So it begins...

[Foolish Dave]

We picked the kit up Saturday

At the eleventh hour we have also decided to rebuild the engine ourselves for now and get it rebuilt with all the spangly bits later.

Looks great - a few bits to clean up then we start - could be done in about 150 hours I think

Brum Brum!

[FlossyThePig]

Foolish Dave said:

could be done in about 150 hours I think

Let us know how accurate that estimate is. Mine have been way out.

[Snake the Sniper]

Congrats on getting things under way Dave. I knew you'd come round to my way of thinking and rebuild the engine yourself! It really is very easy. You decided on a full colour scheme?

[.Adam.]

Is this the XI? Hope you enjoy building it!!

[Foolish Dave]

Hi Si, Hi Adam!

It is the XI, yeah.
I hope we enjoy building it too - though I expect to hate it more than once in the process
I'm planning on using it for a EuroHoon at some point - Mel will be in the support car

And yeah, I don't think the engine build will be too bad - we are just doing a refresh type rebuild and not going for any more power just yet - just want it to run well. We still want to aim for an engine putting out 100bhp and 100ftlb torque, with light flywheel, etc, later but we'll do that after we've got used to the car so we can appreciate the changes.

We've got dark green gel coat, crimson carpets and seats, with white piping, smoked screen and yellow split-rim mini-lite-esq wheels ... pretty much the anniversay car, but home built and not on webbers (to start with), so we have the 5speed box too

Edited by Foolish Dave on Tuesday 25th November 10:51

[Snake the Sniper]

Sounds like you've got it all nicely planned out. Oh, with regards to the webbers, give dell'ortos a go instead. Slightly less power, but slightly better mpg. Which given the tiny tank may come in handy.

[rdodger]

Do you mind if I ask what kind of budget you are looking at?

[nakedninja]

I'm new in this section, are you talking about the Westfield XI?

Since seeing one in EVO I have to say I@m a little smitten. Keep us updated if you would, it will make interesting reading and fuel my desire to have one probably.

NN

[jasongtr]

not been keeping up with this one, what car is it?

[Snake the Sniper]

He's building the Westfield XI, running a 1275 in-line A series engine linked to a ford type 9 (5 speed) gear box.

Looks like this, but with yellow mini-lite wheels:



Oh, one tip for rebuilding the engine Dave, bulk buy loads of kitchen roll. It comes in very handy for wiping oil and grime off things.

Edited by Snake the Sniper on Tuesday 25th November 19:20

[.Adam.]

[rdodger]

Are there any other engine options? Has anyone built one with a K series perhaps?

[Red Firecracker]

rdodger said:

Are there any other engine options? Has anyone built one with a K series perhaps?

The XI is Midget (or Sprint) based. When I was up there the guy said the engine choice was limited by the available space and the chassis design.

The yellow demonstrator is an absolute blast to drive though!

[rdodger]

Fun!

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=52965894...

[Furyous]

rdodger said:

Are there any other engine options? Has anyone built one with a K series perhaps?

'Busa .

[Firefox1]

There was one that raced in 750MC kit car series I think it was with a Rover V8. MX5 running gear might be cool 1.8 135bhp 5spd box torsen lsd.

[Snake the Sniper]

The main problem with any modern engine is that (D)OHC head. This makes most engines too tall to fit under the bonnet. Also, part of the pleasure of the XI is how close it is to the original, which had similar power to the A series. IIRC some even ran the 1275 as their engine. It's a car that's not meant to have lots of power. That's not to say it can't though.....

[rdodger]

Lotus twin cam.

http://www.sbc100.com/Westfield/

[Snake the Sniper]

I bet you'd struggle to fit it without the dry sump though. As I said though, some engine will fit, but only just...

[jasongtr]

not my cuppa tea, but wish you all the best with it, i plan on a murtaya buils sometime next year - on the look out for a donor impreza at the moment