Hi all, looking for advice on 7s....

[Skypeller]

No worries! I was iffing and affing between base model caterhams and mid range Westfields and oh boy am I glad I bought what I did  

[SootySport]

For insurance costs it usually depends on the engine size and whether it's a turbo version or not. Bike engine cars also come into a different catagory. Cars present value also comes into the formula.   For your age and I guess a long driving history you won't be clobbered by a high premium which ever engine you choose.  I reduced my premium further by having a parts only insurance so I can rebuild the car myself.  

There are specialist insurers that cater for our kit cars such as A plan, Sky, Adrian Flux, Footman James.  Ring around for quotes as any car insurance.

As for fitting yourself in the car, a combination of seat ,. Steering wheel positioning can be adjusted. There's even a couple of 6' 5" members that have Westfield's.

For around £14k you're going to find a real good spec Westfield,. Good luck on your search.

[Mark_Herts]

Thanks again folks..

 

Todays musings -

Gearchange feel - all the Cats ive driven have that lovely rifle bolt action feel, which is what I really like.The Westy I drove, the gearchange shift was horrible, felt wrong and sloppy .Is this an issue that can be rectified, are thay all like that ?

Cages - I do like the idea, but IM wondering what are they like for praciticality on the road - plus I guess you cant swap between aero and full with a cage ?

[Kingster]

9 minutes ago, Mark_Herts said:

the gearchange shift was horrible, felt wrong and sloppy .Is this an issue that can be rectified, are thay all like that ?

Depends entirely on the gearbox to be honest!

Many car engined Westfields use the trusty (but very old) Type 9 gearbox - and quite a few use the MT75. Some will also be Mazda based and others s2000 - it all depends on the build.

The type 9 can be very sloppy once it gets on a bit, but this is often due to the 'saddle' wearing and is an easy sub £20 fix. But it will still be a bit 'old' feeling compared to a more modern box.

Bear in mind that many Type 9's will have newer internals and be fully rebuilt by the likes of BGH or SPC - and these will feel a lot better (my BGH certainly feels way better than the first t9 I had) - they will also come with far superior ratios to the original and indeed to the MT75.

The MT75 has much nicer gear change, but the ratios are pretty awful - and it's not common to be able to change them as you can with the T9.

I have no experience of the Mazda or Honda boxes, but suffice it to say, they are Japanese and will no doubt be very slick in comparison to the old Brit units.

And remember, you may even find a Westy with a Caterham 6-speed in it!

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

The thing with Westfields is that many of them are home built, (and even the factory cars have to be built to a much smaller “build cost” than Caterhams.)

The end product is so much more down to the builder, even though many of the component parts aren’t that different. In fact for a long time, both have used the same Ford Type 9 five Speed gearbox. So often differences are down to how good a condition the parts are in. 

 

[Mark_Herts]

49 minutes ago, Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Secretary said:

The thing with Westfields is that many of them are home built, (and even the factory cars have to be built to a much smaller “build cost” than Caterhams.)

The end product is so much more down to the builder, even though many of the component parts aren’t that different. In fact for a long time, both have used the same Ford Type 9 five Speed gearbox. So often differences are down to how good a condition the parts are in. 

 

I understand that for sure. Is there much difference in the actual linkage assemblies tween Cat and Westy ? IE, does one brand do it totally differently ?

 

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

For many years Westfield did use a remote gear lever extension on the Type 9, again though, provided the plastic saddle that Chris mentioned is A1 and that the gearbox itself is ok, these are typically no problem. They do have a bearing that can wear, it’s unusual, but happens. Sometimes, they’re not well secured, either, and have worked loose.

Westfield haven’t used them for several years now, preferring to have a bent gear lever, instead, that enters the box directly.

As far as I know, Caterham have always just had the gear lever in direct, due to the smaller chassis, not needing an extension.

[Mark_Herts]

Guys,what’s your opinion on the car on here ,sei 202hp is the ad heading.

looks to be a lot of car for the money with almost all my boxes ticked .

is it possible to retro fit lowered floors and any idea on cost /where  

thanks again

[Kingster]

4 hours ago, Mark_Herts said:

Guys,what’s your opinion on the car on here ,sei 202hp is the ad heading.

looks to be a lot of car for the money with almost all my boxes ticked .

is it possible to retro fit lowered floors and any idea on cost /where  

thanks again

Specification is very good. All the right “goodies” - nice engine, proper gearbox, right wheels, tillet seats etc. 

It is a narrow, so you’d have to try the fit. 

[Mark_Herts]

13 minutes ago, Chris King - Webmaster and Joint North East AO said:

Specification is very good. All the right “goodies” - nice engine, proper gearbox, right wheels, tillet seats etc. 

It is a narrow, so you’d have to try the fit. 

Damn, I did wonder if was....No way Id get in a narrow.

Bum. Really liked the spec.

Edited September 20, 2018 by Mark_Herts

[Kingster]

Yes Se & Sei are narrow, Sew and SEiW are wide. Only wides have lowered floors as standard. Lowered floor came in later on (not sure when but @Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Secretary Will no doubt know more!)

[Mark_Herts]

Have just joined WSCC as its lookiing very likely thats what Im going with....

[Kingster]

7 minutes ago, Mark_Herts said:

Have just joined WSCC as its lookiing very likely thats what Im going with....

Very wise move 

[Mark_Herts]

1 minute ago, Chris King - Webmaster and Joint North East AO said:

Very wise move 

Cheers.

Ive not answered this one yet - Cages - I do like the idea, but IM wondering what are they like for praciticality on the road - plus I guess you cant swap between aero and full with a cage ?

[Andy Banks]

You can indeed swap. A lot of folks have two scuttles, one full and one aero and simply swap as required. Westfield cages fit round the windscreen.

Mine is a wide MT75 short shift caged car, you must pop round and have a play...