New owner - what advice would you give to yourself back when you were first starting out?

[ariches]

Hi, 

 

Totally new to owning a Westfield but really excited as been wanting to find the perfect car to start my classic car journey for years and should be picking up my Westfield next week.

 

I wanted to ask for any bits of advice that maybe you wish you knew back when you were first starting out and were new to it all. 

 

I'm getting a 1997 SE. It's got a Burton Power kent crossflow engine with  stage 3 cylinder head. When i looked it over it think the rev timing is too slow and the carbs need tuning but apart from that seems all pretty good. 

 

What are those good tips and tricks for a new owner? Best starter tools to invest in? Most important maintenance jobs to learn first? 

 

Very much a beginner but really keen to learn everything so any help and guidance is appreciated 

[Kit Car Electronics and Essex AO]

Hi, I'd start by taking a close look at all of the fuel lines, as any original ones likely won't be ethanol proof and could be hiding splits and potential leaks... Recommend replacing all with Gates Barricade which is 100% ethanol proof (pricey but not crazily so). Also check you have a wiring diagram to match as there could be tired/corroded connectors waiting to strand you 🙂

 

Fibreglass quality was good in the 90s so it should polish up nicely 👌

[RickRack]

Welcome to Westy ownership & the WSCC - I’m assuming the car is MOT’d and you’re ready to hit the road. For me I took it easy for the first 3 months but drive it every time I could - fetching shopping (1 x max) & dropping round the outlaws - if it’s your first Westy you’ll be very mindful of not being cosseted all round my metal - but you overcome that in the first couple of drives - most of us drive with dipped head light all times as a lot of numpty drivers can’t see us - also I swapped from inertia reel belts to harnesses as I feel better protected. 
as for maintenance - check your tyres - low mileage cars can have 20 year old tyres & it’s the only thing that touches the road (hopefully) from your car & make a decision on the suitability change them if you need too - unless you have written evidence of a recent service I’d give it a full service as it’s a great way of learning about the car & gives peace of mind - also consider replacing the coolant & if you do flush it out and replenish with good quality coolant as it’s not expensive when you have no labour costs. Also agree with KCE above on fuel lines, I found mine looked ok until careful inspection & being 24 yrs old were desperate to be replaced. 
Apart from that I’d just get in & drive it with the biggest grin you will have ever had when being behind a wheel & you retain the stupid grin when thinking about it or for at least 1 hr before/after your driven it.
Most of all just enjoy it knowing you made a fantastic decision. 🫶🏼🤞👍

[ariches]

1 hour ago, Kit Car Electronics and Essex AO said:

Hi, I'd start by taking a close look at all of the fuel lines, as any original ones likely won't be ethanol proof and could be hiding splits and potential leaks... Recommend replacing all with Gates Barricade which is 100% ethanol proof (pricey but not crazily so). Also check you have a wiring diagram to match as there could be tired/corroded connectors waiting to strand you 🙂

 

Fibreglass quality was good in the 90s so it should polish up nicely 👌

This is just the kind of advice I was hoping for aha, thank you very much.

 

There is a folder with a lot of receipts in it, one for petrol pipe bought in 2000, and another for oil hose bought in 2014. So will definitely get the fuel lines replaced.

 

I was told that someone did some bits to it a year or so ago to get it running again but not 100% sure exactly what they did. 

 

I think it's story is a couple people had hold of it, did a lot of work to it over time but never actually got it out on the road so it's sat for a long time

[Kit Car Electronics and Essex AO]

2 minutes ago, ariches said:

This is just the kind of advice I was hoping for aha, thank you very much.

 

There is a folder with a lot of receipts in it, one for petrol pipe bought in 2000, and another for oil hose bought in 2014. So will definitely get the fuel lines replaced.

 

I was told that someone did some bits to it a year or so ago to get it running again but not 100% sure exactly what they did. 

 

I think it's story is a couple people had hold of it, did a lot of work to it over time but never actually got it out on the road so it's sat for a long time

we have a lot of eagle eyed members on here - if you upload photos from all around and underneath the car and engine, you'll get plenty of advice on ways to lighten your wallet next 🙂 

[ariches]

11 minutes ago, RickRack said:

Welcome to Westy ownership & the WSCC - I’m assuming the car is MOT’d and you’re ready to hit the road. For me I took it easy for the first 3 months but drive it every time I could - fetching shopping (1 x max) & dropping round the outlaws - if it’s your first Westy you’ll be very mindful of not being cosseted all round my metal - but you overcome that in the first couple of drives - most of us drive with dipped head light all times as a lot of numpty drivers can’t see us - also I swapped from inertia reel belts to harnesses as I feel better protected. 
as for maintenance - check your tyres - low mileage cars can have 20 year old tyres & it’s the only thing that touches the road (hopefully) from your car & make a decision on the suitability change them if you need too - unless you have written evidence of a recent service I’d give it a full service as it’s a great way of learning about the car & gives peace of mind - also consider replacing the coolant & if you do flush it out and replenish with good quality coolant as it’s not expensive when you have no labour costs. Also agree with KCE above on fuel lines, I found mine looked ok until careful inspection & being 24 yrs old were desperate to be replaced. 
Apart from that I’d just get in & drive it with the biggest grin you will have ever had when being behind a wheel & you retain the stupid grin when thinking about it or for at least 1 hr before/after your driven it.
Most of all just enjoy it knowing you made a fantastic decision. 🫶🏼🤞👍

Great stuff thanks, and yep already got a smile just thinking about it in anticipation haha. 

Yes tyres I've already looked into and will be getting them changed as soon as I get it as I'm pretty sure they are the original ones from the 90s so they look perfect but absolutely won't be taking the risk. Found a local garage that I can get some good ones from and fitted. 

 

It's got an MOT until July so at least don't have to think about that straight away, but will definitely get a service just for that peace of mind. I want to learn how to do as much as I can myself but at least if it's done professionally the first time I know I've got the right starting point to go from. 

It's already got harnesses which is nice, but I may have to find a solution for the seats as I don't know how my bony back is going to fare with the plastic seats haha.

[ariches]

1 minute ago, Kit Car Electronics and Essex AO said:

we have a lot of eagle eyed members on here - if you upload photos from all around and underneath the car and engine, you'll get plenty of advice on ways to lighten your wallet next 🙂 

I will do thank you 😊 holding off actually buying anything extra for it until I've actually got it here and can have a proper look over it so will make sure to get lots of pictures and see what people think! 

Just hoping the weather lightens up as just my luck it's raining all week around the time I'm getting it! 

[Kit Car Electronics and Essex AO]

Might be teaching you to suck eggs, but take earplugs and full waterproofs when you collect it - they're very loud and normally wet when you least expect it 🙂 

[ariches]

1 minute ago, Kit Car Electronics and Essex AO said:

Might be teaching you to suck eggs, but take earplugs and full waterproofs when you collect it - they're very loud and normally wet when you least expect it 🙂 

Haha that is a good point actually 😂 

Hopefully I may be getting it dropped to me as it's about a 40 minute / 20 mile drive and I don't really want to drive it that distance if the tyres are 25ish years old and be fearing for my life whether I'll get a blowout the whole time

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Welcome!

 

Lots of good points above! (Especially the fuel lines). But do check all the perishable rubber and silicon etc parts too, rad hoses, bellows and gaiters on suspension joints, the steering rack, drive shafts etc.

 

Even if the car had been fresh from the factory, they're still quite an old fashioned car in so many ways. So while checking fluid levels and replacing obvious stuff like oil (engine, gearbox - possibly, diff - possibly) those last two kind of depend what state there in and/or if you want to replace just for peace of mind.

 

BUT, don't forget to check if the prop shaft and/or drive shafts need greasing - many Westfields have grease nipples on the universal joints, into which you inject fresh grease with a grease gun - this also pushes out any old stuff at the same time. It's not a frequent job, but does need checking.

 

Having an MoT already is a great start though!

 

As far as tools go, the vast majority of servicing jobs on a Westfield really only need a fairly basic tool kit, the common metric spanners from 8mm through to 19mm will cover much of it. Be aware there are some imperial nuts and bolts too - but on the chassis most of them are in the "cross over" sizes. ie you can use the equivalent sized metric spanner.

 

As well as screwdrivers, etc.

 

A decent low level trolley jack pays dividends to get the car in the air, and decent axle stands to keep it up there, will help keep you safe!

 

[Flying Carrot Steve]

Tyres that old are almost 100% definitely not safe, so good move getting decent tyres first.

 

Find solid jacking points even if you don't need them just yet, it pays to know how to get it up in the air without damaging anything underneath. I have a rear diffuser for example, makes it a bit of a pain when it comes to jacking it up tbh.

 

Put it in for its next MOT as far ahead of the renewal date as you are allowed, gives you time to sort anything unexpected that may be a fail or just iffy advisories and make any improvements (being as it's a new car to you)

 

When driving always assume other road users can't see you. It's amazing how many times that becomes truth! You would think a bright orange car coming at you like an exocet with its lights on would be visible, but apparently not to everyone 😂

 

Stay safe and welcome to the WSCC 👍

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

One tyre related note; if you’re not used to cars as comparatively light weight as Westfields, it’s easy to get caught out on the tyre pressures. Typically, most owners end up running somewhere around 18psi, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less - they’re quite sensitive to it, especially on track. 18 is a good starting point while getting used to the car though.

 

Using the quick fit tyre fitters default of around 32 psi will feel horrible, like you’re on ice, and may even have you sliding around 

[Flying Carrot Steve]

44 minutes ago, Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman said:

One tyre related note; if you’re not used to cars as comparatively light weight as Westfields, it’s easy to get caught out on the tyre pressures. Typically, most owners end up running somewhere around 18psi, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less - they’re quite sensitive to it, especially on track. 18 is a good starting point while getting used to the car though.

 

Using the quick fit tyre fitters default of around 32 psi will feel horrible, like you’re on ice, and may even have you sliding around 

 

Good point. Mine had 28 in when I bought it. I now run 18 front 16 rear. 

[Steve G.]

Hi and welcome. Sounds like you have found yourself a similar car to mine. Mine had been sat for around 14 years so it's taken quite a bit to get it back to a useable state. As others have suggested anything rubber might have deteriorated and anything exposed to fuel will have suffered. It sounds like the previous owners have already done quite a bit so it might not be that bad. I had some issues with the brake master cylinder and rear wheel cylinders (if you have drums on the back) and had to replace everything. 

Another unexpected problem was the fuel tank. Mine was foam filled and the foam had started to break down. The fix for now was to pull it all out. 

 

There is lots to read up on here, my resurrection thread covers a lot of what I have done and others have written similar. 

 

If you don't have manuals you can download some from the club and at least a haynes manual to cover the engine and mechanicals will help.  

[Captain Colonial]

Check your handy list of expletives and learn when and where to use them, and at appropriate volume levels.

Stock up on beer as it’s an essential lubricant during maintenance.

Just because your missus says it’s okay to store spares and rebuild your carbs in the dining room doesn’t mean she’s happy about it.