~ Frequently Asked Questions ~
A Listing of some of the more FAQ's about Westfield's and Sevens alike.
If you have any more you would like to add to this list, please send me an Email.
Table of Contents
About the Car
- What is a Westfield?
A Westfield is a two-seater sports car built along the lines of the famous Lotus 7 originated by Colin Chapman. It consists of a space-frame chassis made of tubular steel with aluminum panels and covered in a light-weight fibre glass body. Due to it's construction and size, the power to weight ratio is very high resulting in a very exiting car to drive. - How can I purchase one?
Follow this link for info on How to own a Westfield. - What Models are availale?Follow this link for info on Models
Engine Related
- Engine Weight - How heavy is my engine?
To see a list of the popular 4 cylinder engines with comparisons, follow this link - 4 Cylinder.
To see an old list of other engines, follow this link - Other Engines. - Which is best, Bike engine or Car engined Westfield?
Depends on what you want if for?
- Bike engined cars are faster as they are much lighter (approx 400kg - 450kg). They rev a lot higher (11,000 plus) and tend to be a bit more expensive to build i.e. Engines cost anything from £1,000 - £3,000 for a Hayabusa.
This type of car is more suited to the track although there are plenty used just for road but due the high revs, the power band and toque is usually higher up than a car engine.
For a choice of Bike engines, check out the Bike Engine Specs. - Car engined Westfield's are the norm. Although the popular engine choices are the Ford Crossflow, Zetec, Pinto, Toyota 4age, Vauxhall XE and some Rover V8's, there are plenty of specials out and about. Engines come cheaper i.e. Approx £200 for a Zetec and the average weight of these types of car is around the 500kg - 600kg thus not making them as quick as bike engined cars but still fast all the same. Servicing is much cheaper too and using them on the track is still very exciting usually blowing away TVR's, BMW's and such like (except on the long straights). These are best suited for road use and with independent suspension, they will soak up even the bumpiest UK roads.
- Bike engined cars are faster as they are much lighter (approx 400kg - 450kg). They rev a lot higher (11,000 plus) and tend to be a bit more expensive to build i.e. Engines cost anything from £1,000 - £3,000 for a Hayabusa.
Bodywork
- Bonnet Height - What is the difference between a Highline and Lowline Bonnets?
The Earlier Westfield SE was fitted with 2 types of bonnet. Not sure of the actual date of change but I believe it was around 1990/92. Anyway, as measured from the top of the chassis rail to the top of the bonnet at the front, the height will be as follows:
The LOWLINE is approx 6.5 inches.
The HIGHLINE is approx 8.5 – 9 inches.
If you are thinking of changing your bonnet to suit an engine change, don’t forget to change the nose as these are also different to suit the higher profile bonnet. - Front Wings - What's the difference?
You can get a Westfield with 2 types of front wings, Cycle or Clamshell.
- Cycle:- The Cycle wing is like a Mudguard on a Motorbike, it just fits over the front tyres and turns with the wheel. It has the benefit of being a little more aerodynamic than the clamshell and to some people, looks more sporting. Some of the drawbacks are that:
1. You may have to restrict the movements of the steering rack as they can touch the bodywork on full lock and thus fail the SVA. This can obviously lead to a terrible turning circle as a result.
2. With the front wheel having minimum coverage, you can get stones, water and such like being thrown up from the front wheels. - Clamshell: The Clamshell wing or "flared" wing is the larger type which stretches from over the wheel to three quarters down the side of the car narrowing down to just under the windscreen. The benefits of this type are that they are fixed and you and the rear arches are protected more from the elements of the road. One of the drawbacks are they are a lot larger and produce more drag when travelling at high speeds. This is not usually a big problem, as most Westfield’s don’t spend too much time on Motorways.
- Cycle:- The Cycle wing is like a Mudguard on a Motorbike, it just fits over the front tyres and turns with the wheel. It has the benefit of being a little more aerodynamic than the clamshell and to some people, looks more sporting. Some of the drawbacks are that:
- Windscreens - What is available?
Several choices here:- Standard Screen: This is a full windscreen allowing some protection from the elements when used on it’s own and the ability to fit Wipers.
You are also able to fit Side screens and a Hood for full weather protection with this option although most people find fitting the hood is a bit claustrophobic. Just fitting the side screens gives adequate protection from most of the elements and stops a lot of wind buffeting too.
One drawback is that even though a Westfield has the aerodynamics of a brick, the full windscreen adds even more drag to that equation. - Aero-screen 1: This is usually a fibreglass affair, which bolts to the top of the scuttle. It does stop a bit of the wind buffeting and gives the car a cleaner and slightly more aerodynamic profile but you are still at the mercy of the weather and you can’t fit side screens or a hood. It is advisable to wear some kind of eye protection as bugs can hurt at speed. Most racers use this type of screen but then they wear helmets!!
- Aero-screen 2: This is the glass type of Aero-screen sometimes called a Brookland’s Screen, which is 2 pieces of semi-circled glass. These look more like the older Lotus 7 types and give a little more protection that the fibre-glass type but still advisable to wear eye protection.
- Standard Screen: This is a full windscreen allowing some protection from the elements when used on it’s own and the ability to fit Wipers.
- What colours are available?Westfield make a range of standard colours which are impregnated into the gel coat so if you get a scratch, just polish it out. Alternatively, Fibreglass can be sprayed as you will see in many of the specimens already on the road. To see the choices, visit Westfield's own colour chart HERE
- Can I swap my Pre-lit Body for later SE? Yes it is possible to swap your older pre - 1988 bodywork from your pre-lit chassis and fit the SE (Narrow bodied) bodywork to it.
It will take some fettling but beleive me, it does fit as I know somebody who has done it and it looks fantastic.
Chassis
- Rollbars - What sort is best?
One of the best types of Roll-bar is the RAC type.
This is stronger due to the fact it has two extra bracing bars to the rear of the chassis. This does however require you to either cut the bootbox or make a custom cover for the boot area.The standard Westfield Roll-bar is very adequate however and comes in various designs with either powercoating or Chrome, Round corners or tapered corners. All of this is purely down to choice but if you’re thinking of racing your Westfield, then a RAC type is strongly recommended.
Fitting a hood is a bit more difficult with the RAC bar but it is possible. - What's the difference between Se, Sei, SeiW etc?
The main difference between Se & Sei is the rear suspension. The SE has a fixed rear axle from an Escort Mk2. These are a lighter arrangement than the Sei which is fine for track use but not so comfortable for road use. The Sei has independent rear suspension which is far more forgiving on the UK's bumpy roads.
The "W" means WIDE body. Earlier cars were available as Narrow or Wide hence the extra letter on older models. However, the narrow body is no longer available to buy so the "W" has been dropped as they are all now Wide cars.
Interior
- Steering Wheels - What's the best to fit?Steering Wheels are mostly a personal choice. There are varying diameters, material and thickness all which have to be taken into account. The things to bear in mind are:
- Is it too small that: It covers the dials and/or warning lights – You can turn the dials around so you can see the most important parts and swap around the warning lights.
- Is it too large that: I can’t get in and out of the car – Get a removable steering wheel or one with a flat bottom. Removable ones are not SVA friendly though so fit it afterwards.
- It’s difficult to turn the front wheels: You don’t need huge tyres on a Westfield so this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. 12” are usually about right.Other than that, it’s purely personal choice.
- Harness or Seatbelt?
Safety or convience, that's the key point here. As always, there are choices:- Inertia Reel: This is by far the easiest choice for convenience. Just like a standard Tin top car, they prevent forward impact but that's about all. In a roll-over, they will not stop you falling out of the car.
- Race Harness: 3, 4 or 6 point harnesses can be fitted. They can be a pain getting in and out of the car frequently but safety wise, they are the best. They can also improve you enjoyment of driving as they will hold you in place whilst the car is being thrown about as well as stopping you from falling out in a roll-over situation.They usually come with wide webbing belts which are very comfortable and also add to the sporty image of the car. If your car has 3 points, NEVER fit a 4 point harness to it, always use the correct setup for your car or get more lugs welded in.
Electrical Stuff
- Radiator Fan - How do I wire a fan? - See this link for diagram.
- How do I wire up my Car?
There are plenty of Wiring diagrams about but mine is on this site. This will give you a general idea on some of the simpler tasks and maybe even some of the harder ones. This is only for Guidelines though, I am no Electrician but Everything works fine on my car with no blown fuses :-)
Full Wiring Diagram
SVA Questions
- Petrol Cap - Do you need a locking one for the SVA?
No, as long as the cap is secure and does not leak, it will pass. - Brake Bias - Can I Fit such a device to my car?
Yes provided it is locked off with a roll pin, not split pin or lock nuts. - Battery Isolator - Can I fit one on the Dashboard?
Yes, Provided it is radiused suitably, if not – no.
(Think about putting it behind the steering wheel as this is an exempt area). - SVA Process - What order do I go about getting my car SVA'd?
Get Insurance, DVLA to get Inspection and VIN number, Get SVA, Get MOT, Get Tax, Drive it.(If car already has a Vin, you may be able to SVA it before DVLA Inspection).
Other Questions
- Are they easy to steal?
If the thief is determined, anything is steal-able! All you can do is take precautions. Most thief's are looking for a quick buck rather than the whole car.- Battery Cut-out: This will prevent any electrics being useable and if your thinking of Motorsport, this is a requirement anyway.
- Fuel Cut-out: A simple cut-out switch which cuts out your fuel supply via the fuel pump. Half a mile down the road and Blurrrrrrr.
- LED Light: Just a deterrent, works wonders as nobody knows what it's connected too. Why not have 2?
- Immobilizer: Fit a professional immobilizer from a reputable company. Some of these units will entitle you to insurance discount too.
- How much is Insurance?
Obviously a hard one due to age, cost of car and spec of car. There are plenty of Insurance companies who now do Kit-Car insurance and they are very reasonable. As a Westfield is usually a 2nd car, the premium is not as high as a normal everyday car and if you limit the mileage i.e. 3,000 or 6,000 (they vary) then the cost is lower than you think. Example: Mine is £149.00 for Fully Comprehensive, £100 Excess, 3,000 Miles per year on a £8,000 car with a Lotus 2 litre engine. Check out some Insurance Companies. - What are they like to drive?
Being so low to the ground, it seems like you are traveling faster than you are. With the wind in your face, you can't beat it. I have some samples on my Videos Page that will give you some idea of the sound and speed but the best idea is to pop down to a local club and ask for a test drive. - Are thery any clubs near me?
There are around 25 UK clubs for Westfield owners alone. This does not include other Kit-car clubs that also have Westfield owners so check out this list of Clubs and venues.