Westfield in need of overhaul
Discussion
Hi All
Hoping for some ideas here.
My Dad and I have had a westfield for about 3 years now and has run faultlessly apart from a new petrol pump including 2 trips to the le mans 24 hrs from Lancashire.
As I use it more than my dad I am looking to give it a sort of update this winter and wanted ideas or pointers from those in the know.
Its a widebodied version with a pinto engine which I know are heavy and wanted to perhaps make it a bit lighter and quicker and give it an overhaul.
Have a budget of around £1000 and am quite prepared to do the work myself.
Not really sure so all suggestions appreciated.
Thanks
Hoping for some ideas here.
My Dad and I have had a westfield for about 3 years now and has run faultlessly apart from a new petrol pump including 2 trips to the le mans 24 hrs from Lancashire.
As I use it more than my dad I am looking to give it a sort of update this winter and wanted ideas or pointers from those in the know.
Its a widebodied version with a pinto engine which I know are heavy and wanted to perhaps make it a bit lighter and quicker and give it an overhaul.
Have a budget of around £1000 and am quite prepared to do the work myself.
Not really sure so all suggestions appreciated.
Thanks
It will most likely bolt straight up to your existing 'box but the clutch may need to be differnt.
You will need new engine mounts.
You will need a new exhaust as it is on the other side.
You will need carbs/manifold.
You will need an ecu of some sort to drive the ignition...megajolt perhaps.
You could possibly go fuel injected but not on that budget.
The Zetec is a good choice. On that basis there are many out there, with bigger budgets, doing exactly the same thing which means there could be some rather nice spec Pintos knocking around.
Nothing wrong with a Pinto for general road use and runs down to LeMans. The extra weight and lower revs only become an issue if you want to start throwing the car around and being competitive.
Steve
You will need new engine mounts.
You will need a new exhaust as it is on the other side.
You will need carbs/manifold.
You will need an ecu of some sort to drive the ignition...megajolt perhaps.
You could possibly go fuel injected but not on that budget.
The Zetec is a good choice. On that basis there are many out there, with bigger budgets, doing exactly the same thing which means there could be some rather nice spec Pintos knocking around.
Nothing wrong with a Pinto for general road use and runs down to LeMans. The extra weight and lower revs only become an issue if you want to start throwing the car around and being competitive.
Steve
[quote=Steve_D]It will most likely bolt straight up to your existing 'box but the clutch may need to be differnt.
You will need new engine mounts.
You will need a new exhaust as it is on the other side.
You will need carbs/manifold.
You will need an ecu of some sort to drive the ignition...megajolt perhaps.
You could possibly go fuel injected but not on that budget.
The Zetec is a good choice. On that basis there are many out there, with bigger budgets, doing exactly the same thing which means there could be some rather nice spec Pintos knocking around.
Nothing wrong with a Pinto for general road use and runs down to LeMans. The extra weight and lower revs only become an issue if you want to start throwing the car around and being competitive.
Steve
[/quot
Thanks Steve
just the info I was after and gives me a good starting point. I suppose it's just working out the benefits of swapping the pinto for a zetec. Thanks. Chris.
You will need new engine mounts.
You will need a new exhaust as it is on the other side.
You will need carbs/manifold.
You will need an ecu of some sort to drive the ignition...megajolt perhaps.
You could possibly go fuel injected but not on that budget.
The Zetec is a good choice. On that basis there are many out there, with bigger budgets, doing exactly the same thing which means there could be some rather nice spec Pintos knocking around.
Nothing wrong with a Pinto for general road use and runs down to LeMans. The extra weight and lower revs only become an issue if you want to start throwing the car around and being competitive.
Steve
[/quot
Thanks Steve
just the info I was after and gives me a good starting point. I suppose it's just working out the benefits of swapping the pinto for a zetec. Thanks. Chris.
jason61c said:
what about a suspension/brake re-fresh, Cams and bike carb conversion should net you a better handling car and another 20 odd bhp.
definately will be sorting the brakes. Went on a long run last night following a mate in his 997 turbo and the brakes really started to go soft. Noticed some bike carbs that bolt straight on to a pinto so going to weigh that option as well.And yes following the Porsche has got me crying for more power. Realise I am not going to get that quick but wouldn't mind a bit more. Thanks for the ideas.
You have a few choices,do you want it faster, do you want it to handle better,Look better or stop better. On all these look at the cost.
The zetec conversion is a good step, but the exhaust is on the other side, Duratec would keep it on the same side.
Get the handling set up will make a world of differance,better brakes makes the car feel quicker as you can use the power you have longer.
my first Westfiled was Pinto powered, about 160bhp it was fine. I could have spent money doing more on it but the reality was I built a better one with all the bits I wanted.
I would look at what you want and buy it. sell yours as it will work out cheaper in the long run becasue you always underestimate the cost. any swap of engine will be £500 to £1k with all the bits.
What ever you choose enjoy
The zetec conversion is a good step, but the exhaust is on the other side, Duratec would keep it on the same side.
Get the handling set up will make a world of differance,better brakes makes the car feel quicker as you can use the power you have longer.
my first Westfiled was Pinto powered, about 160bhp it was fine. I could have spent money doing more on it but the reality was I built a better one with all the bits I wanted.
I would look at what you want and buy it. sell yours as it will work out cheaper in the long run becasue you always underestimate the cost. any swap of engine will be £500 to £1k with all the bits.
What ever you choose enjoy
spaximus said:
You have a few choices,do you want it faster, do you want it to handle better,Look better or stop better. On all these look at the cost.
The zetec conversion is a good step, but the exhaust is on the other side, Duratec would keep it on the same side.
Get the handling set up will make a world of differance,better brakes makes the car feel quicker as you can use the power you have longer.
my first Westfiled was Pinto powered, about 160bhp it was fine. I could have spent money doing more on it but the reality was I built a better one with all the bits I wanted.
I would look at what you want and buy it. sell yours as it will work out cheaper in the long run becasue you always underestimate the cost. any swap of engine will be £500 to £1k with all the bits.
What ever you choose enjoy
thanks. Appreciate the comments. I am reluctant to change due to it's reliability so we'll see. Just wanted some ideas and this has helped. Think we'll get the brakes done and see about the engine. My dads just said are we putting a bike engine in but that will open another host of questions. Thanks. The zetec conversion is a good step, but the exhaust is on the other side, Duratec would keep it on the same side.
Get the handling set up will make a world of differance,better brakes makes the car feel quicker as you can use the power you have longer.
my first Westfiled was Pinto powered, about 160bhp it was fine. I could have spent money doing more on it but the reality was I built a better one with all the bits I wanted.
I would look at what you want and buy it. sell yours as it will work out cheaper in the long run becasue you always underestimate the cost. any swap of engine will be £500 to £1k with all the bits.
What ever you choose enjoy
Zetec is a good idea, but, the engine runs the opposite way to the way your engine goes now, so more holes in bodywork on the opposing sides for the exhaust manifold and carbs etc.
You have 3 choices.
1/ Modify the pinto you have to give a bit more power. You have all the bits there in situ and a grand will give a reasonable bit of pep. You also can leave the standard spring rates etc as the weight will be the same
2/ Ford Sigma. Basically a Yamaha engine which is a 1600cc 'Zetec style' engine fitted to Focus's. Will drop the CC down to 1600cc, but will still produce more sensible power than the Pinto all singing and dancing. Manifolds the same side as the pinto and would be my way of thinking for more power. Lighter engine means a change to springs, but thats it. Should knock a good 30 to 40 kg off the Pinto weight
3/ Ford Duratec. These engines are getting cheap now. The only thing is that it will be a bit more expensive to install than the grand, but nearly 200bhp from a standard lump with throttle bodies and ecu possible.
You have 3 choices.
1/ Modify the pinto you have to give a bit more power. You have all the bits there in situ and a grand will give a reasonable bit of pep. You also can leave the standard spring rates etc as the weight will be the same
2/ Ford Sigma. Basically a Yamaha engine which is a 1600cc 'Zetec style' engine fitted to Focus's. Will drop the CC down to 1600cc, but will still produce more sensible power than the Pinto all singing and dancing. Manifolds the same side as the pinto and would be my way of thinking for more power. Lighter engine means a change to springs, but thats it. Should knock a good 30 to 40 kg off the Pinto weight
3/ Ford Duratec. These engines are getting cheap now. The only thing is that it will be a bit more expensive to install than the grand, but nearly 200bhp from a standard lump with throttle bodies and ecu possible.
Justin S said:
Zetec is a good idea, but, the engine runs the opposite way to the way your engine goes now, so more holes in bodywork on the opposing sides for the exhaust manifold and carbs etc.
You have 3 choices.
1/ Modify the pinto you have to give a bit more power. You have all the bits there in situ and a grand will give a reasonable bit of pep. You also can leave the standard spring rates etc as the weight will be the same
2/ Ford Sigma. Basically a Yamaha engine which is a 1600cc 'Zetec style' engine fitted to Focus's. Will drop the CC down to 1600cc, but will still produce more sensible power than the Pinto all singing and dancing. Manifolds the same side as the pinto and would be my way of thinking for more power. Lighter engine means a change to springs, but thats it. Should knock a good 30 to 40 kg off the Pinto weight
3/ Ford Duratec. These engines are getting cheap now. The only thing is that it will be a bit more expensive to install than the grand, but nearly 200bhp from a standard lump with throttle bodies and ecu possible.
Thanks JustinYou have 3 choices.
1/ Modify the pinto you have to give a bit more power. You have all the bits there in situ and a grand will give a reasonable bit of pep. You also can leave the standard spring rates etc as the weight will be the same
2/ Ford Sigma. Basically a Yamaha engine which is a 1600cc 'Zetec style' engine fitted to Focus's. Will drop the CC down to 1600cc, but will still produce more sensible power than the Pinto all singing and dancing. Manifolds the same side as the pinto and would be my way of thinking for more power. Lighter engine means a change to springs, but thats it. Should knock a good 30 to 40 kg off the Pinto weight
3/ Ford Duratec. These engines are getting cheap now. The only thing is that it will be a bit more expensive to install than the grand, but nearly 200bhp from a standard lump with throttle bodies and ecu possible.
All ideas appreciated and going to look at all these options before deciding what to do with the engine..
In no rush to decide with the weather closing so I have time to consider the options
It isn't possible to do an engine conversion on a grand. I looked into replacing the pinto in my old Westfield, was going to fit a c20xe redtop. Even looking at buying secondhand parts and factoring in selling the pinto parts I was still looking at the best part of £1500. And that was on carbs. It's all the little bits that add up to a fortune....
I decided to just buy an old 2.1 pinto with all the mods and overhaul it. 150-160bhp is ruddy quick. But I sold the car before I did anything.
Bear in mind with the zetec that it's only 155bhp, I've heard of people going from a mildly tuned xflow/pinto and being underwhelmed as in standard tune the zetec is no powerhouse.
If it was me I'd upgrade that pinto with a lumpy cam and bike throttle bodies, then replace the brakes.
I decided to just buy an old 2.1 pinto with all the mods and overhaul it. 150-160bhp is ruddy quick. But I sold the car before I did anything.
Bear in mind with the zetec that it's only 155bhp, I've heard of people going from a mildly tuned xflow/pinto and being underwhelmed as in standard tune the zetec is no powerhouse.
If it was me I'd upgrade that pinto with a lumpy cam and bike throttle bodies, then replace the brakes.
nike 5 said:
Where are you starting from.
car's present weight?
Have you had the car geometry checked, and corner weighted.
Have you changed to light weight wheels - toyo R888 tyres or similar
Driver training day?
I suppose it's a good place to start. Not had any of this done but could get this done. I was also thinking of getting it on a rolling road to get it's current status so we have a starting point. Not done driver training. I know we all like to think were good drivers but that isn't always the case. Thanks. car's present weight?
Have you had the car geometry checked, and corner weighted.
Have you changed to light weight wheels - toyo R888 tyres or similar
Driver training day?
Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff