Windscreens & Engine Choice (Westfield kit or similar)
Discussion
Hi chaps,
I'm seriously considering a Westfield before the summer prices pick up. I have a few to look at, but I have a couple of questions:
1. Windscreens:
Plenty of Westfields come with proper windscreens, but some of the more interesting ones just have the small fly screen. What are these like to live with? Obviously this means no wet weather gear, sunglasses (or goggles, bleugh) for driving at least? I imagine prolonged motorway speeds are a no-no without a full-face helmet (suffer a cold face otherwise if it’s chilly, or bugsplatted face if warm!) – this is factor for me as I’m considering a run on the continent.
There don’t seem to be many (any?) second-hand screens on eBay etc., so I’m not sure how much they are if they can be retro-fitted?
2. Engine choice
Bike Engine Vs. XE Red-top? Discuss
Plenty of people say a bike engined 7 kit is quick, YouTube videos certainly back that up (on short tracks and straight line sprints at least, not sure about real roads?) but I already have a litre sports bike; would a Westfield Megablade just feel slow? Is the extra power of an XE cancelled out at low-speed by the extra weight, and at higher speeds by the wind resistance?
The next step for me is to get out in one, but some are quite a journey from me so hopefully your experiences might save me a wasted trip.
Cheers for your help,
Chris
I'm seriously considering a Westfield before the summer prices pick up. I have a few to look at, but I have a couple of questions:
1. Windscreens:
Plenty of Westfields come with proper windscreens, but some of the more interesting ones just have the small fly screen. What are these like to live with? Obviously this means no wet weather gear, sunglasses (or goggles, bleugh) for driving at least? I imagine prolonged motorway speeds are a no-no without a full-face helmet (suffer a cold face otherwise if it’s chilly, or bugsplatted face if warm!) – this is factor for me as I’m considering a run on the continent.
There don’t seem to be many (any?) second-hand screens on eBay etc., so I’m not sure how much they are if they can be retro-fitted?
2. Engine choice
Bike Engine Vs. XE Red-top? Discuss
Plenty of people say a bike engined 7 kit is quick, YouTube videos certainly back that up (on short tracks and straight line sprints at least, not sure about real roads?) but I already have a litre sports bike; would a Westfield Megablade just feel slow? Is the extra power of an XE cancelled out at low-speed by the extra weight, and at higher speeds by the wind resistance?
The next step for me is to get out in one, but some are quite a journey from me so hopefully your experiences might save me a wasted trip.
Cheers for your help,
Chris
1) Personally, I'd say that aeroscreens are better and more practical than full screens on 'Sevens'. You get a lot of buffeting from the turbulence generated by full screens unless you use sidescreens as well (which I find restrictive with the narrow cockpit of a 'Seven'), the weather gear is next to useless (noise, leaks, hence poor demisting, limited access/egress, poor visibility) so no justification for full screen to accommodate that, and small wipers on a flat screen tend to be next to useless (particularly when the rain whips round onto the inside face of the screen. I'd go for aeroscreens every time, and wear a full face helmet when the weather gets nasty.
2) The car engine vs. bike engine thing has been done to death on this forum - do a search - but personally I'd summarise by saying bike engines are great on track but potentially fragile and tiresome on the road due to very short gearing. Car engines are less manic on the track, but easier to live with.
2) The car engine vs. bike engine thing has been done to death on this forum - do a search - but personally I'd summarise by saying bike engines are great on track but potentially fragile and tiresome on the road due to very short gearing. Car engines are less manic on the track, but easier to live with.
I run a Seven with full screen and side screens. You can travel at motorway speeds in surprising comfort, but ear plugs are necessary due to wind noise.
When it rains, as long as you are moving and it isn't a torrential downpour, you stay remarkably dry
Most people will only resort to the hood when it is really wet, but if you are away for the weekend it is nice to know that it's there.
Admittedly, the hood makes the car very noisy and they do mist up, but then sitting in a seat full of water isn't ideal either.
Often, it is possible to use captive nuts for the screen retaining bolts, so you can have the option to use the screen or aero depending on what you plan to do and the forecast.
Bike v Car engine- obviously for touring car is best. As a track day car and short blats a bike engine must be more exiting athough I haven't tried one.
When it rains, as long as you are moving and it isn't a torrential downpour, you stay remarkably dry
Most people will only resort to the hood when it is really wet, but if you are away for the weekend it is nice to know that it's there.
Admittedly, the hood makes the car very noisy and they do mist up, but then sitting in a seat full of water isn't ideal either.
Often, it is possible to use captive nuts for the screen retaining bolts, so you can have the option to use the screen or aero depending on what you plan to do and the forecast.
Bike v Car engine- obviously for touring car is best. As a track day car and short blats a bike engine must be more exiting athough I haven't tried one.
The aeroscreen is great on a seven style car, it looks much better than a screen and it does exactly what it says on the tin, the air is directed over your head, stones/bugs are not, that's the only downside to them in my opinion.
The car engine vs bike engine is all personal preference and depends what you want the car for, if you're planning touring around a car engine is the choice for you, if you want to nip out for a blast around on a sunny Sunday afternoon go for the bike engine.
Both CEC/BEC will feel pretty tame if you're used to a litre bike, but throw a turbo into the mix and it's a different kettle of fish, my turbo ZX10R kit car has similar performance to a GSXR1000 but due to aerodynamics and the rear diff it doesn't have the same huge top speed.
Where do you live? Maybe you could get a run out in a few examples to see what would suit you best.
The car engine vs bike engine is all personal preference and depends what you want the car for, if you're planning touring around a car engine is the choice for you, if you want to nip out for a blast around on a sunny Sunday afternoon go for the bike engine.
Both CEC/BEC will feel pretty tame if you're used to a litre bike, but throw a turbo into the mix and it's a different kettle of fish, my turbo ZX10R kit car has similar performance to a GSXR1000 but due to aerodynamics and the rear diff it doesn't have the same huge top speed.
Where do you live? Maybe you could get a run out in a few examples to see what would suit you best.
It's possibly also worth mentioning that a full screen on a 'Seven' makes a remarkably efficienrt airbrake - it will knock at least 5mph off your top speed and similarly blunt top-end acceleration.
....but then if you're planning on hitting three-figure speeds on a regular basis, think about looking at one of the 'full-bodied' Sylva derivative (Fury, Phoenix, Stylus or the new mid-engined J15).
....but then if you're planning on hitting three-figure speeds on a regular basis, think about looking at one of the 'full-bodied' Sylva derivative (Fury, Phoenix, Stylus or the new mid-engined J15).
downsman said:
I run a Seven with full screen and side screens. You can travel at motorway speeds in surprising comfort, but ear plugs are necessary due to wind noise.
When it rains, as long as you are moving and it isn't a torrential downpour, you stay remarkably dry
Most people will only resort to the hood when it is really wet, but if you are away for the weekend it is nice to know that it's there.
Admittedly, the hood makes the car very noisy and they do mist up, but then sitting in a seat full of water isn't ideal either.
Agree with most of this and agree with the ear plugs, I didn't over my 3 years with the Twin Cam and another 12 with the Caterham.When it rains, as long as you are moving and it isn't a torrential downpour, you stay remarkably dry
Most people will only resort to the hood when it is really wet, but if you are away for the weekend it is nice to know that it's there.
Admittedly, the hood makes the car very noisy and they do mist up, but then sitting in a seat full of water isn't ideal either.
Deafness isn't a pleasant sensation, I can also vouche for that
Hi, I run a Seven type (scratch built Locost) with a full screen. I changed after SVA from an aero screen as I was going off to the South of France on a roadtrip. I made a half hood and some half sidescreens (bottom half only) to keep me away from some of the buffeting. This worked for the most part. What I didn't expect was the violent thunder storm we hit near Aix. The car was aquaplaning at 35mph on the A8 with lorries passing us at nearer 60. The lack of full sidescreens meant my better half was taking the brunt of the lorry spray square in the face!! Oh how we laughed (6 months later!!). Lesson 2 was the cloth seats. Not a pleasant place to be when they are soaked through. Fortunately the seats dried out on day 2 after removing the foam and hanging it outside the caravan we were staying in!
So what I'm saying is if it were me, I'd go for full weather gear and screen.
As for BEC vs CEC I went old school with a 1700 crossflow but doing it again would go Zetec on throttle bodies
So what I'm saying is if it were me, I'd go for full weather gear and screen.
As for BEC vs CEC I went old school with a 1700 crossflow but doing it again would go Zetec on throttle bodies
Hi guys,
Thanks for all your input, you've given me lots to think about these last couple of days. Given that this car is going to spend most of its life in the Pennines and Lake District I think some rain protection is going to be essential to avoid sopping wet seats and interior, even if the weatherproofing isn't total. XE engine it is too!
Thanks again,
Chris
Thanks for all your input, you've given me lots to think about these last couple of days. Given that this car is going to spend most of its life in the Pennines and Lake District I think some rain protection is going to be essential to avoid sopping wet seats and interior, even if the weatherproofing isn't total. XE engine it is too!
Thanks again,
Chris
I've got a Westfield Megablade, so here are my thoughts:
Windscreen:
Having been in sevens with full screens they were pretty horrible at anything over 60mph, with loads of wind whipping around the screen and hitting you square in the face. Loads of noise too. An aeroscreen and full face helmet is a much warmer, quieter and probably safer place to be.
I don't tend to take the car out if it looks like rain, or take it touring for any length of time. I've got a cockpit cover if I need to park up in the rain though, and wipe-dry un-padded plastic seats (more comfy than they look!). You stay fairly dry if you keep moving in a shower.
Engine:
I wasn't sure about the Megablade, being pretty much the lowest powered (130bhp) bike engined car, but the test drive convinced me otherwise - it was in a different league to a 150hp Zetec engined Tiger I tried. I'd say you'd need 180-200hp to get similar performance from a heavier car engined 7.
I can't see me ever wanting or needing a faster car to drive on public roads... but then if you ride a litre sports bike you are probably a bit less scared of death than me.
Bikers that have been in my car though have commented on the "brutality" of the power delivery - I think that is because you can snap the throttle wide open whenever you like in a car without worrying about being thrown off the back.
Also the car gearing means that you can make more use of all the revs and gears the bike engine has to offer on twisty roads rather than needing an autobahn.
Windscreen:
Having been in sevens with full screens they were pretty horrible at anything over 60mph, with loads of wind whipping around the screen and hitting you square in the face. Loads of noise too. An aeroscreen and full face helmet is a much warmer, quieter and probably safer place to be.
I don't tend to take the car out if it looks like rain, or take it touring for any length of time. I've got a cockpit cover if I need to park up in the rain though, and wipe-dry un-padded plastic seats (more comfy than they look!). You stay fairly dry if you keep moving in a shower.
Engine:
I wasn't sure about the Megablade, being pretty much the lowest powered (130bhp) bike engined car, but the test drive convinced me otherwise - it was in a different league to a 150hp Zetec engined Tiger I tried. I'd say you'd need 180-200hp to get similar performance from a heavier car engined 7.
I can't see me ever wanting or needing a faster car to drive on public roads... but then if you ride a litre sports bike you are probably a bit less scared of death than me.
Bikers that have been in my car though have commented on the "brutality" of the power delivery - I think that is because you can snap the throttle wide open whenever you like in a car without worrying about being thrown off the back.
Also the car gearing means that you can make more use of all the revs and gears the bike engine has to offer on twisty roads rather than needing an autobahn.
mr_fibuli said:
Having been in sevens with full screens they were pretty horrible at anything over 60mph, with loads of wind whipping around the screen and hitting you square in the face. Loads of noise too.
You are absolutely correct about a Seven with screen ONLY, but if you have the sidescreens on it is comfortable cruising at 70 to 80mph. Noise is bearable, but as I said before earplugs are a really good idea for long journeys. I have found the sidescreens got blown around a bit at 110mph, but I was wearing a helmet on track at the time.Just to update this thread....I got one! 
I purchased it from a WSCC member (Tim) in Penrith, Cumbria. He didn't know much about the spec, but from what I can tell so far:
2003 Westfield SEiW
Vauxhall C20XE engine
Twin Webers
Megajolt Ignition
Cat Motorsport Ultra lightweight alloy 4 pot Calipers
Lightweight radiator
Lightweight alternator
LED indicators & rear clusters
Toyo 888 tyres
Some kind of adjustable dampers
A Quaife 'thing' (I might need your help identifying if that's just a short shifter or a full box / diff later!
)
LOTS of fake carbon!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
More pics: https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/819765/1/westfield...
I purchased it from a WSCC member (Tim) in Penrith, Cumbria. He didn't know much about the spec, but from what I can tell so far:
2003 Westfield SEiW
Vauxhall C20XE engine
Twin Webers
Megajolt Ignition
Cat Motorsport Ultra lightweight alloy 4 pot Calipers
Lightweight radiator
Lightweight alternator
LED indicators & rear clusters
Toyo 888 tyres
Some kind of adjustable dampers
A Quaife 'thing' (I might need your help identifying if that's just a short shifter or a full box / diff later!
)LOTS of fake carbon!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
More pics: https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/819765/1/westfield...
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