Leaderboard

So I can proudly say that the hard work spent over the last 11 months (since the purchase of my cheap, "but needs some work", Roary) has helped in a full MOT pass with no advisories! Thanks also must go to everyone on the forum and in the Yorkshire/Peak District groups for the advice given. Fingers are crossed for the next MOT and I can now concentrate on some of the cosmetic changes I want to make.

Hey y'all, I have just re-joined the club after not being fully engaged since around 2002 when i did a couple of years of the Speed series and had the best time. It was the days of getting to know: Comp Sec. Tom at Curborough 2000, and also getting to know John Loudon at the Boscombe, Mark Stanton at Llys-y-Fran and so-on: so many welcoming characters. Helpful when you're doing your first Wiscombe, Shelsely and Lydden. Really miss the Boscombe Down sprint. I bought my 1988 SE low-line in summer 1994 from a guy in Lewes, Sussex after returning from 4 years building a power plant in Africa. It had pretty common spec in those days: 1630 Chamberlain '155bhp' spec Xflow (244 cam, Hepolites, twin 45-DHLAs) with RS2000 4-speed box and 3.77 diff. A Westie was a fairly rare sight in the early 90s, and caused a lot of conversation. 15" wheels and SO2-Potenza's seemed to make sense at the time, but later 13 Revos made more sense. Encouraged by the Speed Series I scoured ads for good second-hand parts such as a SC/CR 'Rocket' box (with 2.39 1st gear) mainly to get rid of the useless 1st gear, and a 4.44 LSD. Simon Lepley in Notts came up with 2 superb units for 375 each plus an alloy RS2000 b/housing as a bonus. They are still in perfect shape after 16yrs use. The Xflow is now 'steel' and on 12.5:1 forged pistons. Great engine! Anyhow, after building another plant in Singapore (incl. F1 marshalling) and the Middle East I'm back and looking forward to getting back involved. By-the-way, Im also in the Brighton & Hove MC so if anyone wants info on stuff like the Speed Trials or their Goodwood events etc, don't hesitate.

I fitted the new Spax shocks all round and Also fitted springs at the same time including the progressive rear springs. Not sure on what spring rate's to fit I went with the huge amount of advice I got from Tony @DamperMan and the results were night and day (Tony also powder coated them black instead of Spax yellow) , Tony couldn't have been more helpful and no point did I feel like I was just being fed sale's talk to get Me to buy . I've since had a full Geo done by Matt Seabrook ( ex south West AO ) in Bodmin and the car is like nothing I've ever driven feels so planted and positive even though I changed too nylon bushes the ride is not too firm . I know Tony is the MD at Spax but he's not just a bean counting pen pusher he's proper engineer and ex R&D ( if I remember correctly) And the way I see it if your going to develop And make a item to fit to your own car , with the facilities he has available you would make it as good or even better than you can already buy of the shelf.i can't say that the Spax shocks are any better than the others mentioned as a lot of people have them fitted to there car's And there are some excellent reviews on here about them from people more qualified to review them that I will ever be And I was going too go down the same route as it's often better the devil you know but I have no regrets with my choice.

Wow, you've modelled a garage and a jack, too! Very realistic

AHA! - @bunje it's back! Thought it seemed odd that I'd need to re-index the forum. So, while it might not appear in searches until the index is rebuilt - at least you have the majority of the thread back.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Snowflake Generation Snowflake, or Snowflake Generation, is a term used to characterize the young adults of the 2010s as being more prone to taking offence and less resilient than previous generations, or as being too emotionally vulnerable to cope with views that challenge their own. The term is considered derogatory. A couple of 'breaking news' stories have made me wonder if our tolerance of "**** happens" has really gone down in recent years. My example was last summer at the end of the music festival season, I was on the train home and a girl in her teens was walking up the carriage in floods of tears begging for an iPhone charger because hers had gone flat. Go back a generation and listening to my dad... "The Russians came at 2am and forced us to leave the farmhouse at gun point and put us on a train to Siberia - it was quite an adventure except we had to leave the dog behind" "The two winters I spent in Siberia were a lot of fun - except we had to eat our horses" "The battle at Monte Cassino was quite exciting - except for when the Americans bombed us by mistake - three times" I know the old ones are made from tougher stuff, but have we really gone so pathetic in two generations..?

Cheers sparkymart. It's nice to get some praise :).... I'm no sales person, that's true. 20 years of damper design I hope to be qualified offer advise free of techno babble. Any advise I give I try to be impartial.... I'm a little biased so If anyone wants to buy anything that's a bonus which helps justify my paid up trader status. .

Have you checked there's oil in it?

When I got home from work tonight, I took the Westfield out for about an hour. A good run and left it on the drive for 10 minutes before putting it away . To my surprise, and relief, no, NO oil drips for the first time in my ownership. Not counting my chickens yet, still going to check underneath every time I go out.

Thanks Ian ... and the smoke was from those dodgy "Cuban" parts I purchased recently

I could see smoke coming from the driver's area last time I saw it Nice one!

thats great thanks @Chris King - Webmaster and Joint North East AO only a few posts missing from there but the bulk of it is there now i have somewhere i can put all my drivvel

It is the breakfast meet at Curborough Sprint Course, Lichfield, WS13 8EJ on Saturday 13th May from 8.30 until 11.30. We will be there from mid-morning onwards and if it's nice we will be coming home through the Peak District. Everyone is welcome to come and join us, so please do. Rumour has it there might be some Speed Series members on track too, so bring your camera. Not only is there a Westfield Factory photo competition running but there is the 2018 WSCC calendar to consider too, and action shots make the grade. Fingers crossed for dry weather this time.

Hi Thanks for PM. Not sure if these are Sierra or if that makes any difference. Could you please measure the outer distance between the pickup points ie where it goes into the chassis and the distance to the ball joint holes (short distance ie square to the pickup points) ? Thanks

Hi Robin Count me in for this one. Cheers, A

Well there was some in when I bought the car, do I have to put more in?

I'll be there in the Westy and Dan in the mini but we've not registered so will wing it on the day.

OK temporarily disconnected the ARB and the ride is totally different. Much better at absorbing the lumps and bumps in our local roads, but doesn't feel quite as sharp on turn in. I guess that is to be expected. i haven't turned the shocks round yet, but might try that also, although they seem to be shocking quite well. I reckon geo is the next thing. Any thoughts or comments?

Sold the one I had I'm afraid. Only got one engine now instead of three!

Applecross campsite fire , Just spoke to the campsite and it is closed till this Friday, so it will be fully open again for the clan McWesty gathering .

It was being an hour late setting off that did it. Nothing to do with me filling up with V-power diesel (pumps look soooo similar) honest...

Did this in the end, to match my exterior.

Here's a couple more pics with the roof on you can see the new shape it takes on and the extra Head room I've gained (not that that's a problem for me...)

Hi and I have a similar engine spec to you and am fairly local (Tamworth). I use my car most weekends, usually around the Peak District, anything between 150 and 300 miles and I can confirm the noise is normal so invest in ear plugs! Hope to see you at the Derby and Notts meet at the Clock in Shardlow, first Thursday of the month or join us when we are out and about with Julie in the Peak District