Build Diary

[Martin Letts - Joint Hampshire & IOW AO]

How do I go about starting a build diary please, after being static for many years it’s now time to document progress

[Alan Cutler (Adge) - Dorset AO]

Stand to be corrected, but Don't think there's hard and fast rules, suggest you go to the "build diary" section of "tech talk" then start a new topic. Don't forget the photos!

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

There aren’t.

I’d always suggest using plenty of photos, as sometimes, readers will spot things that might give you trouble later, and be able to help you sort them out while it’s still an easy job.

For that reason, I’d always suggest doing a build thread, rather than a blog. For whatever reason, the bog section just doesn’t get anything like the viewers/responses that a thread in Tech Talk or Build Diarries will, as a result, valuable feedback can either be missed entirely, or because people only peruse the blogs occasionally, can sometimes arrive a little late to help.

Otherwise, there’s no set format, just do whatever your comfortable with.

[BugMan]

Worked extremely well for me doing my build thread, as other have said put up as many photos as you go as the combined eyes here saved me on several occasions spotting mistakes or better ways of doing things.

I'd suggest reading as many builds that are close to what you intend to build to see the process others have followed, and use them as a template to guide you.  The supplied build  manual (if any as I did not have a 250 one) as a basic guide to the sequence, and I'd recommend sticking to  that if you can as for example if you put the engine/gearbox in before the wiring loom you will likely end up taking it out again.

Be interesting to understand what you have ordered, and intended use for the car, as the collective wisdom here can often help?

I'd also HIGHLY recommend getting along to your local area group get togethers where you will likely find a like minded group of people who in my experience have also become good friends, you don't have to have a WF to be part of the group, as it took me best part of a year from my first meeting to getting my WF on the road.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

1 hour ago, BugMan said:

I'd also HIGHLY recommend getting along to your local area group get togethers where you will likely find a like minded group of people who in my experience have also become good friends, you don't have to have a WF to be part of the group, as it took me best part of a year from my first meeting to getting my WF on the road.

Oh absolutely, even over the summer season, when more Westfields are out to play, members, (and prospective members alike) are always welcome at local meets, regardless of whether they have a car yet, let alone a running on the road car.

- If there’s a run out planned, have a word with the AO, we can almost always find you a passenger seat in a Westfield, for the run. (Though bear in mind, occasionally, some runs aren’t circular, so it might not always be quite so practical.)

Winter season, with fewer cars at meets is the perfect time to chat through winter upgrade plans - and new build advice. Don’t forget there’s also a raft of local knowledge to take advantage of, not just about the cars themselves, but about local specialists and services, be it Tyre fitters, MOT stations or rolling roads and geo specialists. Equally, you will often find local members happy to loan out things like engine stands and cranes, or the occasional specialised tool. Just as usefully, if there’s something really throwing you, many a time, a local member or two have called round to help throw a second and even third set of eyes on a problem.

Though in truth, genuine problems are fairly few and far between. Most “issues” simply need a slight change of tack, or different approach.

(Obviously, this is aimed at others coming along and reading the thread, rather than the original poster, who I’m pretty sure will be attending his own area meets!  )