Westfield Elevens

Hello,

most of the westfield elevens are using a BMC engine.
Is it possible to fit a ford crossflow under the bonnet?
It is not my intention to make a bulge on the bonnet.
Shortening the sump or dry sumping the engine is no problem.

Thanks Cor

If you have the book 'Westfield the story' by Robinshaw and Bouckley, published in 2000, there are some pictures on p94 and 95 of an xi built with an 1800cc crossflow (apparently winner of the 1985 Kit car championship)- I cant see any evidence of a dry sump, so guess that this must be do-able. There are no bodywork mods by the looks of it either.

Ben

I have seen an early Eleven that races with a Ford engine. I think it was a pre crossflow - easier to package the carbs. So certainly possible.

Charles, are you talking about the Eleven that raced in with the SRGTC?
If so, yes they ran a crossflow. Aparently it wasnt the 1800 it used to be back in the late 80's early 90's but either the 1300 or 1600 variant (i cant remember which now). Very quick back in the day, wasnt so quick the year he came back out with us, very dirty racer too so you'll be glad he's not out now!! I'll stick my Mallory footage on YT, I had marks all the way down one side of the car from him 'nudging' me - he also put me on the grass coming out of Gerrards!!

Anyway i digress, yes the crossflow fits without the need for a hump BUT i think he made it sit lower in the car meaning he had to run a higher ride height.

Dark blue - was at Mallory the last time you were there. Bunch of Yorkshire guys looking like hillbilly's. Very used looking. Dropped out of the race because something on the coolant circuit that was glued together failed.
To finish first, etc...

Yep, thats the car.

Hi all,

thanks for the response!!

So crossflow it is going to be then.

Cor

The factory offered a Ford powered kit, that allowed the engine to sit beneath the bodywork.

I have seen a couple of XIs with X flows, and no hood blister. I tried to buy one, but I was a day late. It had a 1600, with Webers and a Cortina GT gearbox.

The trick is a "T" or kicked out oil pan, shortened and widened to increase ground clearance while maintaining capacity. It's not that hard to do.

A dry sump setup from an F Ford could also be used.

The Ford engine will sit a bit farther forward than the A series.

Is anyone out there sure that a X-Flow (as opposed to pre X-Flow) will clear the RH top chassis rail and bonnet, using twin Webers?
I'm already looking to 2013 when I want to be more competitive and to get to the class D limit for power I need around 135 flywheel HP (2012 will be all about driver improvement - hopefully!). That means either a maxed out full race A Series (that would be you, Adam!) or something with a bit more capacity and less stressed. I don't do fragile engines, and still want road driveable, so a 135HP A Series is out.
Having looked at all options the best compromise would seem to be a Ford X-flow or Pre-flow. Should clear the bonnet (dry sumped if necessary) and LH exhaust. Also in keeping with the character of the car.
Either a pre X-flow or X-flow can give me that sort of power, but X-Flows more readily available. But I need to be sure the carbs can clear the chassis. A Pre-Xflow would as it's all on the left hand side of the engine. Watching two 1500 pre X Flow's on eBay at present, so appreciate any feedback!
Zetec, Mazda, K Series, Toyota 4AGE all very tempting but I'd much prefer to not have to put a bump in the bonnet, and for SR&GT we really need to keep carbs (though there are exceptions). Dolly Sprint still tempting mind...

How tall is an MX5 engine?
We've thought about that route to mix with the higher classes but given we were beating a majority of the class c cars as the car is we're put that on the back burner - they may be quicker in a straight line but the nimbleness in the corners more than makes up for it usually.

I have wondered how well a Boxer engine would work, obviously it'd need to be NA and carbed. Think it may be a non starter though.

At race retro last year they had a BMW engine on a stand, surprising how small they are physically - could be an option...

Im fairly sure the Bucktons eleven was a crossflow and not a pre-crossflow, i thought my dad had taken some pictures of the engine bay but i cant find them. if i do i'll post them up.