http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ca

[Bean]

I always liked the older ones, is it a popular model to go for?

I hope it be possible for me to throw in a 2 litre engine in eventually with full drive train, if I felt so inclined.  

I like the pre-lit too although, obviously, such things are subjective.

Engineering in a bigger engine is possible, but the only things which will go under the existing bonnet line are a x/flow, Lotus TwinCam, Toyota 4AGE or a bike engine.  So you are looking at a bonnet bulge for 2 litres, which might be a shame with that bonnet.  You won't be able to get an additional bonnet from Westfield, so you are looking at fabricating your own.

It is also possible to fit a 5-spd Type 9 gearbox to a pre-lit.

With all kit cars, condition and quality of build are paramount, I wouldn't be inclined to bid without first inspecting it.

Thanks, I wasn't going to bid without seeing it and asking questions.

I may well raise my budget and go for something newer, I'll have a read up and do some searching.

[Bean]

Just noticed someone already linked to the car in question in the For Sale, doh!

There's some lovely looking cars for sale, especially the 2003 WESTFIELD SEiW one  

Might have to re-think my budget

[Darrell O'Neill]

Take a look at Baggins' SEIW in the 'for sale' section

there seems to be alot of SEIW's going cheap at the moment not so, when I was looking.

PS. welcome aboard, get yourself along to a local meet and blag a ride, you won't look back

[Bean]

Take a look at Baggins' SEIW in the 'for sale' section

there seems to be alot of SEIW's going cheap at the moment not so, when I was looking.

PS. welcome aboard, get yourself along to a local meet and blag a ride, you won't look back

Nice but I'd be looking at something bigger than a 1.4.

What's the score with VX engines, I hear they're highly regarded? Who manufactures the engine?

[Darrell O'Neill]

VX is the ref. to the 16v Vauxhall engine as used in the Astra GTE. Caverlier and Calibra

Great engine, it was my choice anyway just don't ask questions as to which engine is the best, its a can of worms that has been opened on many occassions

[Darrell O'Neill]

Nice but I'd be looking at something bigger than a 1.4.

don't discard the smaller engines, still quick enougth to fill your pants with!!  

I just thought that you had mentioned changing the engine at sometime and that looked a great car for the money...  

[Mark Stanton]

1600 VX is reliable and can chuck out 160+BHP without internal engine mods other than ARP bolts    

1600 CVH make a very reliable road car and with some fettling can also produce 130+ BHP at wheels    

Do some homework bean and get along to a local club meet and ask Q's              

did I mention join the club        

[oioi]

One further question, does everyone keep their Westies in a garage because I don't currently have the room. It'd end up outside undercover for a while.

nope - mine lives under a cover.

not having a gargae can be a pain in   tho as working on the car in the rain aint a lot of fun

[Frau Vesty]

Also someone on here had theirs nicked from under a cover last year - even though I seem to recall that it was chained or bolted down or something similar.  So, make sure you have enough security for it and check that it's still there every day - part of the problem the other guy had was that he didn't know how long it had been gone!

[pistonbroke]

I would suggest buying the car that suits your budget now and perhaps later upgrade to a better specked Zetec / Vx /what have you , rather than spend money and time upgrading to a bigger engine on the Pre Lit .

You would have to upgrade most if not all of the ancilleries along with whatever power unit you fitted

     

there are some very nice Se 's for sale atm for not much more than the price your looking at paying for the pre lit crossflow

[chazpowerslide]

It was my 2.1 Pinto SE that was nicked.

I rekon it had been gone a week before I came to use it and discoverd it had gone.

In my defence the "cover" was a tubular frame with the cover streatched over the top that the car compleatly fitted under.

It was secured the ground and the car was locked and chained underneath it.

The covering material it's self was totally opaque hece I did'nt notice exactly whan the car had gone.

Alloy pre-lits are getting pretty rare now and it won't be slow with a 1700cc Xflow under the bonnet.

It looks like it's pretty sound and at 5K miles it's not going to be worn out.

The only thing I'd be really concerned about is electrolytic corrosion between the steel space frame and alloy pannels.

This will be easy to spot as the alloy pannells are not painted.

The alloy pre-lits have a low bonnet line so a modern 2Ltr twincam motor will need a fairly large bonnet bulge to accomodate it.

Personally I rekon you'd maybe spoil the character car by putting in a modern engine anyway.

The front suspension is MG Midget based with coil over dampers (the Ford based front end came with the GRP bodied later pre-lits)

Chaz.

[Mark Stanton]

The front suspension is MG Midget based

  Whats bits are midget Chaz .............     I thought 11 was midget or did some 7's use the odds and ends

[Bean]

Nice but I'd be looking at something bigger than a 1.4.

don't discard the smaller engines, still quick enougth to fill your pants with!!  

I just thought that you had mentioned changing the engine at sometime and that looked a great car for the money...  

Good point, I hadn't realised what you were getting at.

I think I'll look around for a basic engined model around £5k with the view to chucking another engine in later, as you suggested.

[7SE]

The front suspension is MG Midget based

  Whats bits are midget Chaz .............     I thought 11 was midget or did some 7's use the odds and ends

Come on Mark!  do a search Chaz answered all that here only recently                

[chazpowerslide]

As far as I can tell from what I have read, been told and from the 4 alloy bodied prelits I've seen the uprights, hubs, discs, calipers and rack are all MG Midget/Spitfire

The geometery is reputed to be better on the MG Midget based prelits.

From what I've been told by those in the "know" and what Ive seen it seems that the change to Ford parts and GRP bodies preceeded the litigation from Caterham.

The move was done to differentiate the Westfields from the Caterhams of the time in an attempt to avoid the legal action.

All of the GRP bodied prelits I've seen without exception have had the Ford Escort components up front, and all the alloy bodied ones have had the Midget/Spitfire components (though I'm led to believe the Midget/Spitfire bits are fairly similar and I'm not that familiar with either)

I have allways had a bit of a soft spot for prelits and I think £4500 for the Ebay is a very good price, I can see origional period alloy bodied prelits appreciating in value in years to come.

I'd be tempted by this one myself but I've other things on at the moment and cash is a bit short......

Chaz.