Three weeks of hard work

Steve JL · 23 Aug 2008 at 10:31

I have mentioned this in other threads on here but not actually posted any pictures of my progress.

I am building a Megabusa kit car and after a few issues out of my control I had to start from scratch again and redo all my previous work on a new chassis.

So I have spent about 50 hours getting the car to its current state and its finally down on the floor and rolling

Spec as follows

Westfield Megabusa
2007 Hayabusa engine
SBD dry sump and billet clutch slave
Compomotive CXR wheels and Toyo R888's
Full FIA cage
Digital dash
4 pot brakes
Paddle shift(when I make it)

Hoping to get it on the road this year :cool:

Steve JL · 23 Aug 2008 at 10:43

Its supposed to be about 180bhp and should come in at about 500kg's if I am lucky.

Started to obsess about weight now lol,hence the reason I deleted the reverse gearbox option. I have also taken of the PAIR system from the engine(its Suzuki's clean air pump basically). Got a few tricks up my sleeve to save some weight after its registered so we will see.

Will try and keep this updated then if there is interest in it. Wont be any progress for a couple of weeks though now as I am off to Spain for my hols in a day or two.

I do have some pictures earlier in its life if you want me to post them.

Steve JL · 23 Aug 2008 at 12:04

I wont go into the issues as to why I had to start again on here but lets just say I found that a bracket had been put on in the wrong place.

Its all sorted now and I am a happy bunny now,its amazing how much quicker it was second time round though

Westfield dont make the chassis to accept the ZX12 although thats not to say I could not fit it but I figured that come resale time if I follow the usual spec etc I would probably not lose too much money (dream on

)

@MrSix yes you buy them as a complete kit minus engine and wheels. Costs £10995 then you start adding options :O

Steve JL · 23 Aug 2008 at 14:32

Haha to be fair it does include every nut,bolt,clip well everything you need to build it.

I added wide track front suspension,front and rear anti roll bars,harness upgrade,digital dash and FIA cage plus some other bits.

Had to buy the dry sump separately as I did not want to use the Westfield one.

Not going to add up the costs as I will scare myself.

Steve JL · 23 Aug 2008 at 15:59

The workshop isn't mine it belongs to the company I work for.I have now had to move the car as we have some pre production cars going in there. Its now stored in the dyno room :cool:

Re the reverse box,as mentioned by olv it just requires a little forward thinking.

The cardboard is to protect the rad whilst the car is being built.I get lots of visitors to see what I have done and some of them are not particularly careful of where they walk or what they prod.

@ Penski pah car engines

,being an ex biker it was the only way forward for me previous Westy was car engined but that was not built by me.Doing it my way with this one

Steve JL · 2 Nov 2008 at 11:43

Update

I didnt realise I had not updated this for a while so here are some pics of the current progress.

I have mainly been fitting the body and it has taken me ages to get it "right"

The pictures below are yesterdays work

I have been putting off cutting the hole in the body for the exhaust for ages as it was such a complicated shape but once I started it turned out ok

Did some work on this little beauty earlier in the week too,some of you might recognise it although it has a different registration now.

Steve JL · 2 Nov 2008 at 11:49

Cheers olv and yes it is

Steve JL · 2 Nov 2008 at 13:47

peterattheboro said:
Who owns the Hilux now then?

Did the BBC buy it or borrow it for the program?

Its always belonged to Toyota GB

Steve JL · 2 Nov 2008 at 22:32

I think people are missing the point here with the reverse issue.

The car is a toy which will be used for track work and sunny days.

I wont be popping to the supermarket or doing my Xmas shopping in it lol.If I do need to reverse anywhere it wont be an issue to push it around.

Steve JL · 14 Dec 2008 at 23:23

Done a little bit more to the car.

Dry sump is fully plumbed in now,as is the cooling system.

Added a bit of scaffolding to the car as well now

Also made a start on the paddle shift I think you can just make it out in this picture

Steve JL · 15 Dec 2008 at 13:53

cyclops12 said:
you not thought about a chain quaife differential with reverse built in ? nice and light , ive got one on the trike and it works well
and what ya doing about the ram air ? wont you lose bhp without it

I looked at the Quaife kit but due to engine location etc it would not work in my application.
Unfortunately you lose the RamAir when the engine goes in a car.I do keep eyeing the supercharger kits though

gareth.e said:
Cool

What do you do for a living then?

I work for Toyota GB in the technical centre. We prepare all the press vehicles and troubleshoot cars for the dealer Network (Lexus as well).

Steve JL · 20 Feb 2009 at 21:34

Tiny update

Pretty slow progress with this I am afraid,usual stuff getting in the way.

I have been working on the car for a fair while now and dont seem to be making much progress.

I have had the prop made by a company in Feltham(very good and turned it round in 2 days)

Had to fabricate a mount for the centre bearing for the prop and finally got it all connected up :cool:

So I had to have a drive didnt I

poor quality I am afraid taken on a mobile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLD3xAHRJqQ

Finished the paddle shift today and plan to get stuck in on saturday finishing off little jobs that have to be done for SVA(forms are in and waiting for an appointment)

@ Perywinkle I think we may have met a while ago at the Parrot Inn probably one of the first meets I went to.

Steve JL · 20 Feb 2009 at 22:40

thanks guys appreciate the comments wasnt expecting that.

Housey you can never have too much power

Nathan a work colleague who owns an Ultima said it sounded like a milk float :rolleyes:

Its certainly been a labour of love,but then I am a perfectionist so a lot of the things I have done are my own doing I suppose.

Steve JL · 21 Feb 2009 at 08:24

The main reason I chose Westfield over over manufacturers was the quality of the GRP and good support from the factory.The owners club is brilliant for support too.

I owned a X/flow Westfield before (a 94 model) which was very good too.

I know other manufacturers are probably just as good now (before I get flamed by owners of other kits) but I also prefer the look of Westfield to the other sevenesque clones out there.

Whatever you decide to build take a good look at each manufacturers premises and ask questions on the respective forums.

Obviously decide on what sort of budget you have as well then throw it out the window as you will go over it

If you have anymore questions fire away(mail in trust if you want to do it off of here)

Steve JL · 21 Feb 2009 at 18:07

amigafan2003 said:
Looking good - so you'll be IVA'ing it then I assume - seeing as the cut off date for SVA is 28th Feb.

Got mine through SVA in October - actually been able to get out in it quite a few times even when it's been cold (and wet roads are immense fun

/QUOTE]

No way do I intend to IVA, SVA I hope,forms have been in since 9th Feb just waiting for the local centre to call me.

Steve JL · 24 Feb 2009 at 21:45

Those pictures are so wrong

I am not going to get into a mass argument about wheels as I know you get lots of stick on here about them.

Each to their own and all that.

Steve JL · 24 Feb 2009 at 22:20

Thanks for the comments again guys.

Had my SVA date come through yesterday,Friday 11th March :eek:

Got to cancel it and hopefully have it on the 16th got to get my finger out and get it done.

Will keep the thread updated with pictures and progress

Steve JL · 27 Feb 2009 at 12:48

Ok to answer some earlier questions

I changed SVA as the g/friend wants to come along and can only get Mondays off,new date is now the 23rd March.

I would have to rush to get the original date and I dont want to do that. This way I get a little more time

I do post on the WSCC under the name Johnson

I am 6ft 2 and fit in the car fine. The widebody is 4 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the narrow cars so I think most people can be accomodated comfortably.

Who needs reverse

Steve JL · 22 Mar 2009 at 12:09

Small update I have the SVA in the morning,been working all weekend to get it ready.

Needs a wash and tidy up then its ready. Off to sunday dinner now

Steve JL · 23 Mar 2009 at 20:42

Thanks guys comments appreciated

Well it passed first time

chuffed doesn't come close to how I feel.

Two minor points had to be addressed which were having to move the exhaust clamp slightly and sticking two pieces of U channel trim down on the roll cage.

I would not like to play poker with the examiner because he had one serious game face and didn't give anything away

Amigafan I probably spent (no joke) 3+ weeks getting the body fit how I wanted it and I am nowhere near the factory measurements for the back of the body to bulkhead.I gather that's only critical if you fit weather gear(which you also don't have). I also roughly set the rear camber and toe before fitting the body which may have helped.