Longest Build Ever ?
Entry posted by waynezilla
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Way back in 2002 I went on a driving instruction course at Silverstone. We hooned about in various cars, but perhaps the most fun was had larking about in a Caterham on an autotest course. Such a different experience to "normal" cars.
A little later in the year I watched "A Racecar Is Born" on the TV which sparked the Westfield idea. Here was an opportunity to own a completely impractical but fun vehicle. I wasn't an experienced mechanic and to be honest I wasn't even sure I could afford it but I decided to take the plunge.
In early 2003 I made a factory visit and had a test drive. I knew I was making a good decisionand ordered a basic starter kit for an SEiW.
I cleared my garage of junk and started to prepare for the build. Initially I was going to source donor parts from scrapper. I began by sourcing front hubs, front and rear brake calipers and a rear diff. The condition of these was mixed but I set about stripping everything down and offering them up to the chassis.
I was disappointed....
A nice, shiny powdercoated chassis was being spoiled by mucky looking parts, so I decided to have a rethink.. What is the point of spending several thousand pounds and making compromises? Could I afford to use newer parts?
In the meantime I set about the laborious task of riveting the panels to the chassis (I really should have got the factory to do that). I also wish I had powdercoated all of the panels too. Instead I painted them with Hammerite - not a bad job, but not quite as professional-looking.
I also began to source some better components - new steering rack, new uprights and hubs, front and rear brakes, suspension and rear LSD diff. At this point, the kitty was getting empty and I still had to source an engine and gearbox.
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