JamesR Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 Thanks for the feedback Sand Dancer - I think seeing a few options (body shapes / colours etc) and talking more about the performance options would be a great help. The engine choices for the 'Sport' models are as follows on the pricelist on the website: 1.6 Ford Sigma Engine – 135 bhp* 1.6 Ford Sigma Engine – 155 bhp* 2.0 Ford Duratec Engine – 200 bhp* No mention of a Zetec model as standard? Have these been newly updated then? Good luck with the rest of your build, mate. Probably be seeing a lot more of you around here then! J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Frankland (T3OMF) Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 You should also catch up with Tom who has just completed his FW S2000 car and again is in Swindon . Did someone mention my name........ Yes I'm based in Swindon, 1 of many and yes I have just finished my s2000 build, well when I say finished, I mean I have a number plate Visit our local Cotswold Facebook page which we are moving the club towards https://www.facebook.com/groups/WSCCCotswoldClub Feel free to pm me if you want to come and have a look at the car 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sand Dancer Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Thanks for the feedback Sand Dancer - I think seeing a few options (body shapes / colours etc) and talking more about the performance options would be a great help. The engine choices for the 'Sport' models are as follows on the pricelist on the website: 1.6 Ford Sigma Engine – 135 bhp* 1.6 Ford Sigma Engine – 155 bhp* 2.0 Ford Duratec Engine – 200 bhp* No mention of a Zetec model as standard? Have these been newly updated then? Good luck with the rest of your build, mate. Probably be seeing a lot more of you around here then! J The Special Edition is still advertised with a 2.0litre Zetec 150bhp engine on the Westfield site.With the throttle bodies you will apparently get in the region of 175bhp. My engine is brand new and shiny - for a person of my limited mechanical experience this was an attractive option, I was not confident in my ability to source, strip and then prepare a Honda engine. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy (Sycho) Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 First off, the Zetec's make great Westfield engines, as do the Duratec's - you'd love either! But... While some of us have done major tidy up jobs on the S2000 engines, it really isn't necessary! It is a bit labour intensive, OK, it's quite a lot labour intensive, which is why non of the factory build cars have their engines done like that - it would just be too costly, done commercially. But equally, non of the factory built S2000's suffer from it either, it is almost entirely just a cosmetic thing. Even better, with the new option that will shortly be available from the factory, you are able to use the very latest, lowest mileage S2000 engines you can get hold of. The thing with the Westfield kits in general, (in my opinion) is that they are such a well developed "complete enough" package, that you can quite easily go to the factory, buy everything you need and have a running, entertaining and rewarding car on your drive, with minimal previous experience of anything mechanical, let alone car building. And with very few tools beyond a basic diy set plus cordless/electric drill and the odd borrowed or rented special item. But equally, you can use the standard kit as a sort of jumping off point, to develop and build on what it offers to create something unique and personal to you - but without having to worry about getting the basic engineering right. Whichever way you go, you also have some fantastic technical support and many years of experience courtesy of Mark Walker and his guys at the factory, along with a depth and breadth of support and knowledge available on here that frankly takes my breath away at times!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted October 27, 2015 Author Share Posted October 27, 2015 As it stands, the most technical work I've done on a car to date is an oil change so I expect this to be a very steep learning curve. I had a quick skim through the build manual and am suitably daunted already! If I can complete a full 'standard' build, and then modify it in the future if I feel like I want to, then I'm happy with that. Perhaps this will lead me down the path of a more custom (S2000?) build in the future when I'm more confident in my abilities. First thoughts re. the roll over bar. Is the 'standard' one tall enough to be of any real use? Drawing a line from the top of the bar to the end of the bonnet, it doesn't look like there's much room for a head in that space! I should mention that I'm 6' 1" and around 16 stone. I like the extra height and the aesthetics of the MSA half cage, so will probably look to upgrade to that. It sounds like you guys got some good info of upcoming projects next year at the factory tour. Is it anything worth waiting for?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooch Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 As it stands, the most technical work I've done on a car to date is an oil change so I expect this to be a very steep learning curve. I had a quick skim through the build manual and am suitably daunted already! If I can complete a full 'standard' build, and then modify it in the future if I feel like I want to, then I'm happy with that. Perhaps this will lead me down the path of a more custom (S2000?) build in the future when I'm more confident in my abilities. First thoughts re. the roll over bar. Is the 'standard' one tall enough to be of any real use? Drawing a line from the top of the bar to the end of the bonnet, it doesn't look like there's much room for a head in that space! I should mention that I'm 6' 1" and around 16 stone. I like the extra height and the aesthetics of the MSA half cage, so will probably look to upgrade to that. It sounds like you guys got some good info of upcoming projects next year at the factory tour. Is it anything worth waiting for?? Welcome from another Moonraker! I'm out Malmesbury way, but I come out to play with the Swindon boys just to show them how much nicer a Westy with chrome looks... You are right about the roll bar. If you are doing any sort of track day stuff (you will!) you'll definitely need it. It would be worth upgrading when you buy the kit rather than trading up later. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Everyone has there own comfort zone when it comes to safety; if doing a bit of occasional trackday stuff, then I'd recommend at least an "RAC" bar, with diagonal and rear bracing. (The RAC doesn't mean anything at all by the way these days, it isn't an "approval" of any kind, it's just what the bar has always been called). If you expect to at least a couple of trackdays a year, then personally, I'd suggest fitting the MSA toll bar - in this case the "MSA" is significant, as it's fully approved for motorsport use. If doing any sort of competition work, or you're a real trackday nut, then consider a cage. If it's purely a road car, then go with what suits the way you will use it, and that you feel comfortable with. Be aware, that with an MSA bar, or a cage, full weather gear can't be used. Though Westfield do a half hood that works really well with the MSA bar, they also do one for the cage, but i'm not sure how effective that is, I don't know anyone with that combination to ask, though I'm sure I recall someone saying they were getting one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted October 27, 2015 Author Share Posted October 27, 2015 I predominantly want to use the car for on-road weekend fun, but I can see how easy it would be to get into track days / hill climbs etc. so I would definitely install a bar / cage straight away. The full FIA spec roll cage jumps up in price though doesn't it! £1150 compared to £350 for the half cage. Do Westies look a bit weird with a full cage and windscreen? I think the aero screens(?) look much better, but I don't want to have to wear a helmet on the road to stop getting stone chips in my face! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted October 27, 2015 Author Share Posted October 27, 2015 Thanks for that, Dave. I think the MSA bar would be the best of both worlds for me. I'm not too fussed about not being able to put a cover over me for driving in the wet, (they look like a claustrophobic's nightmare!) but being able to clip a cover over to stop it filling up like a bath tub when it's parked would be very useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 There are rain covers that pack away really small for use when parking up - hang on a second while I find the link... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Here we go, the Walker St Clair cockpit covers were designed by an ex Westfield owner, there's some info about them here, and they're advertised in the club mag every so often. A Caterham specialist called Soft Bit's For Sevens also does items for Westfields, including half hoods for the MSA bar, I believe one of our members also had them adapt there Caterham Shower Cap product for his Westfield - this is another "touring cover", ie designed to fold up small for storage in the car, and provide enough cover to stop the cockpit area getting too wet while parked up over night etc. They're not true outdoor storage covers for, say, keeping the car on your drive when not in use, but they're great for protection on day trips, overnighters etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 ...Oh, and half hoods give much more protection, when used with doors than you'd think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted October 27, 2015 Author Share Posted October 27, 2015 That's spot on, Dave. Thanks for that. All I would need it for - day trips out if the weather turns. Can't grumble for £55 Need to get a date in the diary to go and visit Simon I think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted October 27, 2015 Author Share Posted October 27, 2015 Did someone mention my name........ Yes I'm based in Swindon, 1 of many and yes I have just finished my s2000 build, well when I say finished, I mean I have a number plate Visit our local Cotswold Facebook page which we are moving the club towards https://www.facebook.com/groups/WSCCCotswoldClub Feel free to pm me if you want to come and have a look at the car Cheers for this, Tom I joined the FB page last night and had a quick nose at the latest posts. Might just take you up on the offer of a look around the car, thanks for the thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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