RE: Westfield Mazda SDV

[Bluerallye]

dinkel said:

Brilliant idea indeed.

What about a Toyota MR2 donor?

A bit of pep and the car gets a nicer soundbyte and a bit more beef.

130 from the 1.6 would be easy I guess . . . Who needs torque in a lightweight anyways.

My Westy uses the 4A-GE 1.6 from the Mk1 MR2. Well suited, revvy engine and sounds lovely on the twin carbs. Around 135 on the carbs in std trim, with Raw Engineering (engine suppliers) claiming 160 with their cam, head, remap upgrade.......guess where it's going in the spring!

[dinkel]

Good for you! Love those mills. The MR2 is an underrated car anyways . . .

[Paul V]

I really liked my MK1 MR2, great engine in a fun little car, mine rusted away and only got £70 for it, there must be similar MX5's out there and you can get cars with 12 months MOT for about £1k.

[chargedpat]

I am going to build one. Kit collection day has been set to 13th of January. I will build mine including the "go-fast" parts now residing in my own MX-5. This is an Eaton M45 supercharger, intercooler, FM Link ECU, ACT X-Treme clutch, Torsen Diff.... I bought an MX-5 wreck for 800€ and the parts I don't need, I managed to sell for 400€ !
Isn't that a bargain !
This is my web-site ! Here the future building process can be followed.

http://westfield.devocht.com/

[Pat H]

chargedpat said:

I am going to build one. Kit collection day has been set to 13th of January. I will build mine including the "go-fast" parts now residing in my own MX-5. This is an Eaton M45 supercharger, intercooler, FM Link ECU, ACT X-Treme clutch, Torsen Diff.... I bought an MX-5 wreck for 800€ and the parts I don't need, I managed to sell for 400€ !
Isn't that a bargain !
This is my web-site ! Here the future building process can be followed.

http://westfield.devocht.com/

Good luck.

I'll watch with interest, as I am interested in building another Westfield or Caterham and the Mazda based Westfield looks like an excellent prospect.

[melch]

Graham

You said that the Westy is a tight fit for anyone bigger than average build. Someone at Westfield recently asured me that the lowered floorpan option meant that these cars were now an option for 6'4" fellas who are broad in the shoulders and ar5e. Not sure if this option is available for the SDV Mazda, mind.

Is there anyone who can vouch for this before I take a day off work and commit to a 260 mile round trip to find out?

As a prospective first time builder the attractions of a Westfield are numerous - proven product that ought to be easier to slot together than alternative 'man in a shed' offerings.

The other sevenesque vehicles I've sat in have been a bit of a squeeze. The ones that have offered sufficient space have been Quantum Xtreme (looks well engineered but also looks like an American who got locked in the Ben & Jerry's warehouse over Christmas), Luego Viento (I work in insolvency so a little reluctant to buy form newco just yet!) and MNR Vortx (impressed with the set up, and it's only 10 miles away, but as a build probably more demanding than an 'out of the box' Westy).

Cheers

Melch

[Pat H]

melch said:

Someone at Westfield recently asured me that the lowered floorpan option meant that these cars were now an option for 6'4" fellas who are broad in the shoulders and ar5e. Not sure if this option is available for the SDV Mazda, mind.

I have tried a wide bodied Westfield with the lowered floorpan and there was ample room.

I am 6'2 and weighed over 16.5 stone at the time.

There is an American MX5 specialist who is posting a fairly detailed photographic progress report of a Mazda based Westfield.

It is well worth a look.

Here's a link...

[melch]

Thanks Pat. Is the lowered floorpan available for the SDV?

[Pat H]

melch said:

Thanks Pat. Is the lowered floorpan available for the SDV?

Yep, I'm pretty sure it is.

I think it might even be standard.

[grahambell]

melch said:

Graham

You said that the Westy is a tight fit for anyone bigger than average build. Someone at Westfield recently asured me that the lowered floorpan option meant that these cars were now an option for 6'4" fellas who are broad in the shoulders and ar5e. Not sure if this option is available for the SDV Mazda, mind.

Hi melch,

I based my comments purely on the two demo cars I'd driven, which looked from where I was sat as though they would be rather cramped for people significantly above average size. Steve Hole of totalkitcar certainly fits and he's somewhat wider in the bum than me, though if you're of John Prescott proportions I'd say forget it.

Obviously Westfield will know best having had numerous people of various shapes and sizes try their cars out, so if you tell them how big you are I'm sure they'll be able to tell you if you'll fit in the Mazda SDV or not.

Good luck!

[melch]

Pat H said:

melch said:

Thanks Pat. Is the lowered floorpan available for the SDV?

Yep, I'm pretty sure it is.

I think it might even be standard.

Thanks

[melch]

grahambell said:

melch said:

Graham

You said that the Westy is a tight fit for anyone bigger than average build. Someone at Westfield recently asured me that the lowered floorpan option meant that these cars were now an option for 6'4" fellas who are broad in the shoulders and ar5e. Not sure if this option is available for the SDV Mazda, mind.

Hi melch,

I based my comments purely on the two demo cars I'd driven, which looked from where I was sat as though they would be rather cramped for people significantly above average size. Steve Hole of totalkitcar certainly fits and he's somewhat wider in the bum than me, though if you're of John Prescott proportions I'd say forget it.

Obviously Westfield will know best having had numerous people of various shapes and sizes try their cars out, so if you tell them how big you are I'm sure they'll be able to tell you if you'll fit in the Mazda SDV or not.

Good luck!

I can't afford to be as fat as Prescott on my wage!

[steve bowen]

I'm thinking one of these is on the cards for next years project, greddy turbo kits only £900 takes it to 170bhp so can still be very cheap and easy with more power assuming it'll fit. I don't think the mx5 mk1 will get that rare that its seen as to good to break and recycle didn't mazda make 700,000 of them? As a mk1 mx5 owner i'd happily buy a rust bucket and strip it, atlthough i'd prefer a 1.8 Eunos as a base as they have a torsen LSD

[chargedpat]

Melch, The lowered floorpan is an option which I ordered for my kit. It lowers the floor by 35mm and it costed 170€ extra.

I also have a 1.6 NA MX5 and it is supercharged at 11 psi with A/A intercooler. I also mounted a Torsen LSD differential out of a 1.8 MX5. The standard Viscous LSD was toast in no time with the supercharger in the car. All these "goodies" together with the ACT X-Treme clutch will go in the Westfield and then it will have 197 hp at the crank. Torque is impressive with already 200Nm at 2000rpm, climbing up to 240Nm at 4500rpm and dropping to 210 Nm at 6500 rpm !
Kit collection day is set to 20th of January ! Can't wait to get started !
Here is our website http://westfield.devocht.com/

[Pat H]

chargedpat said:

Melch, The lowered floorpan is an option which I ordered for my kit. It lowers the floor by 35mm and it costed 170€ extra.

I was at Westfield about 18 months ago to try out the XI and asked about lowered floorpans as I just didn't fit in it.

They basically said that they could lower the floor as much as you need. I think that 70mm was mentioned.

[melch]

Pat H said:

chargedpat said:

Melch, The lowered floorpan is an option which I ordered for my kit. It lowers the floor by 35mm and it costed 170€ extra.

I was at Westfield about 18 months ago to try out the XI and asked about lowered floorpans as I just didn't fit in it.

They basically said that they could lower the floor as much as you need. I think that 70mm was mentioned.

Great, sounds like a goer ! Thanks for the tips.

[chargedpat]

I bought my damaged MX-5 for 800€ and the parts I don't need and are still good, I managed to sell for 400€. So if you do it this way, the donor vehicle should not be very expensive ! Mine even came with half a tank full of gas and a complete engine service only 1500 km prior to its final end ! Mileage 185.000 km's which is not too much for an 1.6 MX-5 engine that actually is a detuned Mazda 323 turbo engine block having had an easy life in an MX-5 !

[chargedpat]

Collected the kit on Saturday at Westfield factory ! Let the building commence! Pictures online: http://westfield.devocht.com/

[grahambell]

Should be on the road for summer then pat. Look forward to seeing pics of the finished car.

[Melch]

grahambell said:

melch said:

Graham

You said that the Westy is a tight fit for anyone bigger than average build. Someone at Westfield recently asured me that the lowered floorpan option meant that these cars were now an option for 6'4" fellas who are broad in the shoulders and ar5e. Not sure if this option is available for the SDV Mazda, mind.

Hi melch,

I based my comments purely on the two demo cars I'd driven, which looked from where I was sat as though they would be rather cramped for people significantly above average size. Steve Hole of totalkitcar certainly fits and he's somewhat wider in the bum than me, though if you're of John Prescott proportions I'd say forget it.

Obviously Westfield will know best having had numerous people of various shapes and sizes try their cars out, so if you tell them how big you are I'm sure they'll be able to tell you if you'll fit in the Mazda SDV or not.

Good luck!

Managed to get to the factory yesterday and I fit. Thanks for the tip!