Big power Westfield build

Big power Westfield build

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Discussion

Jack_and_MLE

620 posts

238 months

Monday 4th April 2016
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A long time ago, there was a Lotus 7 which competed in off track events where the radiator was fitted to the roll bar.
It used to be owned by a famous driver whom I cannot remember the name of.

Jack

jontysafe

Original Poster:

2,351 posts

177 months

Wednesday 6th April 2016
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Be interesting to find that out!

Car is with Nortech Performance this week. We are having the twin scroll manifold built and a down pipe and exhaust system. Swapped from 3.5" to 3" as they felt 3.5" was overkill.
We are also putting O2 sensor locations on each of the primaries and one in the billet collector. I was going to put EGT sensors in but have heard about tips dropping off and causing all sorts of issues.

One of the reasons for multiple o2 sensors is that the YB always goes on cylinder 4 so we want to look closely at individual cylinder fuel trims to take care of this. Me having a billet Swedish manifold could make the car more prone to disparity on airflow. If I can`t get it to work we`ll swap to a different plenum.

Someone also offered me good money for my Motec M400 so that`s sold and have had delivered today an M800 with Traction, DBW, Launch, Flat shift, 1MB logging and will buy lambda operation. Will look at using a VAG 1.8T E-throttle and pedal as the bolt pattern happens to be exactly the same as YB.

Car should come back from Rotherham next week straight to Tylah Motorsport who are fitting a full caged roll cage, engineering the rear rad and header tank location, water pipes, oil cooler and location, dry sump tank, building up the intercooler and fitting to chassis. We`ll be looking at ducting as well.


jontysafe

Original Poster:

2,351 posts

177 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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Car has just arrived at Tylah Motorsport. Silencer a little shorter than was on the car previously which concerns me a little but we shall see.

jontysafe

Original Poster:

2,351 posts

177 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
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Just picked up yesterday. Some fantastic work by Nortech Performance.

Red16

589 posts

167 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
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That manifold looks fantastic!

To be fair so does the new exhaust, will be nice to see how quiet it is, as I could do with a new one myself.

When do you think you'll be back on the road?

jontysafe

Original Poster:

2,351 posts

177 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
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I spoke with engine builder yesterday, he's starting on that on Saturday with gas flowing the head.

Has asked me whether I want to change to one piece valves. I'm not sure.

Chassis is being re engineered at the moment for intercooler mounting and rad mounting etc etc will then have to look at loom and ecu install and mapping etc.

Realistically........my wife is expecting mid Aug so I would be very surprised if I get it done for any meaningful use this summer.
Would be nice though!

jontysafe

Original Poster:

2,351 posts

177 months

Tuesday 10th May 2016
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Work on rear rad mount almost done.

jontysafe

Original Poster:

2,351 posts

177 months

Tuesday 10th May 2016
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Intercooler end tanks nearly done

NotNormal

2,357 posts

213 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
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Personally think a more elegant solution could have been done with the rad but hey if your happy with the rad in that position then I guess that's your prerogative.

jontysafe

Original Poster:

2,351 posts

177 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
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I wouldn't be driving a Westfield if I was too concerned about elegance!

This is ALL about the go.

MattTheCat

125 posts

192 months

Friday 13th May 2016
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Exactly! I like it thumbup

With the tiny frontal area, keeping temps under control is always gonna be a challenge with a big bhp Westfield.

chuntington101

5,733 posts

235 months

Saturday 14th May 2016
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The rad actually looks ok there. Maybe even a little small! Are you going to shroud the rad and run the fans all the time? That should then guarantee airflow over the core no matter the speed of slip angle. wink

eliot

11,361 posts

253 months

Saturday 14th May 2016
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NotNormal said:
Personally think a more elegant solution could have been done with the rad but hey if your happy with the rad in that position then I guess that's your prerogative.
Indeed.
I would of thought it would create a fair amount of drag, plus there's no ducting so air could hit the fins and go around the rad rather than through it - following the path of least resistance.

jontysafe

Original Poster:

2,351 posts

177 months

Saturday 14th May 2016
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Drag will be an issue but drag is always an issue with Westfields and any other 7 clones.

Radiator is ducted as per pic so air that hits it has to go through.

It actually looks pretty cool in reality.

jontysafe

Original Poster:

2,351 posts

177 months

Sunday 29th May 2016
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Block decked



Work finally begun on engine build, don't have many pics yet. Porting head yesterday and today.


jontysafe

Original Poster:

2,351 posts

177 months

Tuesday 31st May 2016
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Would like to ask people`s thoughts about the set up of the cooling system.

Most set ups have the expansion tank as the highest point on the system for self bleeding and filling etc. Obvs this is going to be A. difficult and B. even more ugly. Do you think I could get away without an expansion tank if I used waterless coolant?

I can fill the system from the top hose of the rad and use a vacuum to pull all the way through the system. I`m sure with a bit of jiggery pokery with raising rear end for example I can get it filled with no air locks.

Having never done anything like this before I`m just trying to get my head round it.

I think with using the Evans stuff with it not pressurizing as much as water it will also be a lot safer what with the location of the rad.

Peanut Gallery

2,416 posts

109 months

Tuesday 31st May 2016
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Brilliant build, enjoying it lots so far!

I have tried to do a quick read up on waterless coolant, and have not found anything definitive, however I am still under the impression that whatever liquid is used, it will expand when heated. (I did find lots of complaints about the stuff though) Also I would not want a hot water system behind my head that does not have a pressure release valve somewhere else on the system, should something go wrong.

Random suggestion - where space is available, fit and expansion tank, fit a pressure relief valve going from any part of the system to the top of the tank, and a one way valve allowing liquid from the bottom of the tank back into the system. Put a small valve into the top of the rad that you can suck a vacuum on it / attach an automatic air vent to it.

Yes, these are usually placed at the highest point of the system, but the only reason I can see why is ease of filling and if there is a fault with any pipework the system does not empty itself through the expansion tank.

jontysafe

Original Poster:

2,351 posts

177 months

Tuesday 31st May 2016
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I completely agree with you, common sense says it will expand when heated. I dont really want to use it but it may be an answer?

Your suggestion for piping sounds feasible.

Probably a little way off for this but it's annoying me. I think a lot of this is going to be suck it and see. Not exactly re inventing the wheel though!

jontysafe

Original Poster:

2,351 posts

177 months

Tuesday 14th June 2016
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Well it's in there. I'm not happy about inlet arrangement so that is going to be changed for better flow.

I'm still not 100% on the 20degree backward slant but certainly the ducting will help.

jontysafe

Original Poster:

2,351 posts

177 months

Friday 24th June 2016
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Should flow a bit better now