First fabrication job finished :)

[the_fbi]

First I was going to build an MK Indy, then due to worries about aerodynamics I chose a Stuart Taylor Phoenix, then earlier this month I bought a part finished Megablade.

Until this weekend I was concerned that my desire to actually build/fabricate stuff was out of the window as I'd be buying all the parts rather than making them. The Indy would have had lots of hand crafted parts, the ST less.

I'm happy to say, I've just finished making brackets to hold the radiator fan to the radiator and the radiator to the chassis and I'm well chuffed.

OK they're not exactly rocket science but they do work very well and are certainly strong enought to do their jobs.

Just need to get them blasted and powder coated (yes the fan bolts will be shortened too)

1 job down, lots more to go

[jak]

Bracket certainly look strong enough.

Just a thought, though have you had a trial fit of the nosecone, the top of the radiator looks alot further forward than on the standard westfield mounts.

John

[Martin Keene]

Polo rad does sit a lot further forward than the standard one. He's used the Westfield bottom mounts so providing it isn't leaning fowards he should be OK.

[scruffythefirst]

With the dax there are a lot of brackets to make, and they take ages.

[detailer]

Polo rad does sit a lot further forward than the standard one. He's used the Westfield bottom mounts so providing it isn't leaning fowards he should be OK.

Just had polo rad fitted in our narrow body westfield.  We fabricated the brackets and managed to get the rad angled forwards in the nosecone.

[the_fbi]

Just a thought, though have you had a trial fit of the nosecone, the top of the radiator looks alot further forward than on the standard westfield mounts.

Loads of clearance all round. Probably a good 50mm in most places. The nearest is on the bottom where the "spikes" are which normally locate in the polo's crossmember, but there's still 50mm to them too.

[nikpro]

What was wrong with the Westfield Alu mounts?  Think they cost a few quid from factory?

[JeffC]

Only advice I would give is be carefull on weight when fabricating, blade engines rely on a light weight chassis to work at there best..

Mine uses the factory alli brackets , they weigh next to nowt look very flimsy but hold the rad firmly in place..

ps. dont think my rad is as far forward as that and it is *very *tight on the nose , mine is the slightly wider golf/jetta rad..

[the_fbi]

What was wrong with the Westfield Alu mounts?  Think they cost a few quid from factory?

I wanted to build a car, not assemble one, so I'm making whatever I reasonably can.

Plus, Westfield don't appear that quick at delivering stuff, based on my first order taking 4 days so far and it wasn't rocket science stuff.

[adamnreeves]

What was wrong with the Westfield Alu mounts?  Think they cost a few quid from factory?

I wanted to build a car, not assemble one, so I'm making whatever I reasonably can.

Plus, Westfield don't appear that quick at delivering stuff, based on my first order taking 4 days so far and it wasn't rocket science stuff.

I usually get suff from Westfield next day sometimes the day after. If you need something urgent you can get guaranteed next day. If you order small parts less than a few Kgs, they usually send them thru the post and as you know (probably) our local postal service is very poor.

[nikpro]

What was wrong with the Westfield Alu mounts?  Think they cost a few quid from factory?

I wanted to build a car, not assemble one, so I'm making whatever I reasonably can.

Plus, Westfield don't appear that quick at delivering stuff, based on my first order taking 4 days so far and it wasn't rocket science stuff.

Blimey!  If you consider 4 days a long time then I need to re-calibrate my expectancies. Most Kit Car companies struggle to supply in 4 weeks!

I appreciate what you are saying about fabricating but sometimes the factory parts are the best spec for a job and will prevent problems later on.

The bottom mounts on the Westfield chasis normally mount straight to the radiator; your Rad is sitting to low. The top hose should be above the top chasis member and not in line with it.(how are you going to route the top coolant hose-it will kink badly as it passes over the top chasis member?)

I don't mean to insult you but I think the factory mountings look better.

[the_fbi]

I'm sure Westfield wouldn't like to be classified under the same heading as "most kitcar companies". Certainly thats not where I had them.

The parts I ordered, throttle cable, steering wheel boss and fuel tank straps should be off the shelf, if they're not then Westfield aren't in the category of manufacturer I had them in.

I agree the factory mounts look better, but I didn't have them and wanted to get something done this weekend. Worst case all I've done is wasted some metal, rods and a couple of rivnuts.

The hose I'm planning on using, although I've yet to find it in the garage, is a Samco from my LET which from memory has the perfect bends already in it to reach the radiator below the top chassis member.

Not sure if this pic is the same as mine, although it should be.

The middle left hose, the larger squiggly one, will hopefully dip under the top rail (when used upside down from this pic).

Just need to find it to check.

If it doesn't, then I can simply swivel the top mountings over and move the holes/shorten the bottom mounts which will raise it all up.

I do appreciate the feedback, negative or positive

ta

Chris

[nikpro]

That's cool  

Here's a pic from member pgh's build diary which shows the height of the standard install (hope he doesn't mind me posting it but it does look so neat.

[Ian Podmore]

Mine uses the factory alli brackets , they weigh next to nowt look very flimsy but hold the rad firmly in place..

Mine fractured after 9 years..... Now repaired and an additional ali brace added to each side from the top chassis mount to the bottom radiator mount positions diagonally if that makes sense.

[Barry Ashcroft]

What you need is a proper radiator

Barry