lsdweb
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| posted on 1/1/09 at 11:37 AM |
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Removable rear bodywork - Westfield
Hi All
My sprint and hillclimb Westfield is slowly coming together and I’m trying to plan the work ahead of me (loads!).
My rear bodywork was damaged and in several pieces when I bought the chassis – it was broken at the narrow piece above the wheel arches. You can just
see the damage here
It’s now still in several pieces but has been repaired – we may take a mould off it and remake it in CF. When I refit it, I want to keep the rear
separate and easily removable (Dzus fasteners) for access to the diff, rear suspension etc.. I’m aware others have done this and I’d be interested to
find out how you’ve done it. Photos would be great!
Thanks in advance.
Wyn
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Hugh Paterson
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| posted on 1/1/09 at 07:41 PM |
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If you want to keep it simple with the dzus fastners why dont u weld Tabs on the top and bottom chassis rails for the springs of the dzus fasteners.
To keep it neat you could have the inserts sunken into a recess in the new grp to keep em flush with the surface, not to time consuming to do if you
are making new moulds anyway?
Shug
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procomp
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| posted on 5/1/09 at 08:33 AM |
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Hi Wyn.
try contacting Puma westie on here. I have completely modded the body work on his westfield so that the whole tub comes off. To be honest i have no
pics of it but he might. For sure a few pics would explain a lot easier how it was done rather than a written explanation. But I'll give it a
go.
The front sides of the tub where cut at the front bulkhead. And two bolt fixtures where fitted at that point either side on the front vertical face.
At the rear there was a very light frame made to fit inside the very rear of the tub which would just drop on to two locating pegs verticaly wich had
nuts just screwed on top off. The sides at the top where done by attaching a plate with captive nuts to the body where the top of the wheel arch come
over in front of the chassis above the 45 deg down tube. with a piece of alloy paneling on the chassis just two more bolts either side where used. And
under the wheel arch at the front lower just a bonnet spring used either side to hold the body securely into the tub.
Having done this job many times over the last 23 years all i will say is that it needs to be secured with quick release bots etc rather than the likes
of duez clips as the flex from the body means they never line up and with all the usual problems that come with them it just ain't worth using
them. 6 quick release captive bolts and the whole body is off in less than five minutes. The main areas that need securing are the very back on the
lower frame behing the petrol tank. Somwhere by the top area of the wheel arch or just in front above the 45 deg tube and the front by the bulkhead.
If going to all this trouble i would advice having the scuttle removable also espesialy if like me your not as flexible as once was to be lying on
your back under the dash board. Thats easy though just a locating pi either side verticaly for the scuttle to drop on to and a lockable exterior clip.
Obviously the dash needs a light alloy frame making to hold it in place though.
HTH Cheers Matt
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lsdweb
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| posted on 5/1/09 at 10:02 PM |
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Thanks guys
Matt - all your help is much appreciated!
I've emailed PumaWestie (John) to see if he's got any photos.
Thanks for your note on the difficulties of Dzus fasteners - I'll probably resort to good old fashioned bonnet pins!
I wouldn't have a '7' without a removable scuttle - I'm not as supple as I used to be!
Regards
Wyn
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