Body Work Codes - What's The Difference?

[uk89camaro]

I've only recently noticed some coded references to body work styles as they've changed over the years. For example : ZK, XW, XXW.

Is there a list somewhere that shows the dates applicable to each code. or more specifically could someone tell me if a ZK nose will fit on a 1998 body? (Sorry to mix the common denominator!)

[Mark (smokey mow)]

I'm not familiar with the XW and XXW designations so i'm unsure what these relate to but principally for the wide bodied cars there are on 4 different variations of body tub that i'm familar with...

First up is the original "kit bodywork" employed on the first of the wide bodies. This is sometimes also referred to as the "small lug" bodywork due to the size of the locating lugs for the bonnet, scuttle and arches. Kit bodywork is normally identifiable as the bonnet doesnt have a return flange on it's leading edge ( ie it's more akin to if it were a flat sheet of metal) likewise the nosecone has a shallow swadged flange to accept to bonnet. The scuttle is a slightly different shape to the later bodywork, tapering in slightly more at the top, the crashpad extends across the entire top of the scuttle to meet the screen and only comes down the sides of the scuttle about half way.

The newer and current ZK bodywork although looking very similar to the early body is slightly different. The bonnet features a large return flange to the leading edge which provides more ridgidity and allows for the front of the bonnet to locate into the nose with two locating pins. The nose likewise has a much larger flange(appprox 1") rather than the smaller joddled flange on the earlier bodywork. The locating lugs for the bonnet, scuttle and arches are very pronounced ovoround lugs that are approx 15mm tall with square edges. The crashpad on the scuttle extends down the full height of the scuttle to meet the top edge of the tub, but only has a thin profile so leaving a large gap between the crashpad and the screen.

There are two different rear arch widths for the ZK, either the standard wide, as fitted to most cars, or the extra wide used on the Sierra SDV.

Kit and ZK bodywork aren't directly interchangeable although it may be possible with certain parts with a bit of fettling.

I'm aware of two different styles of FW bodywork. The first is that used on the kit cars and the second is on the Sport turbo. There are differences both in the tub and rear arches ( i dont know about the front). The kit car bodywork has a letterbox style boot box and lid, whereas the sport turbo has a full width and hinged boot lid.

The kit car FW bosywork is interchangable with the ZK bodywork so you can mix and match, tubs and bonnets.

I'm afraid i dont know what years each were introduced, and i suspect as with most things Westfield there was a period of overlap and mix and matching.

[uk89camaro]

Ah ok, that explains a lot. (The XW and XXW I lifted from another post having revealed little else from a search.)

As far as I know I have an early wide, without detatchable arches, but interestingly I have no flanges on the nose, nor do I have locating lugs on the bonnet. (Which would mean I wouldn't have to bump it at each bonnet catch to line it up each time I put it back on.)

Thanks, I guess a ZK nose cone wouldn't fit mine without the aforesaid fettling.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Looking at some of your other pics on the forum i concurr that yours is not ZK bodywork. To fit a ZK nose you'd also need a ZK bonnet and scuttle.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

IIRC, the precise height of the swage line that runs from mid way along the nose, back along the bonnet and across the scuttle is different between the kit body and later ZK body.

The top "flat" section of the kit scuttle on a wide is just less than 20mm narrower than on a ZK body. This difference is also there in the bonnet width at the back, not sure at the front though.

The other significant variation in the traditional style bodywork was in the limited type approved cars sold fully built in the nineties. These came with tub sides that extended all the way to the nose cone, Caterham style, with suspension and steering components going through individual openings in the tub. They also had slightly odd looking bonnets; the engines retained the oem Ford induction, for the NA model, that meant a single throttle body and efi. The bonnet had a similar bulge to the V8 bonnet, but heavily offset to the offside of the car to clear the TB.