Gents,
Thank you all for your great comments!
Ed,
Thank you very much for your kind words. We have been very lucky to have customers who have believed in us over the years and have allowed us to jump off into the unknown to explore what many think can not be done. I wouldn't trade my job for anything. I hear of people who hate to go to work and I just don't understand. I love coming to work...just ask my wife!
Brent,
Thanks! We have a new secret weapon set to arrive in a few weeks. I CAN'T WAIT until it arrives! I have dreamed about it since I started the company years ago.
Steve,
I haven't thought much about dental work because my very good friend Brent DeHart is a dentist! Thanks for being a friend for so many years.
Bunkie314,
I was going to announce it at the open house, but we had so many people wanting to buy cars that day I forgot. It was a good day. Good thing we have such great customers! I have a tunnel port head that I have been looking at for a lot of this R&D. Thanks for the offer, I just might take you up on it.
I hope to have a motor on the dyno in 3-4 weeks.
I am glad you liked the food. We looked a long time to find the good stuff and I was lucky to find it in my next-door-neighbor.
Duane,
We will have a block at the Western States Cobra Bash for display.
Woodz428,
In the past few years certainly have seen a drastic change in that Nikasil has now become VERY common in motorcycle engines--particularly bullet bikes. I must admit, however, my comments were directed toward Japanese bikes--in particular. I haven't paid much attention to Harley motors as they are pretty low performance motors comparatively speaking. Bullet bikes have long set the performance standard for power to weight.
With a decent production, the cost of the Nikasil is very competitive with sleeves. There is no problem having a bore recoated. Another HUGE advantage of the Nikasil is less heat is generated because the bore is so slick. Less friction (heat) is generated in Nikasil bores.
As for motors being pulled down every race. That is true. But ANYTHING that can last an entire F1 race will forever on the street. The loads on F1 pistons are mind-boggling.
That said, I appreciate the concerns that you raise! Who knows that I have overlooked something stupid. I pays to have more than one mind on the problem. That is one of the reasons I love this site so much.
Jeff,
Kirkham Motorsports will not build turn key motors. We will build a few prototypes to make sure they work and then we will sell blocks for now. Later we will sell heads, intake manifolds, etc. Who knows what the future will bring.
Craig,
The heads will
oil through the pushrods. The FE oiling system isn't the best IMHO. There isn't any way to do that old style oiling system with our bolt on water jackets.
Murphy,
More than one have now asked. Maybe I'll have to make a few wooden block coffee tables...
Paul,
Thanks!
Ernie,
100,000 miles! Now that is a worthy goal!
Whats'aCobra,
You can rest assured we will do our best to try to blow the motor up many times over before we start to sell them to the public.
Sal,
The bore can easily be re-coated in case of damage. As for the fiberlass failure, I don't think any of the customers who purchased fiberglass cars are unhappy.
Ernie,
Right on. LOW weight.
Igofastr,
I hope you don't blow up your motor...but if you do, give me a call!
mrmax,
We intend to wear the dyno out making sure the block is good.
Mike,
Thanks for your comments and observations on the block. I REALLY appreciated the time you took to evaluate the block and to give me suggestions. Thank you for coming!
I hope people don't use junk gas in these motors! The problems they had we all attributed to bad gas with a high sulfur content from many years ago. Today, the EPA rules don't allow that high of sulfur content in gasoline.
Perry,
That is EXACTLY what we are trying to do--bring 21st century technology to the parts of yesterday to make them as cool as possible!
Jeff,
Thanks for your kind words!
flwolfman.
With all the people wanting wooden blocks, we may have to soon!
RedCSX1,
Thank you! You bring up valid points. The whole world is not roses and there are issues that HAVE to be looked at to make sure the block is reliable.
Leaking--I got the idea on 0-rings from a Honda water pump I changed a while back...no leaks in 100,000 miles. The shaft seal failed--not the o-ring. We use o-rings in our billet water tanks and have not had a single one leak--ever. Honda and Toyota still use o-rings extensively in their motors. They are cheap and EFFECTIVE.
Cylinder bore recoating.
Mike quoted Wikipedia in his post. If you look further into the process (and failures) you will find they were all attributed to bad gas (too high of sulphur content) from the not so stringent EPA standards of 5-10 years ago. All failures were attributed to people who put REGULAR unleaded in their tanks--not premium unleaded. Even back then, people who ran premium unleaded didn't have the coating failure (premium had a lower sulfur content. If you take apart a new Kawasaki bullet bike you will find Nikasil coated bores. The loads, RPM's that a bullet bike piston sees are much greater than anything I will ever do in a 427. The beating on a bullet bike it unbelievable. But then again, so is Japanese engineering.
Weight--I hope to save 50 pounds. Time will tell if I am dreaming!
Lab Rats...
There is already a LONG line of lab rats waiting around here...I am the FIRST one in line!
David
