KMP0028 Project reboot!

[MOTORHEAD]

Just got the garage cleared out enough to restart the rebuilding of my Kirkham 427SC, after stopping work in 2005. Life just doesn't cooperate sometimes. At the rate I type, I hope I can get posts completed before I time out.
To bring everyone up to speed, I bought the car from a dealer who specializes in burned Jaguars and on his shopping trips ends up with finds from Ferraries(sp?) to Rolls, to complete collections. I bought a 1987 XJS with a dropped valve (overheated) from him some years ago, and was at his shop when I spotted the Cobra under a tarp. Rear end peaking out. I pulled the cover of the front and saw substansial fire damage . Continued looking and noticed: 1, ALUMINUM BODY ! (HOLY CR@P !!,a REAL ONE, I thought)
2, An ALUMINUM block & heads! This was no replica or kit car, or so I thought at the time. Asked the dealer about it and he told me it was a Kirkham, but he didn't know much about them. Went home and did the research, and long story short, ended up buying it! That was 2001, and I took it to my shop and started to disassemble it.
I'm going to stop now and post this before I time out. Does any one know what that time limit might be? I hate typing long stories only to lose the whole thing when I hit "submit"

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Just type a few lines & submit, then just do it again and again, until you get the message across (or your typing gets a little better). I haven't been 'timed out' in several years. Maybe it's the internet connection.
Tell us more about the Cobra. Put up some pics if you can.

[rustyBob]

more, we need more..........lets see some pics.

[MOTORHEAD]

There are a few pics from 2004 in my gallery. The engine was complete at that time to long block status, which is its state today. But that will have to be another thread as changes need to be made due to advanced technology since 2004.
As for the car, I called Kirkham and had many discussions with David who filled me in on the history of the car. It was built in 1998 for a customer in Miami who took delivery as a complete (turn-key) vehicle, the paint and engine being done in utah. After delivery the owner was having engine problems and was working with a local mechanic to resolve them. After 6 mos and 478 mi on the clock, a fire started in the engine compartment and destroyed the hood, left front fender, and interior before being extinguished.
An insurance claim was filed, and David K. flew down to miami to assess the damage. It was determined that the car was an "economical total loss", and the owner got a new Kirkham.
I got the car with a "salvage" title in 2001, but was not concerned because at the time there were many way to "clean" a title. Of course now things are a bit different I have many pics, but are all to big. will post more as I learn how.
TR

[tkb289]

Originally Posted by MOTORHEAD

... I'm going to stop now and post this before I time out. Does any one know what that time limit might be? I hate typing long stories only to lose the whole thing when I hit "submit"

One suggestion is to compose (and save) your post in a text document (Word for example) then when you have something ready to post, just copy and paste into the web page and you are good to go. No need to worry about timing out.

Best of luck with the rebuild ... sounds like quite an undertaking to say the least!

[MOTORHEAD]

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.YOUR-3A9925343A\My Documents\My Pictures\webers and dodge

[MOTORHEAD]

Ok, tried to post a picture, but that didn't work. Can't find where to delete this!

[lovehamr]

[MOTORHEAD]

Thanks L.H., those pics are from my gallery, were taken around 2001/2. I had rebuilt the engine while waiting for body & other parts from Kirkham. The guy I bought the car from introduced me to an older gentleman from the UK who had worked for Jaguar pounding out aluminum panels in the 50's /60's, and who had been in the US for some time. His business here was restoration of classic cars. He came and looked at the car before I bought it, and gave me a price of $2500 to repair the body!!! ( re-skin the hood, pound out a new left front fender from scratch!!!, and pound out a few other dents suffered in handling since the fire. I was expecting a bid of 3 times that much, but I thought I'd give him a try. By the time the car was stripped and ready for him,
he was tied up with other jobs, and over the next year or so, we were unable to get together, so I ordered the parts from Kirkham.
More later.
TR

[rustyBob]

Now that will be one HOT car when done.........I know somebody had to say it....
i'm glad to see someone take on a project like that......bring it back to life.....

[MOTORHEAD]

This is a test[/IMG]

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by MOTORHEAD

Thie is a test:

You are trying to post an image using a path on your own computer.

That won't work.
Just upload to your Gallery and link.

[MOTORHEAD]

[/IMG]

[RodKnock]

Makes me want to paint my car red. But what red?

Keep posting away with updates and thank you.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Makes me want to paint my car red. But what red?

Keep posting away with updates and thank you.

Ditto on both counts.

[MOTORHEAD]

[MOTORHEAD]

Well Happy New Year to all ! Hopefully we're back with pics and updates after some help from my computer savvy daughter. It's been a YEAR since I last posted progress on my car, and then got sidetracked for a lot of reasons.
I left off where I was waiting for new body panels , so I worked on preping the body & frame. Cut off all the damaged skin, blasted the frame, and prepped and painted. Got my fingers crossed that pics will accompany this post!!

[MOTORHEAD]

Well dagnabitt !! I had 3 pics selected but only one showed-up! Have to wait for daughter and grandaughters to return from beach to find out what I did wrong, but even getting one to show up is major accomplishment for me !!

[MOTORHEAD]

Here are the additional photos.

[MOTORHEAD]

Frame blasted, ospho'ed, cold galvanized (zinc paint) topcoated w/ eastman's "chassis black" epoxy