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Hoping to get there either Sat or Sun. Weather depending. Still no showercap or roof!

I have an airchamber (recently bought from another forum member). The advantage over the carcoon is that it has a frame, so doesn’t deflate when you drive out. You simply unzip the front and drive out. When you drive back in, zip it back up and turn on the blowers for airflow.

We will be there for the weekend, but I can't do Friday as I'm running the Warwickshire Area track day on the same day!

Reviving an old thread by updating it and condensing it down… #1: Any thread that is started where the author requests an opinion as to whether or not something they do or have done voluntarily is right or wrong, will end with the author concluding they were right, no matter how strongly the majority who gave said requested opinion disagree with the author's point of view. #2: Any thread where the author states they are looking to purchase a tintop and then lists the cars they are willing to consider, will end after considerable debate, further models not on the list being suggested, and the author buying something utterly different from anything discussed or not purchasing a car after all and sticking with their current transport. #3: Any thread that is more than three pages long will end with a subject totally different to the subject that started the thread. #4: If a thread asks for a serious opinion it will not receive it - moreover, if the word "serious" apears in the title, it is open season for silly answers. #5: When asking if option A or B is the better, the answer will always be that options C to Z are infinitely superior (depending on the respondent's deep seated fears and prejudices). #6: Whatever the subject, no matter how well thought out and reasoned the subject matter is, someone will take the diametrically opposed view just to be contrary. #7: Asking what your car is worth will always cause issues and invariably will not end well. #8: Threads including references to unconventional dashboard instrument arrangement can only end in one way (see @Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman). #9: There are more build diaries started than finished. #10: If you, presumably with the knowledge that you're mechanically incompetent, cack-handed, or just not interested in the oily side of things, make the simple mistake of asking about good garages / mechanics for Westfield related service work, prepare to duck and cover as the outrage at not "doing it yourself, it's easy" pours forth. #11: Any thread mentioning the word "Pinto" will also include the words "mighty", "anchor" and / or “boat”. #12: Threads asking which engine is best will only result in complete disagreement. #13: Threads arguing whether which of BECs or CECs are best will never be resolved. #14: In any thread that mentions driving a Westfield in poor weather conditions, those who don't will only say that those who do are "mental", and those who do drive in poor weather may only refer to everyone else as "wimps". #15: Whatever the tricky problem and no matter how many solutions are offered, the author with the problem will never come back and tell the members what was the actual solution to the problem was, leaving everyone following the thread wondering forever. #16: All Westfields for sale were built by retired engineers and were never driven on a track or in the rain. #17: Any claims to bhp figures, no matter how credible, will always be met with scepticism by other members unless supplied by an approved Westfield tuner and even then, those figures will have doubt cast upon their accuracy by members with identical engines producing less power. #18: Any member who starts a contentious thread that gets so out of control that it requires Moderator intervention will shortly afterwards post another thread entitled, “Where did my thread go?”. #19: Any post seeking to correct the grammar or spelling of a previous post will contain a grammatical or spelling error. #20: Using the Search facility will result in getting you so sidetracked looking at other interesting threads that two hours later, you will have forgotten what you were searching for to begin with. #21: An engine problem thread started in Tech Talk will invariably fail to state one or more of the following: engine type, engine size, or carbs or throttle bodies, distributor or ECU type, but will mention the age and condition of the battery. #22: The Westfield you really want to buy will inevitably be at the farthest geographical point away from your home, ie. you live in Aberdeen and the car you want to buy is in Cornwall. #23: When you buy your Westfield and arrive to drive it home, the weather forecast of bright sunshine will instantly change to thunderstorms, pouring rain, hail, and ten degrees colder. You may add your own below, remembering to number them for everyone’s future reference. (Please note that I reserve the right to edit as necessary or if it's not in keeping with the spirit of the thread - thank you.)

It's that time again! We will be meeting at the Clock Warehouse (DE72 2GL) at about 7pm for the usual cars, friends and a good laugh. Hope to see you there, fingers crossed the weather gods are kind 👍

I recently refitted the sender in my car with new gaskets and top ring. The holes aren't drilled with equal spacing so you have to line everything up and put the long screw in first. Once fitted in the tank all of the other holes line up. I found instructions on the website of the gasket supplier.

Nice one, I'm heading over on Saturday for an overnight. In the big car though.

A few days on the Isle of Arran, rain for a couple of days then the sun came out.

@westfinlay it looks like you just signed up for a trial membership, which only lasts 60 days and has expired. To properly participate in the forum you need to be a full member which costs £35 per year. If you own a Westfield then being a member might reduce your insurance, but in any case the wealth of knowledge here is fantastic and well worth it. Hope that's helpful

Message sent👍

Re the waterpump, be aware that on the silvertop (and probably blacktop too?), the waterpump is trapped behind the cambelt, so if you need to do the pump, it’ll need a cambelt as well. if/when it comes to that job, if they aren’t already fitted, I can’t rate the ARP camwheel bolts highly enough. They make the job so much easier than the dreadful OEM Torx bolts.

Sold!

Hi Julie I’m off for 12 days after today so I sure will be going weather dependent.

PM sent

Been there today at gbs said we hope to have 3 or 4 from east anglia doing this.

If it’s your first “seven” type car, do be careful with the loud pedal until you get used to it! Even if you have had performance cars in the past, 200bhp in something so light can go wrong very quickly 👍

Congratulations on the purchase, 200bhp in a Westfield is a whole heap of fun!

When you do the water pump, have a look at the thermostat housing, if it's a plastic one, look at replacing it with an alloy one (there's been some recent threads on these) or a water rail (more expensive, more work). There's not a lot of clearance between the bulkhead and the thermostat housing and if you hit a big enough pothole, they get together and the housing loses (snaps).... and dumps your coolant for you.

We've been using carcoons for at least 6 years. The westy spent it's first year in one before promotion to the garage. As long as you've enough clearance to walk all the way round, getting a car in or out is easy. With the Westy I used to unzip 3/4 of the way round (back, side and front), flip the top part over beside the car, jump in and drive off. Once you're home, park on the bottom part, throw the top part over the car (not difficult with the lack of height involved) zip up and connect power. The bubble will re-inflate in about 10 mins. With one of my other cars that's in a Carcoon in the front garden, I unzip 90% of the way round then flip the top onto the grass behind the car before driving off. Keeping just a little bit of zip attached makes life much easier. There are three challenges with a Carcoon: 1) How to stop it blowing away when there's no car in it. We've used everything from other cars to wheely bins and bags of potting compost. 2) Doesn't apply to Westys, but getting the top part over the car if it is wet is a right pain, as it sticks. 3) Getting one - it's that time of year when demand goes up... if you buy new, go direct to Carcoon as they'll have an accurate view on lead times. Certain other suppliers.... despite what they may say, rarely have stock. The other advantage is that if you go direct, they're helpful if you have any issues. The zip failed on one of ours and they collected it, repaired it and sent it back to us.

I'm pretty sure the car was built by a father and son and was the second westfield they built and something they wanted to do together before I think it was the son that passed away but of course if I'm wrong I stand corrected. The car had all the right parts fitted money was no object nice brakes shocks diff even the engine was a brand new crate motor and was a lovely looking car when they finished it and it's still a lovely looking car but make checks on the chassis for cracks they are a big heavy engine so check the engine bay and around the diff cage and also the engine mounts .if you need to know where to look just ask I do like a v8 probably the best sounding westfield And they move well.

You or the Westfield?

With the forecast being a bit changeable we were still exchanging texts at 8am this morning but decided to risk it and thankfully it stayed dry! With James, Lee, Stu, Gavin, Steve, and myself we had 6 Westies out to play all with different engine setups. Stu has changed from his previous turbo and moved to a normally aspirated forged Mazda, James had his supercharged Mazda engine, Lee with his glorious sounding Zetec on ITB's, Steve in his Sport250 and Gav with the bonkers 1.6 ecoboost! We headed to the cafe and spotted some birthday cake for @Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO! After breakfast in the Factoryheads Cafe, we had our normal wander around the showroom. Of course we had loads of discussion about the Kawasaki H2 with its supercharged engine.... easily tunable to 300bhp and so light, it will make an amazing engine in a Westfield! A fun couple of hours and great to see everyone 👍

No, you have a fuel gauge that while it indeed “works” does not necessarily generate accurate information. You’ll find it’s there for both amusement and empty tank terror, just like what the rest of us encounter. Trust only your trip odometer.

So the next meet is on Sunday 8th September. This is going to be our yearly weigh in where you’ll be able to see how heavy your cars are. Mike @ Kitcar electronics is very kindly going to be hosting this event. I’m hoping we can meet for a run first, before arriving at Mikes at 10:30 ish for bacon buttys. Kit Car Electronics Limited 01621 892445 https://g.co/kgs/f5X931T https://maps.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x47d8e3694643eb75:0xb98bffc23567bed6?entry=s&sa=X&ved=1t:8290&ictx=111

We East Anglians will be there. Might even do a 2 night camp over again after the success of Malvern. Camp carrot 🥕 here we come.

I went for test drive today, and to hopefully buy the car today, but had a message from the owner on my way to say the weeping core plug had entirely failed when he took the car for a last drive. Unfortunately I had to turn around and go home. He’s going to fix it and hopefully get back in touch.