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New member (who is looking for Westfield friendly garages).


Spacedoggy

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Quick update: booked in for a visit to Tiger on Saturday.  Seems like a great find that I had no clue was on my doorstep, so thanks again for the suggestion :)

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Sorry a bit late here, but welcome to the world of westy ownership.

Hope you have lots of enjoyment with her and get to know your way around her, they’re quite straightforward to work on, good luck

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12 hours ago, Gary Taylor said:

Hope you have lots of enjoyment with her and get to know your way around her, they’re quite straightforward to work on, good luck

Thanks, I'm sure I'll have a lot of fun driving her (and she's surprisingly pretty to look at too :) ).

 

I appreciate that I'd be missing out if I didn't learn how to work on my own car, so will start by learning how to do my own servicing. Tidying the interior up at the moment, so easing gently into thinking mode.

 

Just a though: I know that most Westfields are built from kit form, so most owners have a decent level of mechanical knowledge, but does the club run any events for newbies interested in getting started with the basics?  I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I've never even done oil change by myself.  Whilst there's a wealth of information and support on here, it would be a big confidence booster and a great way to meet other members.  Alternatively, maybe car maintenance course at the local college would be the best place to start...

 

Would be amazing to build my own someday :)

 

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8 hours ago, Spacedoggy said:

Thanks, I'm sure I'll have a lot of fun driving her (and she's surprisingly pretty to look at too :) ).

 

I appreciate that I'd be missing out if I didn't learn how to work on my own car, so will start by learning how to do my own servicing. Tidying the interior up at the moment, so easing gently into thinking mode.

 

Just a though: I know that most Westfields are built from kit form, so most owners have a decent level of mechanical knowledge, but does the club run any events for newbies interested in getting started with the basics?  I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I've never even done oil change by myself.  Whilst there's a wealth of information and support on here, it would be a big confidence booster and a great way to meet other members.  Alternatively, maybe car maintenance course at the local college would be the best place to start...

 

Would be amazing to build my own someday :)

 

There’s probably a good balance of owners who have bought a westy rather than built one, and there’s nothing wrong with either approach.

I’m, along with others of a certain age, fortunate to have grown up at a time when you could easily mess with, service, repair and modify cars. Also it was almost a right that your father educated and encouraged the aforesaid misdemeanours lol, nowadays modern cars don’t lend themselves to enthusiastic tinkering.

I would encourage you to find your local area group and I can bet there will be someone there only to ready to guide you through the simple tasks, you may even find someone local building one that needs an extra pair of hands.

meantime start out with smaller jobs like routine servicing and don’t be afraid to stop and fire a question on here. We have all had to learn at one time or another so are only to happy to help if needed.

If dismantling anything take pictures as you go this will give you a photo guide to re assembly.

As you build confidence it opens up another source of enjoyment and satisfaction .

All the best and enjoy the journey.

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2 hours ago, Gary Taylor said:

I’m, along with others of a certain age, fortunate to have grown up at a time when you could easily mess with, service, repair and modify cars.

I think there's definitely something to that.  I just about fell into the age group where cars had big plastic covers on the engines and a message to stay away :).  Thanks for all the great advice, I'll be sure to check out my local area group!

 

 

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11 hours ago, Spacedoggy said:

Thanks, I'm sure I'll have a lot of fun driving her (and she's surprisingly pretty to look at too :) ).

 

I appreciate that I'd be missing out if I didn't learn how to work on my own car, so will start by learning how to do my own servicing. Tidying the interior up at the moment, so easing gently into thinking mode.

 

Just a though: I know that most Westfields are built from kit form, so most owners have a decent level of mechanical knowledge, but does the club run any events for newbies interested in getting started with the basics?  I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I've never even done oil change by myself.  Whilst there's a wealth of information and support on here, it would be a big confidence booster and a great way to meet other members.  Alternatively, maybe car maintenance course at the local college would be the best place to start...

 

Would be amazing to build my own someday :)

 

just as gary said, we all had to learn what to do over time. i think the most applicable thing to say is , do not think that any question is stupid, too basic etc.

there are only stupid answers, never stupid questions.

 

me for instance, started on push bikes as a kid, moving on to motorbikes, then eventually cars, taking all to bits and on many occasion having to get the bus to work because i could not get the repair to work.

 

just have a go, and ask questions......

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  • 2 weeks later...

@snowy892  @GaryD1971  Just about to get the car back from Tiger Racing. Timing belt + full service + checkover and a few bits sorted for a very reasonable amount. So thanks again for the recommendation. To be honest, it's been worth the club membership alone!

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That's good to hear @Spacedoggy. I've been to a few of their open days and always found them to be really nice people. If I didn't have a Westie, they would be my first choice of other type of 7. 👍

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I know it's a bit further but my local family owned garage took my engine and box out a few years ago when I didn't have time.. the son has a tiger that he built am just east of kings Lynn.

Although it sounds like Tiger looked after you well

 

 

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Hi Mole, where abouts are you, its always good to know garages that are happy working on kit cars. 

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@Mole Thanks for the tip. Tiger Racing have been really helpful so far, and are fairly nearby so I'll  keep using them.  Good to have a few options though.   

Had my first proper good blast in her today without fear of timing belt mishaps. Just need to find some fun local routes to take her now - any suggestions? :)

 

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On 13/11/2021 at 21:34, snowy892 said:

Hi Mole, where abouts are you, its always good to know garages that are happy working on kit cars. 

I am at Roydon, just east of KL, the garage is Leziate Drove garage. 

They have always been fair at MOT time too.

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