New FW build

[Steve Smith - Joint Hampshire & IOW AO]

I place my deposit for a zetec fw complete kit at stonleigh which I take delivery of in 8 weeks time. Time to get the garage ready. I have had a good read of the build manual but and read some of the build diaries. I now have a number of concerns and questions. 

The manual seems very vague in a number of areas with a lot things missing. Eg No wiring diagrams, no pictures wire dashboard, no fitting of front wishbones or exhaust. In fact there are to many things to list. Also having read the build diaries most say the manual is only a guide and they rely on the forum for how to over come problems and how to build the car. There also seems to to be a lot of phone calls to Westfield cars about parts missing and build questions. Do Westfield cars not take note of these problems or read the forums,if they did why has the manual not been corrected. They also say you can build the car in 120 hours but most people take twice this amount of time. Has anybody managed to ever managed to build the car using the manual in the stated time. I welcome any comment on my questions and concerns.

[Andy (Sycho)]

 Don't worry to much in reality it is a lot less daunting than it first appears, I would recommend getting the old sei build manual if you can find one.

This is all i had when I build my first car & found the exploded drawings far better than the photos they use now.

Also start a build diary & you will get plenty of help.

Andy 

[chriss1455]

 as already stated start a build thread and it will turn out better than any manual westfield will give you.

Good luck with the build

[jonjh1964]

There are lots of old manuals here http://www.manikllc.com/manuals/

and my blog has lots of photos of the dash and rear light wiring http://2js-westfield-build.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/29-jun-12-dashboard.html plus some ideas on ownership and upgrades over the last couple of years.

[Rhett Turner - Black Country AO]

Welcome to the club, as others have said it's not quite a bad as it seems.  My advice would be to look at as many build diaries as possible, I did before I built mine and quite a few bits of important info popped into my mind when needed. I also kept a build blog, this in the end was quite important for a number of reasons, it's a good reference now, it was useful for the IVA process and most importantly it was really surprising how often I'd finish the day pondering over an issue then while updating the blog saw if from a new perspective. Quite often when having to explain a problem to other the solution can then be seen.

A few useful links, my blog, wiring diag, Zetec engine wiring supplement

most importantly enjoy the build.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

It's funny how one of the most important parts of build prep seems to have got lost in the mists of time almost.

I can only surmise that it was considered so basic, or so obvious, that it didn't need pointing out. But then times were very different in the world of kit cars; manuals were almost non existent or frequently half a dozen or so sides at most, and kits generally, were less complex, with less complex drive trains. (With a few notorious exceptions).

Photographs!

I even remember being asked at Westfield if I had my camera ready, as they had plenty of builds at different stages that I could snap. Any trip you made to the kit makers factories, was always an opportunity to try ale more photos of how things fitted together, how pipe or cable runs should be dressed and so on. Even nowadays, such pictures are still invaluable.

[Alan Cutler (Adge) - Dorset AO]

 I'm mid(ish) build, from experience can highly recommend a build thread, and as Dave says take as many photos as you can. Think I refer to my bunch of snaps and others build threads at least daily!

This forum is a great, friendly, informative resource. As said its not as daunting as it might first appear. First and foremost, enjoy the build!

[Steve Smith - Joint Hampshire & IOW AO]

Thanks for all the advice. I will take my camera when I collect the kit and start build thread. But I still refer to my comments about the manual.

I am glad I joined such a great club with so many helpful members.