I'll be doing this quite a bit...:
The 120-ish mile drive home was a bit "interesting" in the monsoon weather with these Toyo R888's, spent more time sideways than facing forwards. Was glad I had the foresight to take my full-face lid with me, that aeroscreen does bugger-all against the driving rain and associated detritus - as my visor attested to when I got home:
Another stop-off for fuel on the way home (wasn't convinced how accurate the fuel gauge was at this point!), picture taken post-refuel whilst I grabbed a much needed red-bull (or whatever the Spar rip-off version is called) in the services. Came out to see a crowd of people taking selfies round it - never had that with any of my motors before, I panicked and thought it was on fire at first when I saw a load of folk gathered around it! Took this when I first parked up (would've taken one of the crowd, but was too busy running towards it trying to remember where I'd stashed the fire extinguisher!):
(Needless to say - my first job was removing the dodgy decals!)
Not sure if this is real carbon fibre, or carbon-effect - but it looks pleasant enough, and is very solid to the touch:
Anyway, safely home. The engine is a 2.0 Pinto, running twin-Weber 40's with a shortened and baffled sump. I was told it's around 148bhp - having driven many CaterFields around that power level, I have no reason to doubt that, she sure does shift! On taking the nose cone off, it has a vernier cam pulley fitted too, which suggests it's been breathed on. That's the first job for the spring that, getting a proper carb-tune up and rolling road done (and new cambelt for piece of mind), so I know the true figures myself:
And here she is in her new home, awaiting her winter titivation:
Thanks for reading folks, and apologies that this thing ain't as exotic as most on here, but she'll be a decent toy when she's finished ;-)
A bit of background first. Very long story short, I'd wanted a Caterham/Westfield since I was a nipper. Then when I could afford one, boring stuff like buying houses, having kids, etc got in the way.
In that time, CaterFields went from being very reasonably priced factory-built new to a bit of a stretch. So I started looking down the Locost route and even bought the Haynes manual, then realised that I was a bit s**t at welding...
Had a fair few motorbikes in the mean time, but still had to scratch that Lotus 7-styled itch.
Finally scratched that itch a few weeks ago - a bargain on eBay. Down in the ar$e end of the Midlands, which meant a train-ride down for the pick-up and a drive home. No problem seeing as the weather was unseasonably favourable - just a shame it got decidedly grim between the idea being hatched and the actual pickup.
A pic from the ad:
Top-up of the 20-litre tank needed on pick-up - I get the feeling that I'll be doing this quite a bit...:
The 120-ish mile drive home was a bit "interesting" in the monsoon weather with these Toyo R888's, spent more time sideways than facing forwards. Was glad I had the foresight to take my full-face lid with me, that aeroscreen does bugger-all against the driving rain and associated detritus - as my visor attested to when I got home:
Another stop-off for fuel on the way home (wasn't convinced how accurate the fuel gauge was at this point!), picture taken post-refuel whilst I grabbed a much needed red-bull (or whatever the Spar rip-off version is called) in the services. Came out to see a crowd of people taking selfies round it - never had that with any of my motors before, I panicked and thought it was on fire at first when I saw a load of folk gathered around it! Took this when I first parked up (would've taken one of the crowd, but was too busy running towards it trying to remember where I'd stashed the fire extinguisher!):
(Needless to say - my first job was removing the dodgy decals!)
Not sure if this is real carbon fibre, or carbon-effect - but it looks pleasant enough, and is very solid to the touch:
Anyway, safely home. The engine is a 2.0 Pinto, running twin-Weber 40's with a shortened and baffled sump. I was told it's around 148bhp - having driven many CaterFields around that power level, I have no reason to doubt that, she sure does shift! On taking the nose cone off, it has a vernier cam pulley fitted too, which suggests it's been breathed on. That's the first job for the spring that, getting a proper carb-tune up and rolling road done (and new cambelt for piece of mind), so I know the true figures myself:
And here she is in her new home, awaiting her winter titivation:
Thanks for reading folks, and apologies that this thing ain't as exotic as most on here, but she'll be a decent toy when she's finished ;-)
Jobs completed so far:
Removing the dodgy decals
Freed off non-adjusting drivers seat. Required the bolts angle-grinding off underneath, seeing as they were nylock nuts with no access to the bolt-heads - cheers Pops! (I don't have an angle-grinder, and am probably not safe to be let loose with one given I sliced my finger open with a junior hacksaw a few years ago - fortunately my old chap is a retired engineer)
Sat the seat runners on 1" blocks. The last owner was quite a bit taller than me. The extra 1" gives a miles better driving position.
Jobs to do:
The afore mentioned cambelt change, carb tune and rolling-road - anyone recommend anyone in the North-West area? All my contacts have drawn a blank when it comes to the carb tuning, they've all got rid of their gear seeing as there's no call for it anymore - apparently:-(
Get rid of the shadow-marks left from the dodgy decals! Tried G3 (by hand, don't have a MOP), to no avail. It's gel-coat, so looked on some boat forums and apparently they do vanish over time if left in the sun... Any other suggestions for a garage queen?
Some small areas of powder coating flaking off at the front of the chassis. That's getting wire-brushed off, Q-Rusted, POR15'd then the whole underside is getting Dinitrol'd.
Replace the front aeroscreen with clear Perspex. Even with the 1" lift in seat height, can't see over it to the front-left corner properly. Not a clue why the previous owner thought it a good idea, but ahh well...
Fit a white vinyl stripe to the bonnet, with a gold pin stripe. Yes, I know it's not a Lotus, but I just love the Gold Leaf colour scheme.
Removing the dodgy decals
Freed off non-adjusting drivers seat. Required the bolts angle-grinding off underneath, seeing as they were nylock nuts with no access to the bolt-heads - cheers Pops! (I don't have an angle-grinder, and am probably not safe to be let loose with one given I sliced my finger open with a junior hacksaw a few years ago - fortunately my old chap is a retired engineer)
Sat the seat runners on 1" blocks. The last owner was quite a bit taller than me. The extra 1" gives a miles better driving position.
Jobs to do:
The afore mentioned cambelt change, carb tune and rolling-road - anyone recommend anyone in the North-West area? All my contacts have drawn a blank when it comes to the carb tuning, they've all got rid of their gear seeing as there's no call for it anymore - apparently:-(
Get rid of the shadow-marks left from the dodgy decals! Tried G3 (by hand, don't have a MOP), to no avail. It's gel-coat, so looked on some boat forums and apparently they do vanish over time if left in the sun... Any other suggestions for a garage queen?
Some small areas of powder coating flaking off at the front of the chassis. That's getting wire-brushed off, Q-Rusted, POR15'd then the whole underside is getting Dinitrol'd.
Replace the front aeroscreen with clear Perspex. Even with the 1" lift in seat height, can't see over it to the front-left corner properly. Not a clue why the previous owner thought it a good idea, but ahh well...
Fit a white vinyl stripe to the bonnet, with a gold pin stripe. Yes, I know it's not a Lotus, but I just love the Gold Leaf colour scheme.
Cheers buddy! I'm sure she will be fun - but she is staying tucked away in the garage of shame until I get this blasted "shadowing" sorted, it's embarrassing :-( SORN'd now till April at the earliest.
That cambelt needs changing too as a priority. Oh, and a new priority- investigate oil leak - my brand-spanking garage floor has been dribbled on..... talk about marking your territory! Good Lord, I was furious!
That cambelt needs changing too as a priority. Oh, and a new priority- investigate oil leak - my brand-spanking garage floor has been dribbled on..... talk about marking your territory! Good Lord, I was furious!
Lovely car OP, great job
Ref the paint, from what I remember from my cobra days, the paint in a gel coat is not layered, instead it's a continuous layer throughout the gel coat, you can't just take off a layer of paint unfortunately. If you were to take off the whole paint layer then you'd be through the gel coat.
Would it be easier to wrap it? Did be pretty cheap on a simple seven shape
Ref the paint, from what I remember from my cobra days, the paint in a gel coat is not layered, instead it's a continuous layer throughout the gel coat, you can't just take off a layer of paint unfortunately. If you were to take off the whole paint layer then you'd be through the gel coat.
Would it be easier to wrap it? Did be pretty cheap on a simple seven shape
Cheers for the input gents, much appreciated.
Thought about the boat stuff, a mate of mine has a yacht (well, a boat with a mast), but the stuff in the chandlers tends to be to get oxidisation (white fuzz) off, not really to cut through.
Reading on another couple of forums, folk with similar issues say it dies down over time once exposed to UV light, so may just see how it goes?
Cheers :-)
Thought about the boat stuff, a mate of mine has a yacht (well, a boat with a mast), but the stuff in the chandlers tends to be to get oxidisation (white fuzz) off, not really to cut through.
Reading on another couple of forums, folk with similar issues say it dies down over time once exposed to UV light, so may just see how it goes?
Cheers :-)
Lovely car OP, looks like a great purchase.
Wayne at Chipwizards will know someone if he can't do it himself. Might be worth converting to a digital ignition over dizzy, it won't be too expensive and with the effort if you're having the carbs set up.
Wayne at Chipwizards will know someone if he can't do it himself. Might be worth converting to a digital ignition over dizzy, it won't be too expensive and with the effort if you're having the carbs set up.
Edited by Krikkit on Saturday 22 December 22:48
Oil leaks on Pinto engined cars are usual as they need good crank case ventilation which is removed when you fit twin carbs. Make sure you have a good size catch can with a couple of breathers. I used a Fiesta one on the oil filler which I then joined into one from the crankcase to a can.
stopped the oil leaks I was plagued with.
stopped the oil leaks I was plagued with.
spaximus said:
Oil leaks on Pinto engined cars are usual as they need good crank case ventilation which is removed when you fit twin carbs. Make sure you have a good size catch can with a couple of breathers. I used a Fiesta one on the oil filler which I then joined into one from the crankcase to a can.
stopped the oil leaks I was plagued with.
Cheers - it has a breather catch tank, think it's prob sump gasket, need to scrub the engine and then run it up to temp I thinkstopped the oil leaks I was plagued with.
Not sure I fancy the gamble of heading to North Wales for a cambelt change (despite how great AB are supposed to be, it's my luck that the belt would snap before even getting within sniffing distance of the M56 :-( )
So anyone know of anywhere a bit closer to Wigan that know their way around Pinto's with vernier pulleys? :-/
Ta muchly!
So anyone know of anywhere a bit closer to Wigan that know their way around Pinto's with vernier pulleys? :-/
Ta muchly!
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