Kess Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 (edited) I sold my Superformance S1 4 years ago now and have missed having a seven for the last few years. I have been looking for a possible replacement and have missed out on a few cars for various reasons. I recently found a late 80's Westfield for sale. The price is okay and the car is not too far away. It was completed in the early 90's and only has 1900 miles on it! . It has a bench type seat. It is pretty complete (it would need working wipers for my state inspection and I think new tires). I am attaching a photo so you can get a look at it. No where near as menacing as my S1 or many of the newer cars, but I thought it might be fun. Looking for information from other Westfield owners about experiences with the car. It looks much like the present Westfield kits but I am sure things have changed. Any help greatly appreciated before I make the 3.5 hour drive to go see it. Thanks! Gary Edited March 25, 2011 by Kess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 That looks like an SE or SEi (both introduced in '88). If the car is an SE, then it has a live axle, if it’s an SEi, then it has IRS out back. Westfield’s IRS uses a Ford Sierra diff and Westfield designed uprights, but I *think* the early cars used a different setup at least for the diff. A search on WSCC should provide a lot more info. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kess Posted March 26, 2011 Author Share Posted March 26, 2011 (edited) A little more info on the car. It has not run in 3-5 years. All fluids would need to be replaced. I got a photo of the engine. Not the best shot. Not sure what it is (crossflow?). It has rear drums not sure if that makes it an SE or SEI. The tires are original so they would need to be replaced as well. I am going to keep researching. Edited March 30, 2011 by Kess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruadhd2 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Maybe a USA7 member lives closer to it and can take a preliminary look at it for you before you take the trip. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 The car deserves to be loved and driven again. Maybe it is the car for you, maybe not. Good luck with your research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancylad Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 That looks like a crossflow alright. As John said, ckeck out the guys on the WSSC site, they are a helpfull bunch. Just buy it, they are a great car.. not that I am Biased at all!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancylad Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Ooops, WSCC.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kess Posted March 26, 2011 Author Share Posted March 26, 2011 Here are few more photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancylad Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Good looking car.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancylad Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Always tricky to tell from pic's but doesn"t look in bad shape. With the drum brakes, it may be an SE. As I am sure John will tell you, even with a crossflow on board a 7 is still a fun machine to drive, and there is always up-grade itis...but you already know that, you had an S1. go for it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kess Posted March 26, 2011 Author Share Posted March 26, 2011 I am trying not to get too carried away. I know I cannot drive the car before I buy. I suppose I could be buying a car that needs a new/rebuilt motor as well as brakes. I would want new tires as these 21 year old ones must be hard as rock. Not sure what else. Maybe change the bench seat out and I would want weather gear I think. So what is a project like this worth? Any thoughts? Thanks! Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escondidoron Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Not sure what it is (crossflow?). Well, the enginein your picture is a crossflow, but not a Ford Kent crossflow. The carb and exhaust on the engine in your picture are on opposite sides as compared to a Kent crossflow. The shape of the valve cover is too rectangular. Also, the exhaust ports are not evenly spaced on a Kent crossflow. The pic below from heperformance.com shows the Ford Kent crossflow layout, albeit with twin side drafts installed instead of a single down draft 2 barrel carb: http://www.heperformance.com/_images//1600cc_ford_crossflow_engine_makes_140hp.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzempel Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 I'm going to go out on a limb and guess Pinto engine. Which, as I recall was a great starting point for building good power. If the price is right, this could be a great project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 rzempel is correct. That's the CVH engine. Decent power potential, but they are affectionately known as boat anchors on WSCC. Given how long the car has been sitting, a lot of the seals could be toast, so you might want to budget for a brake rebuild and perhaps an engine freshening. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Regarding brakes, I checked one of my books and it states the SEi came with discs and the SE with drums. So it's probably a live axle car. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kess Posted March 26, 2011 Author Share Posted March 26, 2011 (edited) Thanks all for the comments. Keep them coming! I guess I could replace the engine/transmission with something else (a nice engine/trans from a Miata would be fine as I like these). But all this brings me back to how much this car might be worth in its present state. Would it be a worthwhile project to put the time and money into? Any thoughts? Gary Edited March 30, 2011 by Kess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancylad Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Hi Gary The guys are right, looks like a Pinto power plant. Depends how much is being asked for the car as to whether its worth taking the project on.. I know that my little 1.6cvh provides a lot of fun and some really spirited driving thrills.. strap twin webers on there and a good exhaust system. Here's a couple more pic's of 'Her Madge' that you asked for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancylad Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Ready to go on tour. http://www.usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5429 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Everything that can wear out shd be replaced: hoses, suspension bushings, engine mounts. Looks like a great project for someone w/lots of time and some skill. I wld "guestimate" value as $6K-8K. You don't know if engine works, ditto clutch, brakes etc. And when you are done you have a 30 year old Westy w/an ancient engine. If it were me (I know it's not), I'd keep looking. BTW, my X-flow has intake and exhaust on opposite side as this car. Mike M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 I say go for it and plan on dumping the Pinto engine and trans and putting in a Miata engine and transmission. Great upgrade paths with the Miata engine when the urge for more horsepower strikes you. I drove Flyin Miata's Westfield when it had a stock 1.6 Miata engine and it surprised me with its acceleration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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