Stupid fixation with BHP

[Barry Ashcroft]

I fully agree with all the above to put a high horse power engine in one of our cars is bordering on lunacy.

Thankfully I never felt the need to do such a silly thing myself.  

[studbuckle]

No Barry.... you're all torque!

[Matt Seabrook]

I fully agree with all the above to put a high horse power engine in one of our cars is bordering on lunacy.

Thankfully I never felt the need to do such a silly thing myself.  

No me neather  

Although nothing like Barry`s BHP though

[JG8]

Hello all

I am a Newbie and only want to drive my ex demo 1600 sport on the road. Seems maximum power 152 bhp is at 6,600 revs but not being technically minded when I get above 4,500 revs the noise is so high that I fear for the engine. What do you think a 1.6 Duratech alu engine can take safely?

Regards JG8

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

JG8,

I guessing that your engine is a 1600 Zetec SE as fitte to Focus / Fiesta etc and not a Duratec. In standard form they should be safe to 7000 -7250.

A cracking engine BTW being a close relative of the mighty Puma 1700 engine  

John

[Bean]

God you lot whinge and whine. : p

I am a relative newbie with a CVH powered Westie which is undergoing a transformation at the moment.

I've owned quite a few high powered cars, learning to drive a Seven is certainly important but having the power to out accelerate most things on the road is also what I want.

[scruffythefirst]

Well my first rwd car was my dax, and with 240bhp its dead easy to drive.  Although I still need to get it set up properly and get more practice driving it I want more power.  I'm not as quick through the twisties as Liam or Chaz but it'll come with experience and a few tweaks.  Nothing wrong with big bhp in a westy but it won't make up for experience and getting the car set up how you like it.

[cast iron]

A cracking engine BTW being a close relative of the mighty Puma 1700 engine  

 

but the SE is infinitely superior      

Seriously though I have noticed in the Ford Brochures they tend to call the Zetec SE a Duratec in the later focus.

when I took mine to the rolling road they reckoned on 8K being safe without ARP rod bolts  and with them even higher    

The engine was designed by Yamaha so they know how to build an engine that can rev

[dern]

My v8 westfield put out twice as much power (at least) than my xflow car and I have to say that the v8 was at least twice as much fun as the xflow and the handling wasn't any better in the xflow car.

Until you get to the point that you are intimidated by the power you have or the power is delivered in a way that compromises driveability then you can't have too much power in my opinion... the throttle is an analogue device after all.

[JG8]

Thank you chaps

Yes WF confused me a bit when they called the Zetec SE a Duratec in the advert but in there engine data called it a Zetec SE. Seems this is one and the same thing. Seems I can at least go to 7000 rpm without any problem. Thanks for your help.

Regards JG

[XTR2Turbo]

My v8 westfield put out twice as much power (at least) than my xflow car and I have to say that the v8 was at least twice as much fun as the xflow and the handling wasn't any better in the xflow car.

Until you get to the point that you are intimidated by the power you have or the power is delivered in a way that compromises driveability then you can't have too much power in my opinion... the throttle is an analogue device after all.

Completely agree

A Westfield is a compromise car and therefore in my view needs extreme performance. A 150bhp car will not feel fast and will not be fast relative to many other cars on the road in that crucial 50 – 70 A road overtaking zone – largely because of poor aerodynamics.

Also agree about setup etc but I think there is little more addictive than driving a car with massive throttle response.

Should just add though that it is of course power to weight that really matters and ultimately the beauty of these cars is that you build them and enjoy them as you want.

So if the original post was to highlight that low powered cars can be great fun and handling important then completely agree. If suggesting these cars are fast and no point in seeking more power then disagree.

[Martin Keene]

I'm not as quick through the twisties as Liam

Not many are... Anita has started calling him Danger Mouse!

[dern]

My v8 westfield put out twice as much power (at least) than my xflow car and I have to say that the v8 was at least twice as much fun as the xflow and the handling wasn't any better in the xflow car.

Until you get to the point that you are intimidated by the power you have or the power is delivered in a way that compromises driveability then you can't have too much power in my opinion... the throttle is an analogue device after all.

Completely agree

A Westfield is a compromise car and therefore in my view needs extreme performance. A 150bhp car will not feel fast and will not be fast relative to many other cars on the road in that crucial 50 – 70 A road overtaking zone – largely because of poor aerodynamics.

Also agree about setup etc but I think there is little more addictive than driving a car with massive throttle response.

Should just add though that it is of course power to weight that really matters and ultimately the beauty of these cars is that you build them and enjoy them as you want.

So if the original post was to highlight that low powered cars can be great fun and handling important then completely agree. If suggesting these cars are fast and no point in seeking more power then disagree.

Exactly, well put.

[jeff oakley]

My v8 westfield put out twice as much power (at least) than my xflow car and I have to say that the v8 was at least twice as much fun as the xflow and the handling wasn't any better in the xflow car.

Until you get to the point that you are intimidated by the power you have or the power is delivered in a way that compromises driveability then you can't have too much power in my opinion... the throttle is an analogue device after all.

Completely agree

A Westfield is a compromise car and therefore in my view needs extreme performance. A 150bhp car will not feel fast and will not be fast relative to many other cars on the road in that crucial 50 – 70 A road overtaking zone – largely because of poor aerodynamics.

Also agree about setup etc but I think there is little more addictive than driving a car with massive throttle response.

Should just add though that it is of course power to weight that really matters and ultimately the beauty of these cars is that you build them and enjoy them as you want.

So if the original post was to highlight that low powered cars can be great fun and handling important then completely agree. If suggesting these cars are fast and no point in seeking more power then disagree.

Iagree with what you say and my view is just that, lower powered Westfield can be just as much fun as higher powered ones. Being realistic with all the speed cameras and anti speed vigilanti, the new MX5 based one is okay for a large part of Westfield owners, it will drive well and be different to production cars, but without serious money will be no fire breather.

At the other end of the scale we have Barry's car, a beautiful brutal car, but as a first Westfield it is not necessary to have such a car.

If people want to modify for power great, we all need something that gives us a buzz, but there is a huge differance between want and need and for newbie advice, the people Mark aimed this at, they need to know the differant types available and can then make an informed choice.

For me I still like the fact my car can scare me when I haven't driven it in anger for a long time, it is all part of it for me but as I said those who have caome saying they want this much power actually realise what they need for them.

[mb893]

But weight a moment though....