pickmaster Andy Lowe Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 I have just bought a SE with a 1700 xflow and I had the idea of fitting a zetec engine mainly for road use but also the odd sprint and hill climb next season But having driven the car and speaking with work mates they say stick with the xflow and go on about the advantages and back in the day Anyone have any ideas as to how I can best spend the winter ? The car is a norrow body SE on a live axle with 3.89 diff with a 1700 xflow 711M block on twin 40s, balanced header pipes, aldon ignition and sounds sweat with 185psi to 195psi compression 4 speed gearbox Thought so far are swap camshaft, big valve head, unleaded conversion and lighten flywheel maybe put a 5 speed box in too Any thoughts or experiencs would be very helpfull Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Welcome, the x-flow is a cracking engine in a Westfield, particularly in a live axled/four speed narrow body car. Lots of weight saving compared to a more recent engined five speed indy wide. If you've only just bought it/are new to Westfield type cars etc, then TBH, I'd do no more than give it a close looking over this winter; Do the fluid changes so you know where you're up to on engine oil, coolant, brake fluid. Check gearbox and diff oil levels. (You don't normally change those, just top them up as required). But really, you're probably best just servicing it and making sure everything is sound, only replace bits that are knackered or damaged. The main thing, is to just drive it! Get used to it, preping it for sprint/hill climb use is pretty straightforward. But spend some time finding out what you like/dislike about the car. Engine changes, (where you go to a different type of engine) aren't cheap, in fact really, unless you're doing it 'cause you enjoy the tinkering, and there's nothing wrong with that, they rarely make sense economically. Five speed box isn't important for most sprint/hill climb courses and the four speed is lighter, which is important! TBH though, purely from personal experience, and what I've observed others go through, unless you're up for the engineering challenge of developing a competition car, don't bother. It's frustrating, expensive and time consuming! Much better to just do the prep work to make what you have eligable. Run that for a season, find out which class you want to be in, type of circuit/track you like, and then look at buying a suitable ex-sprint car that's already had the work done. One or two come up on here most years as other competitiors change groups etc. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickmaster Andy Lowe Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 Your not the first to say that LOL I'm only staying local with sprints and love Anglsey track which I think the car should go well (me being the weak link) Aintree I think I will run out of revs!!!! I'm new to westfields but did do a few sprints this year with the MG car club (great bunch very helpfull) but always liked the idea of easy to tinker with cars so xflow looking good on that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidgh Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Andy First, a warm welcome to Westy ownership, and to the club and Boardroom. Despite my personal weakness when it comes to upgrades, if your objective is to have maximum fun next season, I'd leave well alone for the time being. You indicate that you've only just purchased the car -- but you don't say whether you have any experience of kit-cars. If you are unused to Westy-type vehicles, I would suggest that a smooth-running X-Flow is going to provide you with quite enough exhilaration on the road (and terror on the track) for a while. You could learn to drive the car, and decide for yourself down which route for improvement you wish to go. Remember, if it's track speed you're after, you may well get more (at least in bang/buck terms) out of a change of diff, change of ratios, or suspension set up than you will from an engine upgrade. In terms of sprints and hill-climbs, the X-Flow will put you in the road-going <1700cc class. An 1800 or 2000 Zetec will probably give you more power, but will put you in with the fire-breathing monsters. The best cars in national competition will have around 200bhp in the <1700cc class and may exceed 300bhp in the >1700cc class. In either case, big bucks have to be spent to achieve these numbers. So, whilst a Zetec will move you forward, it won't move you very far forward -- and you might regard it as having been a waste of money in twelve months' time. My advice is: give it a season to learn to drive the car and determine its weaker points before falling for upgraditis. If, however, your objective is to spend the winter in a cold garage for its own sake (lots of people do), the change to a Zetec is a relatively manageable one (both in complexity and expense) -- and you'll find lots of info and advice on these pages. HTH David Edited to say that I can't type as fast as Gadgetman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid life crisis Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Where about do you live Andy, from your post I'm guessing like me your in the North West. I would as others have said get used to the car and learn it's good points as well as it's weaknesses. I ran my xflow on the road and the odd track day in my first year of ownership, prior to entering the speed series. IMHO fitting a standard Zetec and five speed box will give you little gain from a competition point of view. 150bhp is achievable from a well built xflow without taking a second mortgage out. A good set of ratios in a 4speed box will serve you well on all but the fastest tracks. Good luck, but most of all enjoy and keep safe while you learn the car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickmaster Andy Lowe Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 Hi I,m in North Wales by Abergele and new to kit cars Alway like the idea of building one but being realistic not got the time I,m not that competative but love track driving and noramaly come away with jaw ache from laughting so much!!!!!!! Been more used to bikes Ducatis and Buell have feed my need to tinker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid life crisis Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 How about this? May be cheaper than modding yours. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Escort-Cortina-Capri-X-Flow-Crossflow-1600-Kent-Engine-cylinder-Head-/280998397525?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item416ccf4655 Do bare in mind if you do go for a performance cam you will probably need to have your pistons machined to give valve clearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickmaster Andy Lowe Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 Thanks for that I've been keeping an eye on fleebay Going to try and get some track time on 11th Nov at Anglsey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid life crisis Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Fab track Have fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bispers Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 I'm in a similar place myself having done a couple of sprints and my first couple of hillclimbs this year (in a Rover 200). I'm planning on using my Westfield next year and am thinking that will mainly be about me learning and improving and leaving car mods alone for at least a season. The biggest improvement is likely to come from the driver so I'll keep that as the main variable. Somebody feel free to quote these words back to me when I start talking differently by June! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickmaster Andy Lowe Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 Last place is mine LOL Or race you for it :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bispers Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Last place is mine LOL Or race you for it :-) Be more ambitious! I always aim to be nearer the front of my class that the back and am top half more often than not. What I am suggesting is you'll get a lot of learning just from the seat time, especially if you review runs in your mind to consider where you can improve. Of course the stopwatch will tell you how effective the learning is. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickmaster Andy Lowe Posted October 18, 2012 Author Share Posted October 18, 2012 Your right aim high Then if you miss your only just below the target Aim low and if you miss you shoot yourself in the foot I had a camera fitted then I could review it later and see where my lines were off for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Algar - Competition Secretary Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 The best advice is do the engine last (not that I followed it of course :d ). I would suggest the first thing to do some maintenance on over the winter is to take your dampers out, take the springs off them and make sure they are at least working if not replace them. Also make sure that the wishbones are not seized solid, possibly fit polybushes at same time. Then get the car set up by somone who knows Westfield's. Check brakes over and change pads to a sprint hillclimb pad. add some lightness to the car by taking weight off, ie remove anything not needed !! Read the begineers guide on main website Speed Series page. Go out and enjoy yourself :d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexander72 Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Hi there, I'm in exactly the same boat as you..... bought a very well sorted 1700 x-flow from Martin Parkes and have been to sprint school and 2 days at Curbourough with Warks Area of the WSCC and a private day advertised on uphill racers. My advice would be get some tarck time, and more track time and more track time and inbetween adjust the set up as described by the brethren above (i'm not qualified to advise on anything technical as i just lift logs about all day). I have learnt that my ability is miles behind the limits of the car in the twists but that pace is building with more and more time watching others drive and then trying to be smooth and follow a good line. Braking performance and car control will get you more seconds off the time that BHP in the first few months (years in my case). I have found my car to be a different beast "on the cam" on a track even without stiffening or softening suspension. Your car will be quick compared to tin tops and other sports cars being driven badly mate. I'm very lucky in that i bought a one owner car that had been very well screwed together and has a very nice power plant on a well developed 1700 x-flow. Hopefully see you in the paddock next year! :-) James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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