Hanslow Posted May 27, 2002 Share Posted May 27, 2002 After some information from those of you that have their westie already 1) Did you build it yourself or buy it prebuilt? If you built it yourself..... 2) How long did it take? 3) How competent do you need to be for self build, and how much do you need to know about cars/engines before starting? 4) Did your interest wane? 5) Was it straight forward? 6) Did you have to buy a load of new tools? If bought complete.... 7) Did you miss building it yourself? 8) Have you since rebuilt part of it anyway? Sorry for the number of questions, still gathering info Me and my good lady would like to build our own, but having only tinkered with cars before not sure whether we are competent enough. It would be nice as a project, but not sure on my staying power if it gets tricky. It would be nice to self build to know the car inside out, but then it would be nice to just jump in one and drive it (and cheaper too). You're thoughts and time are appreciated Cheers Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studbuckle Posted May 27, 2002 Share Posted May 27, 2002 I went through the same dilema for ages. In the end I had my hand forced by funding issues and bought my 90 SE. Having said that, I love driving it and it gives a real buzz to just jump in it and drive without the ages taken to build. As for the future, I might px the SE for a kit to do during this winter or next OR rebuild mine with a better engine and do it properly. It's amazed me just how many small things have been left unfinished (even after 11 years) so I guess some people just do the min to get it on the road etc etc. If you've only tinkered i'd by a ready built one. You can easily get to know how it all bolts together once you see it. Then if you want to do your own it'll be so much easier and quicker and you'll have already formulated your own ideas as to how to alter the standard kit for your own tastes Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenwolf Posted May 27, 2002 Share Posted May 27, 2002 1) Did you build it yourself or buy it prebuilt? Built it myself If you built it yourself..... 2) How long did it take? 275 hours which equates to 6 months of evenings and weekends. This included the fitting of several 'extras' (centre lower console and gauges and full weather gear. It was also very much a one person endeavour apart from the differential and engine for which I had assistance. The following link will tell you all about it - have a look at the 'Log' for a short version of what was involved:- Build Site 3) How competent do you need to be for self build, and how much do you need to know about cars/engines before starting? I started with minimal knowledge. I knew how to change the oil and oil filter on a car but that was about it. I am happy with electricity as I am a Radio Amateur 4) Did your interest wane? No, never! I did get frustrated when things did not appear to fit or there were parts missing though. However, I built up an excellent rapport with the factory and received excellent service from them both in sending on missing bits and giving technical assistance over the telephone. Outside family things, this was the most satisfying endeavour I have ever undertaken - I loved it! I would not have wanted the project to have taken more than a year though as the aim for me was the driving afterwards. I set a goal of build over the Winter and drive the next Spring and Summer and achieved this easily. With two of you working on it the time taken will tumble. 5.) Was it straight forward? Mainly yes. You just have to approach the tasks in a logical and measured manner. The Westfield manual is very good (not always completely accurate) but it did for me. 6) Did you have to buy a load of new tools? Not having been involved with car maintenance, (although I did have an old socket set and some rusty Iimperial spanners!, I started from scratch buying most of the tools from the Halfords Professional range. I did, however, have the standard household tools like electric and hand drills, large files, a bench and vice etc. I bought the following:- Socket and (metric) Spanner set Imperial Spanner set Torque wrench (Clarke) 3 sizes of flat head and cross head screwdrivers Pop Rivet kit Hole punch Needle files Circlip Pliers A set of 1mm - 13mm twist drills Brake bleed kit Hide Hammer Axle stands Hydraulic jack I also bought the Westfield build stands although only used them up until the engine ent in and the car was lowered onto the axles stands for this and that is how it stayed. My wife assisted me with the very difficult hard to reach nuts and bolts, the fitting of the differential and the engine. She also painted the garage floor for me in preparation for the kit arriving - true love! Her support was invaluable and appreciated so that you doing the project with your other half is a very good start indeed. By chance, my son has just bought a second hand Westfield so I can also comment on this. If bought complete.... 7) Did you miss building it yourself? Simon definitely would NOT have had the patience - he would be the first to admit it! 8) Have you since rebuilt part of it anyway? He bought a very tidy and sympathetically built car but found many bolts not correctly tightened and the suspension and steering geometry had never been set. As it had only travelled just over 1,000 miles, no harm was done but it did make us check the whole thing out carefully. This enabled us to find a potentally lethal problem - the top ball joint on the front suspension did not enter the nyloc retaining nut far enough to lock it. If this had come undone, I dread to consider the consequences .... The Cortina upright had not been correctly modified as instructed clearly in the build manual. I have subsequently found three other cars with the same fault and there must be more. Buyer beware - check the car over very thoroughly, not matter how well built it looks, you cannot assume that it has been correctly assembled until you have checked it out yourself. Simon has since fitted carpets, hidden the wandering speedo cable and installed extra instruments in a new padded dash. Other mods will be to the carburation in the future. This car is looking great and was very reasonably priced. Have fun and good luck if you go the self build route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewKernick Posted May 27, 2002 Share Posted May 27, 2002 I bought my 89 Sei narrow body second hand from a well respected second hand Westfield dealer (most people will know who he is) four years ago. I would have liked to build one myself from scratch but this was the only option I could afford at the time. All I can say is that each car is built by different individuals with different abilities. I have modified mine over the time I have had it. I binned the twin choke Carb and replaced it with twin 40's that I bought second hand for £100, and reconditioned them myself. A word of caution though! After owning the car for a short time,I found some things that were not assembled correctly. The most serious being the fact that the passenger side front upper wishbone arm was fitted the wrong way round! Leading to me needing to turn it round,retrack and adjust camber again. Steering was too light before, now has much better feel. Hope this does not put you off buying ready built. Just be aware that there could be things amiss that even a recognised Westfield specialist can miss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordy Posted May 27, 2002 Share Posted May 27, 2002 Bought mine already built, but have since done some bits to it - adding carpets and such. I would like to build my own, but i have a small garage in a block with no power, so it would not have been easy to do, hence buying one already built. At the end of the day, driving it is the fun bit - working on them is just something to do between drives. good luck in your choice. cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanslow Posted May 27, 2002 Author Share Posted May 27, 2002 Thanks for the input so far (special thanks to steppenwolf for the essay ) My heart is saying go for the self build and my head is saying go for the pre built. I think the sensible option in the first instance would be to go for the pre built, and do any further mods myself to get a feel for the build process. Hopefully, I should be able to get more car for my money for a pre built one, and provided I can get someone to check it over for me, shouldn't have much to worry about. Just need to find somewhere decent to move house to first Any more input will be appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenwolf Posted May 27, 2002 Share Posted May 27, 2002 Just had a look at my post - you're right it is an essay! I talk the talk but do I walk the walk ......? Here is the summary:- Go for it built or DIY - it's hard to go totally wrong and you are going to love it no matter what route you take .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanslow Posted May 27, 2002 Author Share Posted May 27, 2002 No problems with lots of info mate, I'm a living sponge at the moment when it comes to westies (well trying to be). I think you are right about just getting one though regardless of self or pre build. As long as I can get hold of the build manual, it shouldn't be too much trouble to take some bits apart if I need to Saves the wait for building as well Now to convince the missus we don't need to put all our current house equity down as a deposit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterg Posted May 27, 2002 Share Posted May 27, 2002 trust me, you don't need a build manual......I took mine to bits this spring and as Steve aka Steppenwolf will confirm it all went back together OK (and done better than the last person ) and now goes pretty well too actually that reminds me, I must update the picture although it didn't stop me being recognised by my avatar pic at Shelsley Walsh last weekend - how's that for the power of the WEB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenwolf Posted May 27, 2002 Share Posted May 27, 2002 When buying a second hand one, it certainly helps to have as much 'paperwork' as possible and ideally, the original build manual. My son's car came with receipte for every last nut and bolt and I am not exaggerating! The builder was meticulous in these details but the things that were wrong were things that he had 'always intended to see to but had not got round to'. We are still in touch with him and he is interested in the car's progress. If the build manual is not supplied with the car then they can be bought from Westfield for £18.50 plus postage and VAT so this is not a terminal problem. On that subject, you could consider buying the manual for the kit that you were considering purchasing as this will give you an opportunity to see exactly what is involved in a self build. If you then decide not to buy akit but go for a ready built one, you will only have spent a relatively small amount of money, had an interesting read and got a good insight into Westfield cars generally. Like I said earlier, its difficult to lose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stanton Posted May 27, 2002 Share Posted May 27, 2002 Always remember a face Peter sometimes names and the cars most of all You don't need to go any faster and have you got any one's left in your number collection 111 three times. Bet you get the same next time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart C Posted May 27, 2002 Share Posted May 27, 2002 Bought my car factory built because i wanted the Sport Carbon (it was not available in Kit form). I am also impatient and wanted to drive it. However since owning it I like tinkering with it. "Its not fast enough". "Its not light enough". "It doesn't handle well enough". "It doesnt stop quick enough". Im sure all other Westie drivers feal the same about thier cars even though its not true. This is the fun of owning one of the fastest, lightest, best handling cars there is. Which ever you decide to do you will have great fun and never stop putting your hand in your pocket to make it better. Welcome to the world of the "Westfield Smile". Cheers Stuart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterg Posted May 28, 2002 Share Posted May 28, 2002 Thanks Mark, actually I didn't use all my 1's as I used pvc tape for the small ones (no pun intended) on the nose and I need to go a lot faster as I'll be an 'expert' next year if I've read the regs correctly and those guys were 3-4 secs faster but then they've had more (ie. some) practice at it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smayo Posted May 28, 2002 Share Posted May 28, 2002 Hanslow, I would definitely recommend the self built route. I had virtually no mechanical knowledge at all, apart from changing the oil/filter and brake pads/fluid. I did not log every second as steppenwolf did, but I estimate the build took me about 200-250 hours and six months. When Westfield state that you only need 120 hours, this is probably true if you've built one before, but as a first timer you check and check and check before doing anything that you are slightly unsure about. The time will also vary according to the amount of "mods" you do to the standard build. While the basic kit is VERY good, there are always areas where you consider you could improve on the basic design. The only part of the whole process which I did not enjoy was the hassle of getting the car to Westfield for setup and to the SVA by trailer. smayo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Gratton Posted May 28, 2002 Share Posted May 28, 2002 Hanslow, Do it yourself my friend - Craig and I are. We weren't that good with tools to begin with - both dablers with scoobys before - and we are finding it ok. Sometimes its useful to have an extra set of hands and a brain. I think the best way to learn about stuff is to take it apart - starting with the bits to begin with has been a great method of learning about how the car is bolted together. I believe its important to understand the car as its not as if you can pop down to your local garage and they'll know how it works plus - you tend to put it together properly knowing your own life is in your hands LOL Go on - start building Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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