I was the lucky buyer of the latest Kirkham 289 FIA car on Ebay. The car is the 289FIA body on the 427 frame. I'd like some input from you guys on the build. I'm not after a nut & bolt clone of a 289FIA, but a would like the car to be somewhat true to the original. After a limited amount of research on 289FIA's the most amount of info I've found was on the ERA website. I think I will lean towards a competition car/street car hybrid(hey, the car is already a 289/427 hybrid).
I do not care for the look of the 289 FIA side pipes(I gather all comp cars had them?), so I am leaning to undercar exhaust. I am going to use black quick jacks and the car will be left unpainted, but I am on the fence about everything else.
I know getting opinions out of you guys will be like pulling teeth
, but lay'em on me.
Paint: none
Stripes?
exhaust: undercar
engine: aluminum small block(Bill Parham will get the call)
carb? Webers($?)? FI?
tranny: toploader
wheels/tires?
interior(comp or street, leather or vinyl)?
gearing(I'm thinking 355)?
locker?
Tow vehicle: F350(again, I just couldn't resist)
brakes and suspension bits will be discussed with the Kirkhams, but feel free to add your $.02
The car will be used mostly on the street, with the occasionl strip pass and hopefully some track time(I've got no experience but I hope to gain some). The car will NOT be shown. When I was younger I washed my cars daily and wax them weekly, but now I just drive the puupies and let the dirt ride with me. In short this will be my "jack of all trades"(master of none?) Cobra replica.
It appears that I am "all over the map", so before I start I would like to plan the car so it will be what I want. I just hope I don't end up with a Cobrastein(as in frankenstein).