Stephenfrancis86 Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 Hi I have a Westfield sew with front end chassis damage does anyone know where I can get full dimensions from and plans to rebuild it. thanks Quote
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 Someone may have drawn the chassis up for there own purposes, that they could let you have, but there are no generally available engineering drawings of the sort you're asking for. If damage is major enough to require drawings and dimensions, then it's typically an insurance job, and requiring rebuilding in a chasisis jig, which means back to the factory, and if it's bad enough, a new front end welding in. Thats not to say owners haven't repaired chassis damage themselves, but I guess they've usually had enough left to measure from and reestablish datums. Quote
stephenh Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 As Dave says, if I was you I'd be taking it back to the factory. If there is some reason why you don't wish to do so, then the only other person I know who I would personally entrust that work to and who does such work would be Matt Gilmore at Procomp Motorsport. Other than that, Luke at Playskool might do it, I don't know, or Fraser at Blink Motorsport or Northampton motorsport. However, the problem is that none of them, so far as I know, have a jig to do the job, except that Matt at Procomp may have a jig for his own make of chassis (the LA and LA Gold) which may or may not use the same front end chassis dimensions. Quote
CraigHew Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 I'm sure TVR Glen could sort it ....... 4 Quote
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 16 minutes ago, CraigHew said: I'm sure TVR Glen could sort it ....... "I'm dying" is what I believe we're supposed to say now instead of LOL... 1 Quote
DamperMan Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 Probably not all that different to http://www.buildyourownracecar.com/build-your-own-sports-car-for-as-little-as-250-and-race-it/ It would at least give a guide to how it could be built. Its only box section Quote
Captain Colonial Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 10 minutes ago, DamperMan said: Its only box section Famous last words, along with "Hold my beer and watch this!" Seriously - there's only one solution, and that's back to WSC for two reasons, both of them health. Getting it fixed to factory standard gives you peace of mind that should another shunt happen, the front end won't fall off and you've got the best chance to stay unhurt; and fixing it anywhere else or below standard and getting into a prang could result in you not being covered by your insurance company, meaning your bank account will be very unhealthy. Quote
Thrustyjust Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 I am not jumping to conclusions here. There are plenty of decent welders out there than can weld a thousand times better than the factory. But any chance of a photo of the damage to see what you are trying to achieve. It might make more sense to show how much needs to be done. If its 'really' bad, it maybe better to get a new chassis, but if its a minor bump a certified welder can do a good job of even a professional chassis repair shop can jig etc. The OP may live miles from the factory. Quote
Stephenfrancis86 Posted February 1, 2017 Author Posted February 1, 2017 Thanks for all the replies. i can't get any photos at the moment as the chassis is in a storage unit temporarily, but basically the front end from the back of the pedals needs replacing, I have a friend who is a welder by trade who will be assisting me in the rebuild so I am confident that there will be no issues with the repair, I just need the dimensions to be able to do it. i don't really have the time to be taking it anywhere due to my work hours but I am able to do it at home so that's my plan. thanks Quote
jeff oakley Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 I may be misunderstanding your description, but if it is the front end from behind the pedals forward, including the bulkhead, that needs replacing, that must have been a pretty big hit. Distortion does travel and once the tension is removed the remaining metal work will spring. I do not think that you will find any dimensions unless some one has on local to measure from. If it is just for track then you may be satisfied with a repair, if it to be used on the road Scott could be correct that the repair "may" have effects upon insurance. Quote
DamperMan Posted February 2, 2017 Posted February 2, 2017 18 hours ago, DamperMan said: It would at least give a guide to how it could be built. Its only box section @Scott Young - WSCC Chairman I say "Only box" section in the same way as I say snooker is just a green table, balls and 2 guys with sticks ... Clearly having a proper jig ensures everything is where it should be. I see no reason why a decent fabricator should be more than capable of building new chassis as well as anyone else and would certainly build a rudimentary jig to fix the critical points. The cherry on top is some specialists will have more experience of the car and know where extra strength should be added over standard specification as they know where cars currently fail. Quote
TAFKARM Posted February 2, 2017 Posted February 2, 2017 6 minutes ago, DamperMan said: @Scott Young - WSCC Chairman I say "Only box" section in the same way as I say snooker is just a green table, balls and 2 guys with sticks ... Clearly having a proper jig ensures everything is where it should be. I see no reason why a decent fabricator should be more than capable of building new chassis as well as anyone else and would certainly build a rudimentary jig to fix the critical points. The cherry on top is some specialists will have more experience of the car and know where extra strength should be added over standard specification as they know where cars currently fail. Agreed - if I bent the tin top I wouldnt send it back to the Mazda factory... Quote
Thrustyjust Posted February 2, 2017 Posted February 2, 2017 For a punt that is back to the bulkhead, I'd be thinking about a new chassis and body as a factory deal. Not sure on the chassis ID marks and a re chassis ref IVA and inspection avoidance, but guess it may be cat markered. Quote
stephenh Posted February 2, 2017 Posted February 2, 2017 4 hours ago, RussH said: Agreed - if I bent the tin top I wouldnt send it back to the Mazda factory... But the specialist motor body repairers of the sort now used by all the motor insurers have adjustable jigs, and access to manufacturer's datum points for setting the body up as issued by the likes of Mazda, so that the suspension pickup points and the steering rack/trackrod locations are all in the same position as they should be, in relation to each other. I'm not so sure that such information is generally available for a car such as a Westfield. Quote
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