Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[aaronjb]

I don't think the Westies accommodate a V8 particularly well - although there was the Westfield SEight; that was an RV8 which is comparatively narrow and short (physically and on power )

You need to check the dimensions of a Rover V8, as it's neither narrow or short when compared to the 3 common small-block engines. It is quite light though.

Having just looked it up, the LS is ~24" wide and ~27" long (excl exhausts, incl heads) while the RV8 is 30" wide by 33" long, so yep, I take that back! It's a big old arthritic asthmatic bugger.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I wonder if the 5 lire S/C V8 from my Tata could be made to fit in a Westfield?.

510 BHP and 500 lb ft torque make the car nippy enough but is hampered by having to drag around almost 1900 KG.

Stick the lump in a car weighing around 600KG seems to make far more sense.....could even make it 4 wheel drive like one or two DAX I have seen.

[Kevin Wood]

It's main advantages 30 years ago, were that it made a decent amount of power, was easy to find and cheap to buy. 150hp four pots quickly took its place for the same reasons

..and due to the fact that they're not normally completely knackered and in need of an extensive rebuild by the time you purchase them 2nd hand!

[Andy B]

.....

.. and then there's the fuel consumption (bearing in mind the 27 litre tank).

 ....

That certainly puts you on first name terms with all your local petrol stations. Even my Smarts' are 35 litres & they'll do 45/50mpg

[Viral_Jim]

Yup, if you really are one sausage short of a fry-up, Dax are your chaps. All the big capacity stuff I’ve seen in Westfield-type cars has been in their DeDion (maybe) kit.

Personally the biggest barrier to my running one of these is space for my fat @rse. Even my Sumo is reasonably snug 

[aaronjb]

Yup, if you really are one sausage short of a fry-up, Dax are your chaps. All the big capacity stuff I’ve seen in Westfield-type cars has been in their DeDion (maybe) kit.

Except they went bust. Three times. And somewhere in there they sold off the Rush (Caterfield clone) to MAN Motorsport who are now putting out.. well, just look at this beauty from their demo chassis:



The rest of the Dax name is now owned by JK Sportscars (previously Dax Benelux, but manufacturing etc still lives here) and service has improved immeasurably..

[Kevin Wood]

Yes, shame about Dax. 

The Rush was a bit more of an "elbow on the door"* driving experience but it did work very well with big power. You had to watch the width at the rear, though.

* - If it had doors.

[Viral_Jim]

Except they went bust. Three times. And somewhere in there they sold off the Rush (Caterfield clone)

That is sad, I didn't know that!

MAN Motorsport who are now putting out.. well, just look at this beauty from their demo chassis:

Fu£k me! That is woeful, that honestly looks like my welding!

[aaronjb]

Yes, shame about Dax. 

Honestly, the future is brighter now than it ever was - at least for the brand.

That is sad, I didn't know that!

They were D J Sportscars International Ltd, then Dax Cars Ltd, then 427 Motor Co Ltd trading as Dax Cars.. there was always a good reason for these changes, but I can read between the lines

Fu£k me! That is woeful, that honestly looks like my welding!

I didn't want to be the one to say it, but yes, likewise! At least the welding on my Dax chassis (probably done by Gary who is back working for JK now, I believe) looks good (Or maybe Shaun, but probably would have been Gary at that point)

[Kevin Wood]

Yes, shame about Dax. 

Well, I meant about the Rush, really.

Good to hear that the rest of the range is better supported. Having been deeply involved in a Rush build, I know how it used to be.

A bit like Westfield, in fact.

[Terbs]

Poor ol' Terbs, he just wanted to talk about his Mazda..

For me I tend to miss a car being "over engined" whenever I'm in a car that I need to keep "on song" and vice versa; both have their place and depend on my mood. I think if I had a Caterfield I'd go for a smaller, well matched engine and keep the brown-trouser moments to the Cobra

 
Just said to Chris...'I only asked about my Mazda...got two pages of crap about god knows what !!!!

[Terbs]

Picked it up today....Luuuuuuvvv it 

[aaronjb]

Poor ol' Terbs, he just wanted to talk about his Mazda..

For me I tend to miss a car being "over engined" whenever I'm in a car that I need to keep "on song" and vice versa; both have their place and depend on my mood. I think if I had a Caterfield I'd go for a smaller, well matched engine and keep the brown-trouser moments to the Cobra

 
Just said to Chris...'I only asked about my Mazda...got two pages of crap about god knows what !!!!

Enjoy the Mazda!

[henryd]

Poor ol' Terbs, he just wanted to talk about his Mazda..

For me I tend to miss a car being "over engined" whenever I'm in a car that I need to keep "on song" and vice versa; both have their place and depend on my mood. I think if I had a Caterfield I'd go for a smaller, well matched engine and keep the brown-trouser moments to the Cobra

 
Just said to Chris...'I only asked about my Mazda...got two pages of crap about god knows what !!!!

Basically what you've learnt is that when the Mazda rots out the oily bits will work well in a kit car ,enjoy your new car Terbs