steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Apr 18, 2024 21:59:45 GMT
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I didn't know I wanted this to begin with. A guy started at work and I got chatting after finding out he had a few cars. He mentioned he had his late fathers Westfield and that he was probably going to be selling it. Roll on a few months I began to like the idea of owning something like this so with very little persuasion I offered to buy it.    At this point the car hadn't been started for a couple of years and it didn't run well then. So I didn't know if the engine was any good and to make thing more difficult I didn't really fit in it very well. This is quite an early car with a narrow body and live rear axle and it's fitted with an overbored 1.6 crossflow. My first job was to get it running. It took a while to rebuild the carbs. The old fuel had dried up and lots of the small drillings were blocked up. I drained the tank and fitted new fuel filters and fuel hose. It still has points so I swapped these for an Aldon Ignitor. Eventually after fixing a few other problems I got it running again. |
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Last Edit: Apr 18, 2024 22:02:49 GMT by steveg
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Very cool, I’ll be following along.
John
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Very cool, I’ll be following along. John Thanks for the interest. I bought it back in December and have a fair bit more done now. Just hope I can get it ready to drive soon as I don't want to miss many more dry days ! |
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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The big problem I had with the car was that I just didn't fit. The brake pedal was way too high and the gap between it and the kick panel was so narrow my foot wouldn't fit down the gap to operate the throttle pedal properly. On these earlier models a Mk1 Escort pedal box was used but modified to use a different brake master cylinder. The pedals themselves are cut, flattened and then re-welded as well. These modifications were done at the factory and weren't very well done.   |
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Apr 22, 2024 10:30:12 GMT
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The original pedal box. Apart from being a bit untidy the mounting holes had been messed about with so it had extra holes in it.  The clutch mounting tube had been welded on and was a mess. My welding isn't great but at lease I can use a file !  This is the replacement box. The extended lower section is fitted to allow the master cylinder bolts to be vertical.  The original pedal bushes aren't very well supported. These are uprated bronze ones that had been soldered into the pedal.  My fix for this was to weld in these blocks. This is the brake pedal and it's made from fairly thick material, the clutch is a lot thinner. The blocks make things a bit more sturdy. I made up a new set of bushes and a new pin for them to go on.  Old and new brake pedal and the clutch I could re-use.  This shows the amount the pedals are flattened. This is the brake and for some reason it was cut and welded twice. I cut the new one in a different place so the pad didn't get twisted.  This is the new parts mocked up. There is a spacer between the master cylinder to save cutting the pushrod too much. I also made a new clutch mounting tube.  I had to cut the rear pedal box mounts off the chassis and replace the ends. There isn't a lot holding the pedal box apart at the back so I made this strap and incorporated the brake light switch into it.  After testing the pedal a few times the master cylinder had decided it had had enough and started leaking. It had been filled with silicone fluid and it looks like water had collected at the lowest point. I was worried about where to find a replacement after doing all this work but they are still available from Powertrack link This is the finished article. I made up a throttle cable mounting bracket. The twin cable block on the pedal was on the car but I cut a couple of slots in it so the cables can easily be removed.  The footwell just needed the kick panel removing where it was tightest. The angled edge runs along the top of a chassis tube. I was intending the leave all of the trim as it was but the foam backing had fallen apart and gone sticky. Getting all the glue off has left me not wanting to ever re-fit any of it !  Here it is all covered up ! The previous owner had made the cover as the proper fibreglass only fitted where it touched. I did re-make the front of the box as it had quite a few extra holes in it.  |
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Apr 22, 2024 10:34:02 GMT
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I ought to add that none of the welding was done by me. I work with a guy who can weld anything with anything. His thing at the moment is restoring an old Raleigh RM1 moped. I will have to get him to send some photos.
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Apr 22, 2024 10:51:49 GMT
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I was considering fitting these seats.  The did help with legroom but now the pedals are fixed I'm a bit too short! The original seats are a bit more padded and are just about right. I stripped all of the carpet out and cleaned up the aluminium panels. The glue was a nightmare and a combination of carb cleaner and scotchbrite (before it melted) worked quite well.  I fitted a new steering wheel and made a smaller gear lever knob as well.  With the pedals fixed I needed to replace the pipe on the axle and fit new wheel cylinders. The original pipe looks like it got caught on something and had been kinked. It all needs a bit of a clean.  I haven't seen it with the windscreen fitted. I needed to replace the wiper wheel boxes as the threads had corroded and fit a replacement scuttle to windscreen filler panel as the original one was cracked.  |
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Apr 22, 2024 11:00:44 GMT
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This pretty much brings us up to date. I've already got far too many cars which is the reason the Westfield is sitting on the trailer in the garage. I bought a pair of flat pack containers to put a couple of the other cars in but ended up with nowhere to put the trailer. It's actually quite hand as it raises it up and acta as a mobile bench. I've got all matter of tools on the bed but I can just wheel it back into the garage when it's time to pack up. I've seen a lot of older Westfields that have been modernised with lots of carbon fibre and LED headlamps but I didn't want to go that route with this. Not a huge amount to do to make it driveable now. Need to get some tyres give it a good clean and refit what there is of the interior.  |
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Apr 22, 2024 11:35:22 GMT
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I think a cross flow powered 7 would be a nice balance between fun and frightening. I love the front mud guards with the green over yellow.
Good stuff
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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I've been so busy I haven't kept this updated. The car has passed an MOT and been driven for the week the weather was really nice. This is it almost ready to go with new tyres, new rear wheel cylinders.  The first problem was the alternator which decided it didn't want to charge so I bought a new one.  Then the radiator decided to spring a leak and soak the brake on the nearside. I thought at this point I ought to sort a few things out. This is actually a modified Cortina radiator fitted with 2 bottom tanks. I've got a new thicker core radiator on the way along with a new fan. Hopefully this some new hoses and a coolant overflow bottle will keep the coolant where it's supposed to be.  The engine seemed quite free to move about and I had issues with the front air filter rubbing on the bonnet. The original Escort mounts seemed a bit soft so I got hold of some Land Rover ones suggested by someone in the owners club. These aren't the easy to get factors one but some that are specially made to a earlier better spec. Even new genuine Land Rover ones are now rock hard and about £70 each and a local specialist suggested these. www.glencoyne.co.uk/ownparts.htm  Fitting the new mounts caused the engine to sit a bit higher and this made the already very close starter motor hit the chassis. It's a reduction gear drive one similar to those found on Subars's, works great but is a bit of a lump. The only way I could reposition it was so the motor hangs down. It's a bit close to the ground, slightly lower than the sump but at least there is now a fair bit of room. This will also allow me to straighten up the engine and gearbox which currently points over towards the driver.  While I am waiting for the radiator and a few other parts I fitted a battery cur off switch and new cables. I still need to wire in the ignition sde of things.  |
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Very cool car that.
You are really giving it a thorough going over!
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Very cool car that. You are really giving it a thorough going over! Thanks. I drove it to work for a week and it certainly shows up any problems pretty quickly. I knew the cooling system was probably going to cause a few problems as it had sat for so long but I was trying to get it ready for the Kit Car Show but didn't manage it. My initial worries were with the driving position and pedals but after all the work you don't notice anything being out of the ordinary. Saying that I need to alter the angle of the seat base to support my throttle leg a bit. Bumps in the road lead to me not being able to keep my foot still so thats something else to add to the list. Just hope we get a bit more dry weather ! |
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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 Proof it got used !  |
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Last Edit: Jul 8, 2024 23:22:51 GMT by steveg
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chap in my area had a green Westie with a redtop when i was a kid. I still have a picture of me wrapped up warm about 12 years old, Oakley shades on, and Paul taking me out for a blast. One of those moments that made me a petrol head, and i've had a soft spot for them ever since. Personally i much prefer the cycle wings, they are lighter and don't look like they're producing aerodynamic lift. One day i'll get one I'm sure. Thanks for sharing yours, you've put a smile on my face, and you've done excellent work getting her up and running.
Jake
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1971 Triumph Toledo 1500 Road/rally
1998 Peugeot 106 Rallye
2007 Volvo V50 T5 AWD "Sensible Daily"
1978 BMW R100RS Cafe Racer "Jägerbomb"
1979 Harley Davidson SXT trials bike
2018 Black Lab/Alsatian cross "Rocky"
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