Which Chasis?

[Astraoid]

I'm due to pick up my rolling chasis this week but it seems the factory have made a small mistake. Instead of building it around the Sport 2000 lightweight chasis they built it around a standard SEIW chasis.

It's a genuine mistake and Westfield were very appologetic and have offered to rebuild the chasis to my original spec if I don't want to accept the heavier chasis.

It will take them around 2 more weeks to rebuild my chasis so I'm not sure what to do (I'm a bit impatient and want to get on with building the car).

My engine can certainly compensate for the increase in weight (power to weight wise) but is the handling of the lighter chasis sufficiently better to warrent waiting another 2 weeks for? Any opinions?

[nikpro]

It really depends on what engine fitment you are going for - the 2000S Chassis has bracing to solidly mount the Duratec engine; I think the engine is a stressed member in this chassis but I may be wrong.

If it's only the weight saving you are after then there isn't a huge difference between them; about a weeks worth of Pies and peas I'd guess.

[Astraoid]

Thanks. I'm using a VX engine. I've decided not to worry about the lighter chasis - I'm not planning on building a stripped out track car so I guess every kilo doesn't really have to count.

[michaelcoombs]

The 2000s Chassis is also stiffer i believe.

[Bazzer]

And if your are building a munter of an engine as you alluded too, then the bracing around the diff area on the 2000 chassis will be a good thing.

Bazzer

[Astraoid]

The engine is already built but is currently a little too potent for what I want to start off with in the Westfield. Do the standard chasis' start experiencing problems with higher powered engines? I only ask because Wesfield said there will be no issues for me to conern myself with.

[Bazzer]

So why is a sport 2000 chassis braced at the rear then    

I know of at least one high spec Vx that has cracked around the bottom of the diff cage.

Sticky tyres on track with a powerful engine seemed to be the cause.

Bazzer

[Al Yupright]

I would go for the new chassis... it is an evolution of the older chassis after all. I also feel the car will have higher value with this chassis.

If I were to build another Westy, its the chassis I'd go for!

[ACW]

Id wait, you will regret it later, even if it makes no odds.

[mark.anson]

Id wait, you will regret it later, even if it makes no odds.

I agree. I know what its like: I can be very impatient when it comes to things like this but from bitter experience I would wait the two weeks if I were you.

[Glen H]

I have a Sport 2000s type chassis - without the solid engine mounts/bracing, westfield will produce the chassis with standard engine mounts but you still get the added benefits of the additional bracing and I found it to be 5.3kg lighter (from memory).

If it were me I'd wait for the 2000s chassis, you say you don't intend building a stripped out racer - a lot of us say that at the begiining, you will gain from the weight saving, diff bracing/strentgh, torsional rigidity of the chassis and a premium should you ever come to sell the car.

You have probably already checked this, but does the 2000s chassis accomodate the VX engine - I ask because there is an additioanl bracing across the front of the engine bay (just under the bonnet-nose cone join) - I pressume as long as you get the engine far enough back you should be o.k - but worth checking.