New (bonkers) Seight

[AwB]

15 hours ago, Flying Carrot Steve said:

 

 

How the hell did they ever get all that into a Westie! Amazing. 

Honestly, I was 50:50 about buying, but seeing in the flesh I found the engine an inspired work of art, which convinced me that the craziness was worth it.

 

That, and my 13 yo son behind me saying “do it, do it, do it”!!!!

 

[Flying Carrot Steve]

@AwB, do you happen to know its weight?

 

I've always hankered after a V8 Westie, I imagined they'd be heavy but NA V8s apparently are not that bad in weight at all.

 

Obvs a supercharger will add a bit, but that's gonna be well over 400/tonne, probably nearer 450!

 

Be careful with it @AwB, mine is about 410/420 and it can be a handful if you don't have your wits about you!

[westfield_bumble]

Car looks mental.  Any chance of hearing it

[AwB]

On 12/07/2025 at 11:08, Flying Carrot Steve said:

@AwB, do you happen to know its weight?

 

I've always hankered after a V8 Westie, I imagined they'd be heavy but NA V8s apparently are not that bad in weight at all.

 

Obvs a supercharger will add a bit, but that's gonna be well over 400/tonne, probably nearer 450!

 

Be careful with it @AwB, mine is about 410/420 and it can be a handful if you don't have your wits about you!

If the original SVA test still holds, and there’s not much to say otherwise, it looks like a wet weight of 780kg, and evenly split between axles. 

 

I do plan on getting the car onto a dyno at some point, just to know what it’s capable of, but advice appreciated and well heeded @Flying Carrot Steve, thanks.  The current rubber is starting to age, particularly having been off road for a few years, so even in the heat the back’s a little twitchy.

 

Peak power is one thing, but it’s the getting there… the constant high torque and linear delivery with the blower is something else.  Anyway, you can tell I’m pleased with it. 
 

over 400 per tonne is probably right, but maybe not too much more.  
 

Going from 25 in 3rd to… err… not 25 at 6k rpm last night with the sun setting over the South Downs, in convoy with a group of porkers heading home from the FOS last night was a proper treat. 

[Flying Carrot Steve]

14 hours ago, AwB said:

If the original SVA test still holds, and there’s not much to say otherwise, it looks like a wet weight of 780kg, and evenly split between axles. 

 

I do plan on getting the car onto a dyno at some point, just to know what it’s capable of, but advice appreciated and well heeded @Flying Carrot Steve, thanks.  The current rubber is starting to age, particularly having been off road for a few years, so even in the heat the back’s a little twitchy.

 

Peak power is one thing, but it’s the getting there… the constant high torque and linear delivery with the blower is something else.  Anyway, you can tell I’m pleased with it. 
 

over 400 per tonne is probably right, but maybe not too much more.  
 

Going from 25 in 3rd to… err… not 25 at 6k rpm last night with the sun setting over the South Downs, in convoy with a group of porkers heading home from the FOS last night was a proper treat. 

 

Well if the Pistonheads article bhp is correct and the weight you've quoted is correct then it's about 416 per tonne. Nice! 

[LoneWolf]

On 10/07/2025 at 18:01, AwB said:

That is some insane packaging 👏

It does definitely look like an incredible car 👍

[Andrzej]

"Indeed, an incredible packaging of the engine and components!!!

 

Out of curiosity – what is that black box with the digital display in the front right corner?

[AwB]

1 hour ago, Andrzej said:

"Indeed, an incredible packaging of the engine and components!!!

 

Out of curiosity – what is that black box with the digital display in the front right corner?

 

Good spot.  Digital read-out of the oil and water temperatures.  The VDO gauges are what they are.  Mind you, it's difficult to read the digital display when strapped in! 

 

Another small problem to sort... header tank has a split, or at least has a line of plastic fatigue waiting to cause me all sorts of problems.  Does anyone know of a good replacement of the original Ford Escort Mk1 tank that I have?  Options found so far are through Westfield Chesil or an alloy one through these guys (which I quite like the look of)
https://www.proalloystore.com/products/westfield-header-tank?_pos=1&_sid=9c94badda&_ss=r

 

 

[LoneWolf]

Can't go wrong with ProAlloy if that's in your budget 👍

[Andrzej]

in fact hard to see those readings from seat ,  maybe its for service / dyne etc. 

I don't like aluminium tanks — you can't really see the coolant level or condition at a glance. 

Maybe you could fit a Clio II header tank ? — it's popular and proven in kit cars. I use it in two of mine: a BEC MNR  and a road-going Westfield. But in this engine bay mighht be not enough space for it. 

[Flying Carrot Steve]

3 hours ago, AwB said:

 

Good spot.  Digital read-out of the oil and water temperatures.  The VDO gauges are what they are.  Mind you, it's difficult to read the digital display when strapped in! 

 

Another small problem to sort... header tank has a split, or at least has a line of plastic fatigue waiting to cause me all sorts of problems.  Does anyone know of a good replacement of the original Ford Escort Mk1 tank that I have?  Options found so far are through Westfield Chesil or an alloy one through these guys (which I quite like the look of)
https://www.proalloystore.com/products/westfield-header-tank?_pos=1&_sid=9c94badda&_ss=r

 

 

 

If you can run to that expense it would look absolutely in keeping with the rest of the very high standard of engine bay IMHO, spot on. Only thing is as @Andrzejsays, it's not transparent. 

[AwB]

1 hour ago, Flying Carrot Steve said:

 

If you can run to that expense it would look absolutely in keeping with the rest of the very high standard of engine bay IMHO, spot on. Only thing is as @Andrzejsays, it's not transparent. 

Yeah, thanks guys.  The non-transparent thing gets me too, but I like the ProAlloy window thing. Good for level, less good for checking flow I guess.
 

I think I’m going to pick up the black coated box and see how it sits.  Their other option is satin finish alloy, perhaps less in keeping with the raw alu bits and pieces, and I’m not about to start mirror polishing a header tank… 

 

Never thought this morning that by the evening I’d be talking about the aesthetics of an expansion vessel!!

[Ewan]

That looks fabulous. What fun.

 

My dark green V8 feels pretty damn lively even without a supercharger. So hats off to you!

 

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

My bonnet isn't transparent either, and nor is the engine, so to me it's no different to checking the oil level on the dip stick etc. 

[Andrzej]

 

On the other hand, it's true — just imagine how many fewer topics there would be on this forum (coolant level rising, coolant level dropping, coolant changed color (that one's me 😄)) if we all used aluminum tanks instead of transparent ones ;-).

But seriously, I treat the reservoir as just another indicator — like water and oil temperature or oil pressure or brake fluid reservoir. Most of the time, everything is fine. But these indicators are there to catch the moment when things stop being fine. Glance at header tank and piece of mind.