Broken crossflow

[mac w]

Hi yall I have blown the crossflow in my Westfield the car is a '95 SEIW with the type 9 Ford 5speed trans. and the Sierra lsd. my question is this what practical options are open to me given that a good rebuild on the crossflow will run about $3500.00 with an output in the region of 150HP.

Any comments will be gracefully recieved.

[bball7754]

I think the Zetec is considered the "easiest" Crossflow replacement. Carbs and exhaust on the same sides as the Xflow, and the bolt pattern on the bell housing matches the Type 9.

 

Steve

[11Budlite]

I agree with Steve that the Zetec is the easiest choice for an upgrade. Here are a couple sites with info on Xflow to Zetec conversions.

 

Cherik's: http://my.voyager.net/~quadrant19/XF-to-Zetec.html

 

Phil's: http://www.our-nest.co.uk/Caterham/html_files/2002_zetec_engine_swap.htm

 

And if you're interested in going with a lighter, more modern powerplant with more hp potential, you can check out JohnCh's site where he changed from a Xflow to a Duratec in his Westfield. More involved than a Zetec because the intake and exhaust are on opposite sides: http://john15.web.officelive.com/aboutus.aspx

[mac w]

thanks for all of the replies and offers I have decided to stick with the XFlow and have a lot of support from a top class engine builder hope to see at least 150hp by the spring. The cost is marginally better with the XFlow (within $1000) but I was unsure of the details going to ZETEC.

[BMW RACER]

Mac.

 

Who's doing the motor?

[mac w]

I have a friend in Sam Nelson of Nelson engines here in Georgia we are doing it together. He was for many years the FF and FF2000 engine guy in the UK up there with Scholar and I think Neil Brown he moved to the U.S. some years ago and now has a small race engine shop catering to SCCA and some other motorcycle engined round track series. He also builds some historic stuff just completed an MAE for the first ever March chassis an old F3 car owned by another friend.

[Kitcat]

For the sake of us other Crossflow owners with "Zetec envy", plz post details of planned mods. Is the goal power, reliability, both? Cost is an obvious factor, what are you budgeting for this rebuild?

 

Mike

[mac w]

The engine will get hardened valve seats for unleaded gas ,new valves (bigger) with new retainers caps etc. Inlet guides will be machined for stem seals. The cam is worn and will be replaced with a new 244 cam with dual row timing chain and steel rocker posts. The block is to be bored and fitted with custom forged pistons and rings, crank will be balanced and tuftrided . Carburettors will be fitted with bigger chokes and rejetted.All of this is expected to give 140-150HP for about $3500. I already have a good dry sump system and electronic ignition.

I did some research and came up with a figure of about $4500 to do a Zetec swap with about the same power and weighs 50-70 pounds more.Iam sure that I did'nt see all of the pitfalls / problems associated with the switch and I did'nt allow for selling off any usable crossflow parts the numbers are really closeand my decision was based on three things :-one I have access to some really good help with the crossflow. Two, The cost. and three the ease of getting things back together by next spring.

[LongTimeLurker]

The sound of a 1700 crossflow is worth about $1,000. Call it even.

[jlumba81]

Just curious what's the cost of switching from a crossflow to a carbureted zetec?

[Kitcat]

Where are you sourcing your parts for rebuild?

 

I spoke with Jay Ivy last year and he has loads of Crossflow upgrade parts. Not cheap tho. As I recall, an aluminum head, wh/saves 20 lbs, was $2K.

 

What will RPM max be?

 

How much of an overbore?

 

Did you ever chassis dyno your existing engine to see what the power was? FWIW, when my stock engine was dynoed, it made 95 hp and 93 lbs torque.

 

Also FWIW, Ben at Caterham USA recommends selling Crossflow engined Cats and buying Zetec or Duratec engined Cats due to the immense hassle of doing such an engine transplant.

[escondidoron]

an aluminum head, wh/saves 20 lbs, was $2K.

 

For that kind of money I'd recommend taking a look at this as a possible lower cost alternative:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORMULA-FORD-1600-Lotus-Seven-KENT-CROSSFLOW-ALLOY-HEAD-/230464051725?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35a8ba5a0d#ht_500wt_1167

 

No affiliation etc..............

[manik]

For that kind of money I'd recommend taking a look at this as a possible lower cost alternative:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORMULA-FORD-1600-Lotus-Seven-KENT-CROSSFLOW-ALLOY-HEAD-/230464051725?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35a8ba5a0d#ht_500wt_1167

 

No affiliation etc..............

 

 

 

And one might check with Pierce, who has these heads made by PBS:

http://www.pbseng.com/SplProducts.html

 

 

 

tm

[BMW RACER]

And one might check with Pierce, who has these heads made by PBS:

http://www.pbseng.com/SplProducts.html

 

 

 

tm

 

I was thinking about one of these for my Crossflow also. Does anyone have any experience with the aluminum heads? I wonder if it needs to be ported to be equivalent to the Caterham SS1700 head?