Westfield Wide Body Turbo

slickcell

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So I took a half-notion last week and put up a wanted ad for a 'Westfield Chassis' as a winter project.....An hour later I did the deal on this. (this is the photo I received from him pre-purchase lol)

IMG_20191023_180123_515.jpg


It was collected by Bartlett Transport on Wednesday from Derby and I received it at 9am this morning.

I was a bit worried that the paintwork had badly faded but I gave it a thorough wash and it came up really well. I then fitted my Compomotive wheels as the Capri Lasers were doing it no justice.

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I was more than pleasantly surprised with this. It seems as if at some stage in the not too distant past, additional bracing was welded it and the whole chassis powder coated again because everything is immaculate.

Screenshot_20191101_175942.jpg


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It is needing a new set of shocks - they work perfectly but they don't look great. The panelling above the footwell is (or was) carbon fibre but it has seen its day so will be replacing that!

I plan to drop my MX5 turbo engine and running gear in and go enjoy it! This will be a much faster build than my previous one - only awaiting the delivery of some parts before I will rattle through it and get it MOTd!

My old (spare) dash is a perfect fit for this as well so this will get bolted in tomorrow 😎

Screenshot_20191101_180022.jpg
 
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slickcell

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Round 2. Let’s go!

😂😂 I know, as if I hadn't had enough already!

This will be a whole different gravy though lol and it WILL be done in a couple of weeks.

Westfield parts may hurry up!
 

Rob

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Oooooooh yes! You don’t hang about anyway Kev! I had to go find your other thread and read the latest 3 pages to work out what you were up to. Madman!

see ya next year at Kirk!
 

slickcell

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Oooooooh yes! You don’t hang about anyway Kev! I had to go find your other thread and read the latest 3 pages to work out what you were up to. Madman!

see ya next year at Kirk!

Haha, yeah Rob I couldn't say no when this came up. The difference is night and day between this and the locost.

I will absolutely see you next year at Kirk.... Can't wait!
 

slickcell

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I know very little on the subject but I thought if it was a westfield it wouldn't have had to be on a Q plate?

This was a factory built chassis but it's to do with the number of donor vehicles used in its build. I'm not 100% sure but I think you're allowed only a couple of second hand items to allow the possibility of an age-related plate being given.

If this for example had more than two/three second hand items, or if it has parts from more than one donor vehicle, then it will only have gotten a Q plate.

I know for certain this uses golf rear uprights and originally had a vauxhall redtop engine so there's more than two vehicles already.

This is only information that I've picked up though over the past year - I'm not an expert so I'm open to being corrected
 
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PaulYDP

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Glad you got it home handy enough! Can’t wait to see this one on the road, looks cracking already!

As for the Q plate question, that’s pretty much it. To get a new plate it must be built from all new parts except for one part which must be refurbished as new with evidence.

You can use one donor vehicle and then get the reg of the donor vehicle but again there are regulations around what needs to be used etc.

Lastly you can go Q plate which is basically built from anything! Big advantage of going for something like a Westfield regardless of the plate is that the chassis is factory built and the bodywork is made to suit, generally giving a more finished look.

A Q plate is easier to MOT as you’ve no emissions to worry about 😉
 

slickcell

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Glad you got it home handy enough! Can’t wait to see this one on the road, looks cracking already!

As for the Q plate question, that’s pretty much it. To get a new plate it must be built from all new parts except for one part which must be refurbished as new with evidence.

You can use one donor vehicle and then get the reg of the donor vehicle but again there are regulations around what needs to be used etc.

Lastly you can go Q plate which is basically built from anything! Big advantage of going for something like a Westfield regardless of the plate is that the chassis is factory built and the bodywork is made to suit, generally giving a more finished look.

A Q plate is easier to MOT as you’ve no emissions to worry about 😉

Thanks for clarifying this Paul. The chassis being as good as it is was the biggest decision-maker for me.... This seems to have been stripped bare, extra bracing welded in and then powder coated. It's immaculate. I'm delighted with the purchase and I'm sure it will be an animal with my engine and other bits fitted.

Factory engine mounts, wide-track kit and rose jointed rear wishbones all ordered. Oh and a BOFI racing clutch.

This will be easy lol
 
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Rob

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I would strongly advise rose jointed upper front wishbones. Not sure if the factory sell them, but you can get them made locally. The standard wishbones don't have enough castor angle unfortunately.
 

slickcell

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I would strongly advise rose jointed upper front wishbones. Not sure if the factory sell them, but you can get them made locally. The standard wishbones don't have enough castor angle unfortunately.

Not good!! I just ordered the widetrack kit from RD! Did you ever have the non rosejointed Arms on yours?
 

Rob

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Not good!! I just ordered the widetrack kit from RD! Did you ever have the non rosejointed Arms on yours?

I didn't to be fair, and I'm sure they will be absolutely fine. Just means setup will be a bit more limited. You can always swap them out though.

On mine I went for an Escort 2.4 rack from RD, standard Westfield widetrack lower wishbones with nylon bushes and custom made top wishbones fully rose jointed. The car suffered from bump steer like most kit cars until I got the steering angle corrected by a local motorsport company - the difference this alone made is unbelievable!
 

slickcell

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I didn't to be fair, and I'm sure they will be absolutely fine. Just means setup will be a bit more limited. You can always swap them out though.

On mine I went for an Escort 2.4 rack from RD, standard Westfield widetrack lower wishbones with nylon bushes and custom made top wishbones fully rose jointed. The car suffered from bump steer like most kit cars until I got the steering angle corrected by a local motorsport company - the difference this alone made is unbelievable!

I've a 2.4 rack from RD but I think a 2.2 westfield rack came on mine. Not sure whether to swap it or not.

How did you know in what specs to get your top bones done? I might do the same tbh... I want it built right once so I can forget and enjoy!
 

Rob

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I've a 2.4 rack from RD but I think a 2.2 westfield rack came on mine. Not sure whether to swap it or not.

How did you know in what specs to get your top bones done? I might do the same tbh... I want it built right once so I can forget and enjoy!

If you have that rack then you don’t need rack extensions and you won’t need half the other stuff in the widetrack kit either. Graham Moore made mine, Graham Thompson can also do them or you could order them from the likes of Procomp. Loads of options

I went nylon bush for the lower wishbones - more free movement than polybushes, less wear than rose joints. On the rear mine have Westfield standard wishbones with a single rose joint on the outside and nylon bushes on the inside. That’s plenty enough adjustment I am told, again without the added wear of inner rose joints.
 

slickcell

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If you have that rack then you don’t need rack extensions and you won’t need half the other stuff in the widetrack kit either. Graham Moore made mine, Graham Thompson can also do them or you could order them from the likes of Procomp. Loads of options

I went nylon bush for the lower wishbones - more free movement than polybushes, less wear than rose joints. On the rear mine have Westfield standard wishbones with a single rose joint on the outside and nylon bushes on the inside. That’s plenty enough adjustment I am told, again without the added wear of inner rose joints.

I picked up a new set of rear wishbones for this, which are rosejointed on the inside and out. Reason being.....

Passenger side:
Screenshot_20191103_100257.jpg


Driver side:
Screenshot_20191103_100312.jpg


It would seem that the previous owner had wishbones of different lengths on each side. Either he didn't have wheels that exaggerated the issue and therefore didn't realise, or he didn't care lol. After a bit of research, I found out that the earlier Westfields had two wishbone lengths and this caused a lot of problems and confusion for owners trying to replace them.

I used this as an excuse to upgrade and ordered a new, rosejointed set anyway lol.
 
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Rob

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I picked up a new set of rear wishbones for this, which are rosejointed on the inside and out. Reason being.....

Passenger side:
View attachment 255271

Driver side:
View attachment 255272

It would seem that the previous owner had wishbones of different lengths on each side. Either he didn't have wheels that exaggerated the issue and therefore didn't realise, or he didn't care lol. After a bit of research, I found out that the earlier Westfields had two wishbone lengths and this caused a lot of problems and confusion for owners trying to replace them.

I used this as an excuse to upgrade and ordered a new, rosejointed set anyway lol.

You will have all the adjustment needed now to make it perfect. Red is a great colour in them too, and you got one with the right Cage. Great buy!
 

slickcell

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You will have all the adjustment needed now to make it perfect. Red is a great colour in them too, and you got one with the right Cage. Great buy!

I really did man, I'm delighted! All of ky parts should be here this week then I'll get it booked in for MOT. The winter won't stop me lol
 

slickcell

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I had the rally design widetrack on one of mine and it was absolutely fine 👍

I've bought them already and they were cheap so I'll see how they are. If I need to modify them, I will do
 
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