Pedal Box & Panels

Too many other commitments so limited progress; Pedals fitted, Passenger's External Panel drilled chassis turned over and lower panels "fettled" but not drilled. Build time 3 hrs me and 1hr James; total 17.5 hrs.

Emails and a quick call to Jason at Westfield and panel plus some extra M8 bolts are in the post.

1st Build Day

Got off to a reasonable start and by close of play had fitted the Tunnel Side Panels, Rear Bulkhead, Drivers Side and Bulkhead and drilled all the holes for the Passenger Bulkhead (couldn't find the Side Panel but I've got an extra driver's side), the Scuttle and the Driver's Exterior Panel - 10 hrs my time plus 3.5 hrs of James' and Myles helped find some parts and do some of the riveting. 

Points of note:  Eating 4.1mm Drill Bits, Chassis has extra bracing that means the Panels need extra cut outs (slightly over did this on the bulkhead!) and most panels need some "fettling" to clear welds etc, so far only one miss drilled hole (that I filled with a rivet) and finally the Air Riveter was a very good buy but the Air Drill needs a more powerful compressor (although on paper specs the Compressor had >cfm that the Air Drill needed).

The Pick Up

Early start to drive up to Westfield via Taunton to pick up Paul who agreed to provide extra muscle for the load/off load.  Arrived at Westfield at 09:00, parked the van at the loading bay and then went in for the promised fresh coffee (that was excellent and very welcome).  Simon agreed that the weather was okay for a test drive so Paul & I took it in turns with Paul getting the factory tour during my drive.   By the time we'd finished it was 11:45 and Jason & Co had loaded the van with the only thing left for me to do was the signed the paperwork and check the engine was well strapped in.  A remark in Simon's earshot about the cosmetic Rear Diffuser had lead to an offer of one leftover from Stoneleigh coupled with the hi level Rear Brake Light I'd ordered left me with little change from £150.

Stopped at McD's for a quick bite to, and the broker called to finalise the build insurance (wallet another £220 lighter) and then a long drive home.  Got back to Yeovil at 15:00 and had just about completed the off load before the boys got home from school.  Thought about starting but just spent some time trying to get to grips with what was in all the boxes.

Final clean up before D-Day

Luckily is was raining this morning so managed to get James & Myles to do one final push to get the garage ready.  James & I finished the electrics and did a final clean up while Myles went mad with the labeller - now ready for Wednesday?  Managed to get some manuals online through WSSC and also tracking http://iomwestfield.blogspot.co.uk/ , they are building a FW SE and picked up their kit a couple of weeks ago.

No progress on the garage as I've been diverted onto preparing a base for a new hot tub that Tricia considers her mid-life crisis and "partial" compensation for the Westfield - don't feel so bad about the ITBs now!  Hopefully I'll have the base (plus the electrics and the access to the garden) sorted by the weekend so that I can get back to the garage.  Just read http://rhetts-westfield.blogspot.co.uk/ very helpful as their car is a close match to mine - hopefully the new manual will be more helpful than the old one.

A month to go 

More option changes!

Currently in Nashville, TN but before I left home I sorted the 2nd part of the deposit amended the kit order to include the individual throttle bodies, side screens, screen trim (for a half hood), RAC roll bar and changed the head lights to match the cycle wings - all becoming a bit addictive!  ITBs for the extra ~20 bhp plus the advice from other owners regarding the fact that the ITBs have a 2 versus 3 part steering column for the ford TB on a 2.0L Zetec.  Only 37 days to go.......