Chopkins Posted July 22, 2003 Posted July 22, 2003 Hello all. Having longed for a Westfield for a number of years, I'm finally ready to tke the plunge and hve a go at building one. I have a few questions ane would be grateful for some help. Firstly, I currently drive an '02 2.0L Duratec Mondeo and really like the engine for it's pull, refinement and free revving. I can probably source a newish Duratec unit for my build and wondered what they are like when fitted to a Westfield? Can I put it in as it comes out of the Mondeo with a mod to the EMS or do I/should I go the whole nine yards and put different Management systems and throttle bodies on it? My second question relates to the Gearbox and Diff. Assuming that you guys tell me that the Duratec will be a good choice, what box and diff will give me the best performance?-I'm looking for a fast weekend fun car with the occasional track day thrown in as opposed to an out and out racer. Last but not least, I could realy do with meeting up with a couple of club members from the Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, Coventry, Burton areas so that I can pick their brains re what bits I should get from the factory and which bits I should source from specialist suppliers etc. The last thing I want is to complete the build and then to be told that I could have saved £'ss by carefully sourcing the bits and bobs. Look forward to hearing your views. Quote
gadrego Posted July 23, 2003 Posted July 23, 2003 Hi Chopkins. Duratec is an excellent choice. Sounds like it could be the future for a lot of car engined kit cars. Not sure about the technical side of the installation but get in touch with Dunnell or Raceline engines or maybe minister engines. Do a search on google as I don't have URL's but someone might be along with some soon. Are you from Sutton Coldfield? I used to live there before moving up to Newcastle but I'm often down there to visit my parents. May even take the Westy down sometime and be happy to meet for a drink and talk Westies. Quote
Blatman Posted July 23, 2003 Posted July 23, 2003 Check the homepage for details of club meets that are local to you. The Black Country, and Derby/Notts have excellent area's, and organisers, so you'll do well. Theres also a printable membership form available (click the "Membership" link), which you can.....er....print, and send off. This will give you several benefits, including our excellent bi-monthly magazine. As for the engine, if you fit an engine newer that 1995, you MUST fit a CAT to pass the SVA test, and it is likely that you'll need a CAT at every MOT too........ Ignore how the Zetec/Duratec feels in the Mondeo. A 1970's built crossflow 1600 from a Cortina will outperform the Mondy without breaking a sweat. Engine age has little to do with performance in a Westfield. The Duratec in a Westfield is an excellent choice, and it'll feel like a missile compared to anything else you've driven, assuming you aren't a superbike rider, or race driver already....... Fit a pre 1995 engine, and have an easier time at SVA, which means, once passed, you can fit any engine you want, but without having to go through the expense/aggro of having to have a CAT equipped exhaust........ Fit a Ford type 9 gearbox........searching this site using the search function will show you why. Fit a 3.62 diff from an XR4x4, 'cos it's the cheapest way of getting an LSD, which is essential for spirited track driving, IMO. Oh, and welcome....... Quote
DutchWestfield Posted July 23, 2003 Posted July 23, 2003 Chopkins, I have once seen an attempt to fit a Duratec in a Westfield. Besides the need for an adaptor to fit it to a MT75 box everything was fine sofar. I don't know if bell housings for a T9 are aviable. Westfield sells the Sport 2000 (their Duratec car) with an MT75. The Duratec fit I witnessed was not succesfull however, because the Ford air intake manifold fouled the top mounted pedal box in the LHD car it was build into. I am not sure if there is enough room in front of the scuttle for the intake manifold. I doubt it to be honest, Westfield sells the Sport 2000 with throttle bodies.... Excelent engine choice, sometimes I wish I had started my build a year later (this would have allowed me to choose a Duratec too !! Quote
Blatman Posted July 23, 2003 Posted July 23, 2003 The Duratec fit I witnessed was not succesfull however, because the Ford air intake manifold fouled the top mounted pedal box in the LHD car it was build into. Speccing floor mounted pedals will resolve this....... I am not sure if there is enough room in front of the scuttle for the intake manifold. I doubt it to be honest, Westfield sells the Sport 2000 with throttle bodies.... ALL Duratecs fitted to unregistered cars will need throttle bodies, or the original injection system, to get past the SVA emissions regs in the UK. If you have a car that is already registered, then you can fit whatever engine and induction system you want. This would include fitting a set of Webers to the Duratec, although I can see the purists cringing even now......... There will be no additional hoops to jump through. HOWEVER, if the car you fit the Duratec to had an engine that was previously SVA'd with a CAT, then you *may* still need a CAT at MOT time, depending on if the emissions details are printed on the V5, as they are starting to do........ Quote
DutchWestfield Posted July 23, 2003 Posted July 23, 2003 Blatman, You are right about the floor mounted pedals. Also, please note that this was a LHD car, in a RHD car one will not have this problem. It is confusing that a Duratec has the intake / exhaust swapped compared to that other popular Ford engine I do still doubt if the standard intake manifould will not foul the scuttle. The intake manifold of a duratec points rearwards. Quote
JamesD Posted July 23, 2003 Posted July 23, 2003 Chopkins, I live near Birmingham on the Clent Hills, I am around all day on Saturday (sorting suspension), if you fancy popping round to look at the motor and have a chat give me a call on 07766775708. All the best JD Quote
Westfieldman Posted July 23, 2003 Posted July 23, 2003 The Duratec in a Westfield is an excellent choice, Blatters it's a Ford have you seen the light or have all the vx's been used up. Paul. Quote
lunny Posted July 23, 2003 Posted July 23, 2003 Hi, I live in lichfield and always keen for a chat/coffee with fellow petrol heads. Sent you contact message if you interested. Martin Quote
Blatman Posted July 23, 2003 Posted July 23, 2003 My Old Dutch..... Yep, I had noted the LHD point, but also wanted to make Chopkins aware (in a round about way) that an alternative pedal option exists, in case he hadn't seen it......and I have yet to see a standard Duratec inlet in the flesh, so couldn't comment on that...... FWIW, the Westfield Duratec on display at the Autosport Show in January looked very tidy, and everything fitted in well, although that too was on throbble botties.......I didn't notice what gearbox was in it though, and even if a type 9 adapter/bellhousing wasn't available, I'd get one made, or wait until they were produced..... Westfieldman. You know that I've got a Cossie too, so stop trying to bait me.... Quote
JohnCh Posted July 23, 2003 Posted July 23, 2003 I hope the Duratec is the right choice, since I have one sitting in my Westfield at the moment awaiting more parts to finish the conversion Although Westfield is using the MT75 box for their conversion, Raceline makes the proper bits to bolt the engine up to the Type-9. Their conversion, however, does require you to switch to a hydraulic clutch, but it is a very nice set up. The one downside is that they haven't made motor mounts or exhaust manifolds yet that fit the Westfield (Chris says they are about 6 weeks out). Consequently I am modifying the former and keeping my fingers crossed that the latter will fit or can be easily modified to do so. My initial plan was to have an exhaust manifold made locally using Raceline supplied flanges and collectors, but I've discovered that is *very* expensive to have done in Seattle. Therefore I have asked Chris to take some measurements of their Caterham manifold so I can see if it will fit between my chassis rails. I'll try to post some photos later. -John Seattle, USA Quote
DutchWestfield Posted July 23, 2003 Posted July 23, 2003 Blatman, The dark red demonstrator from Westfield ? This has the box from a Ford Transit. Advantage: it is a direct fit. Disadvantage: ratio's are no good for a Westfield. have seen this car at the factory early december 2002. Quote
Blatman Posted July 23, 2003 Posted July 23, 2003 You saw it before me then....... I didn't have a really close look at it, just a 2 minute nose around......however, the bits to fit a type 9 appear to be available, so it's a no brainer, IMHO.... Quote
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