SOHC Kirkham

[CoolCarl]

Joe, of all the interiors you posted, the last one looks the best imo. The other 3 were tacky from my point of view. The gray interior looked clean, professional, and stock (if you didn't know what an original cobra interior looked like).

When I first joined this site I looked at LOTS of old posts. Especially posts like "show me your interior," and stuff like that. I think there was even a post a few months ago that was titled something like, "Pics of the strangest interiors." You should check them out.

[Cashburn]

I suppose if you don't turn your own wrenches (or pop rivet gun) then you would be near the same cost.

[Motorhead27]

Hold on here, I never said that FFR was in the same class as Kirkham. I just said that the two cost almost the same in this situation. Because of that, I'd rather go with a Kirkham.

[FIA-ERA]

Am I still missing something here or did the Kirkhams have another sale that I missed!! How can you say they will cost about the same?? The Kirkham is 60K to 65K as a roller. The FFR is 22K to 26K or more not as a roller (30K to make it a roller). So if my math is right your still looking at a swing of 30K to 35K to compare the two apples for apples. We ALL can agree you cannot compare the two in anyway except the share the same mirrors or something.

Now, if you want to put a SOHC in a FFR all the power to you BUT you never see 1/2 of your investment. Now, if you just happen to have a SOHC laying around and it has nothing "Better" to put it in again it's your deal. I've seen SOHC's in a Maverick, 67 F100, 69 Mustangs and wondered why?? Or really WTF! Now, a SOHC in a Kirkham would be pretty sweet. Your mating a incredible motor with a car of the same caliper... All the Cobra kits are relative to their costs. Example a Kirkham sells for more because well it cost more to begin with. A FFR (not that it's bad) is at the lower end of the scale, hence it's resale value. It's the same with ALL the Cobra's out there. Sure you might have some one that sells a FFR for 50K and that's a lucky seller. BUT, what do you think a FFR with a SOHC motor would resale for? Not much more than the cost of the motor, I would think.

Do the research here. You will find plenty of guy's that invested 120K or more in a Kirkham WITH OUT a SOHC motor in it. Do you have this motor? Do you have all the accessories to make this motor happen? I would be willing to bet you would spend another 15K just to make this motor "Right" in a car. The headers, the oil pan, the oiling system, the drive train upgrades, etc.... Hey, do what you want BUT listen to the wealth of knowledge here on this forum. They have all been there, done it and have the experiences!! Matt

[RodKnock]

We are talking about an FE Cammer engine, correct? Well, if we are, then Barry R. has two of them. One is an original cast iron version for low 20K's and the other is a top of the line all aluminum aftermarket version in the 40K's:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/75943...7890977/Cammer

ME want.

[Motorhead27]

Guys, in THIS situation, only this one, did a FFR and a Kirkham come close in price. The reason is due to all the parts that would be needed to handle this engine. There is a little bit of cost there. Then all the plumbing, there's a bit of cost there. The wheels, there's some cost there. A bunch of small things added up. Then lastly, I'd need more tools to build a FFR than to finish a Kirkham. I looked at every possible aspect of the build, and in the end, the difference between a cammer FFR and a cammer Kirkham would be roughly $10K. In the end, they are almost the same cost but one is better than the other. There have been FFRs that cost the owner close to $100K, and they built it themselves. It's possible for a FFR to cost almost the same as a Kirkham in the end. Not common, but can be done.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Motorhead27

There have been FFRs that cost the owner close to $100K...

The only way an FFR can cost you a hundred grand is if you run over somebody when you're driving it.

[dallas_]

Originally Posted by patrickt

The only way an FFR can cost you a hundred grand is if you run over somebody when you're driving it.

Now that's funny.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

The only way an FFR can cost you a hundred grand is if you run over somebody when you're driving it.

Well, you must of heard of the $425,000 Toyota Highlander of a certain former CA lawmaker?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...BAS11HM3UC.DTL

[Maricopa]

Why is anybody getting worked up about this? He's 21 and in college, has no Kirkham, no SOHC, no money and no plans of buying or building anything for years and years. It's interesting yes but ultimately meaningless as all these prices will be different 5 or 10 years from now. It should have been presented as nothing more than hypothetical to begin with as any info given will be out of date and this thread archived and forgotten long before any of it gets used as anything more than a spreadsheet.

And before I get flamed for beating down a dream I've wanted a Cobra since I was 14 (1980) and by golly I finally got one. After I got married, bought a house, started a business, had kids etc, etc. Only took 24 years!

[Motorhead27]

The point of this thread, from the beginning, was to learn about Kirkhams. The talk about FFRs and how close it came to the price of a Kirkham, was only background of how I got here. I could care less what people say about my time frame, that I'm in college, there's no way a FFR could reach the price of a Kiirkham, etc. I just want to talk about Kirkhams and any powered by a SOHC.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Motorhead27

The talk about FFRs and how close it came to the price of a Kirkham, was only background of how I got here.

FWIW, I came very close to having a Contemporary Classic built in the early 1980s, when I was fresh out of school -- it was just a little too expensive, along with being newly married, mortgage, etc. Twenty years later I wrote a check to ERA for my Cobra. If Contemporary Classic was still in business today they would probably be the equivalent of an ERA. In those twenty years the price to get what I wanted more than doubled. I would guess that trend will probably continue.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by Motorhead27

The point of this thread, from the beginning, was to learn about Kirkhams. .....

.... I just want to talk about Kirkhams and any powered by a SOHC.

Ok, I'll go out on a limb, and speak on behalf of everyone...

For what its worth everyone agrees that a "Kirkham powered by a SOHC" are "the duck's guts!!!"

(Google it if you have too...)

[Dimis]

PS: I think I might put an LS7 in mine though...?


Not sure yet...!

Flame-suit on!

[RodKnock]

I should probably look him up on the Internets because people keep saying I'm Machiavellian.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Most of the folks around here would no doubt confuse him with the Marquis de Sade.

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I should probably look him up on the Internets because people keep saying I'm Machiavellian.

Well that just proved my point....

[Sharroll Celby]

I have been told (by the opposite sex) that I am quite the cunning linguist.

[RodKnock]

This thread is a Greek tragedy.

Maybe Ron (CW) can post that pic he has of a polished Cammer that was being installed in a Kirkham during one of the Kirkham's open houses a couple years ago. That was a beauty and it shows how little room you (me, anyone) would have to work on anything in the engine compartment.

I can't seem to find that pic and I searched.

EDIT: Found. See next post.

[RodKnock]

AHHHHHAAAAA!

Post #97 on page 7:

http://clubcobra.com/forums/showthre...kirkham&page=7

[Three Peaks]

Some of these posts are more than a little misleading, but it is difficult to deciper how much more you are actually paying for the Kirkham since they only come as a roller and not a kit as the FF5 unit does.

Consider what it would cost to have the drivetrain (except engine and tranny), wiring, 30 gallon fuel tank and lines, windshield, lights, wipers, radiator, suspension, Wilwood brakes, steering and other miscellaneous parts supplied and installed by someone else. Then add in the cost of the supplied parts that FF5 doesn't supply- true Knock off hubs and Trigo Knock off wheels and Good year tires, Salisbury differential and drive shafts(installed), fiberglass foot boxes (installed), doors, hood, and trunk hung and aligned, fire wall installed and sealed to the body and foot boxes, roll bar installed, billet aluminum suspension pieces all around, Penske shocks ($$$), High end guages (installed), and a number of other things I'm sure I'm missing.

The aluminum body isn't $35K as stated, but it isn't cheap either. I think they sell the bodies separately for around $15K, but that is just the price as a stand alone purchase. With the kit I'm sure it isn't the same price point.

When you consider the labor and other pieces as shown above which aren't included in the FF5 kit, I think the price would actually be surpisingly close between the two subjects of conversation here. Install an engine and tranny and a few associated pieces and you could be into one for as little as $70K (small block and T5)? or as much as you want to spend.

Personally, if I had the cash the Kirkham would be my only choice. I'll just have to settle for a close fascimile with a few Kirkham parts installed.



Bob