SVA test for the Westfield PASSED!

[Deleted member 66701]

Well, actually, the retest was passed against the speedo and the pass side hand brake.

Speedo tested deadly accurate (I mean spot on at 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) and hand brake efficiency went up from 16.5% LH, 45% RH to 50% both sides (thanks to MCB for helping me aadjust the hand brake).

200 mile round trip - 4.5hrs of driving all for a 15 min restest

This is the first time I have really driven the car for any length or distance (obviously) and I was a bit nervous as you could expect especially as it has a new Megasquirt and throttle body install on it. But I'm happy to report it drove like a dream - no odd noises, sqeaks or wierd behaviour - I could have driven another 100miles easily - I thought Westfields were supposed to be bone rattling and uncomfortable - that's that myth exploded!

And how lucky was I with the weather today!

So, no to complete the registration paper work - I'll hand that in on Monday at the local DVLA office and see how long it takes to get fully road legal with plates and tax.

Please excuse the bad pics - i forgot the proper camera AGAIN so had to resort to the phone (I think it really needs the lens cleaning!).

Now to fit the nice steering wheel, the carbon fibre goodies and remove all that b****y rubber trim/extension brackets!

Oh, it drives excellent on the 17's btw

 

[Deleted member 66701]

also can you not bring that roll bar down a bit, looks really high.

Erm, it's supposed to high to stop your bonce hitting the floor if you roll it! Diaganols still have to go on (post SVA mod) which makes it look a little lower.

How much did it cost to build

Stands me at £7k

Do you have any build progress pics?

I do - http://web.bethere.co.uk/amigafan2003/

 

[Deleted member 66701]

yes the satisfaction is immense and it was great to drive some of the country lanes to and from the test in the nice weather today.

The best bit is it's not actually finished yet I have a ton of post SVA mods to do on it over the next couple of weeks

 

[Deleted member 66701]

It's amazing how weak those headlamp and indicator extensions are - they've already fallen off Steering wheel wasn't much better either so I thought it better to play safe and put a different one on.

but the rear ones need a larger offset to bring them out to the edge of the arches

There's only a few mm clearance to it's maxed as far as offset can go- look at the front edge of the arch in the bottom photo.

And you're right, I wont listen about the wheels especially people that have never driven this type of vehicle - IT'S A ROAD CAR, NOT A TRACK CAR.

Drive a Dax with 17" wheels and 245 tyres and tell me it ruins the handling and then I'll listen.

But for the record I don't mind people saying they don't like the wheels - thet's thier perogative. Different opinions are good else god forbid we'd all be driving around in silver Mondeos!

More pics to follow when the carbon boot box, carbon half doors and carbon aero winglets go on this evening

 

[Deleted member 66701]

very low profile tyres tend to break away with less warning and less progression.

I have found this out Still, I've only ever driven rear wheel drive cars since I passed my test so i think I'll be able to handle it

it would be BETTER on smaller lighter wheels

It would also be better with a Duratec, but that would be more money. The wheels stay - they came with the donor car and the object of the build was tyo get it done as cheaply as possible. Some good quality smaller alloy with some good rubber would be £500 - that's £500 I can spend on other stuff for the car plus I want to show the car at some shows and the 17's fit in nicely for that kind of thing.

Anyhow, carry on the discussion - I like to hear what people think.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

it's a standard westfield

Have you read the build log? Hardly standard. And not all car shows are Max Power inspired you know..........

and what is thing with DAX? they make overpriced, overpowered silly cars with massive wheels...

So.... how many 7'esque cars have you driven then?

With the car pretty much finished and through it's SVA

Haha - no - building a kit car STARTS after it's been through it's SVA

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Sigh, I give up - it's no use arguing against people that have never driven a 7'esque car. Everyone has thier own idea of what make a good car - this Westfield is mine, end of.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

It's funny how no one on the Westfield Sports Car Club forums have said anything about the wheel, apart from a few saying it's cool to see a Westfield on 17's and the wheels suit it.

I think there is a serious attitude problem on this forum.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

point blank refused to see any downside to 17" wheels

Incoreect - I simply stated that I'm happy with the car on 17's. I accept it will handle better on smaller wheels but I do dispute the amount of difference it would actually make, i.e. a Westfield on 17's will still outcorner nearly every other car out there and I'm not going to lose any sleep over the ones that outcorner me. People are also forgtting this car ises the exact same track as the Sierra, making it much more suitable for large wheels.

FWIW I like the "snappy" handling. I wont be pushing the car to the limit on the road - I'm I'm pushing the limit I'll be on a track day where I can safely explore the limits of the car.

I always like to throw in an analogy - some people drink Asda cola even though Coca Cola is clearly superior. But at the end of the day, it's wet and quenches your thirst so as long as it does the job, that's all that matters.

Now, if I'd put square wheels on..........

Who said lightness and handling were the primary aims of the Lotus 7 design btw? It was actually designed to be built as cheaply and a simply as possible at home to get round the new car tax system introduced in the '60's. Lightness and good handling were actually a pleasant by product of the design brief.

Oh, and by the way - the headlamp extension brackets, indicator extension brackets and gash grey steering wheel magically "fell off" at the weekend Carbon fibre half doors are on and boot box cover goes on tonight - pics soon.

Handed in the registration docs today so just waiting on the built up inspection report before I can get out blatting

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Yes, it also had 40bhp in it's original incarnation.

I think my extra 140bhp is more than powerful enough to push 17" wheels which are probably lighter than the steel wheels and cross ply tyres from the original design as well

Next....................

 

[Deleted member 66701]

did you dyno your car? I can't remember. I'd love to see a graph.

I did - I have a scan of it somewhere, I'll dig it out.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

1) Does the re-test only cover issues failed on the original test (if yes do you pay a different fee)?
2) How long does it take to do a full test?

Missed those original questions so here goes:-

1: Yes, the retest tests only those items failed in the full test. It took all o 15mins. the restest is £38.
2: Varies - usually as to how well the car is built. Mine took just under two hours but it can take up to five hours.

A Funny thing happened just after my retest - a guy came in for the full test on his Caterham but the examiner refused to test it stating the chap hadn't made enough of an effort to ensure the vehicle stood a good chance of passing. As the examiner quite rightly pointed out, the test isn't so the examiner can show you how to build a car properly. I mean seriously, it didn't even have any cycle wings fitted over the tyres £190 down the drain for that chap I guess.