Fun in the Kirkham

[BMK]

I am having trouble getting the smile off my face...

Had my Kirkham now for just on 5 weeks and travelled 5000 kilometers so far - 3000 miles in US talk..

I am enjoying the Cobra, it's handling, braking and general comfort is fantastic.

I made a few changes to give me more room - pressed the floor down under the seat to give the seat base more down direction. This "Bernie bubble" as it has been called allows my 90kg - 200lb - to drop down about 20mm - 1 inche. I also pressed the inner guard to allow the seat to go back 30mm.

As the weather can get quite cold I have fitted a roof.

I have had an opportunity to give the Cobra some spirited driving around the Great Ocean Road and through the winding coastal hills.

The only small problems I have found are -

The ignition key hits my left knee when I get really moving in corners changing gears and I turn the ignition off. I rectified this by taking spare keys off the ignition key. May move the ignition to the centre of the dash..

I have found the fuel/gas tank gets pressured up and bangs and complains
loudly when I open the gas cap. The valve on the fuel/gas cap is working. the tank bangs whilst filling it with fuel. I will check this as I don't want to break welds.

I have a few oil leaks, but that is to be expected. Once I run it a little more and re change oils etc. out I will re tension everything.

The 468 aluminum Shelby has lived up to my expectations. It is a real hang on experience.

I promise I will not wear it out to quickly..

Cheers.....

[Mando]

Bernie, show us the pictures!

Regards.

[rodneym]

BMK,
That's a hell of a lot of driving in a short period!
JEALOUS!

[750hp]

You're really clocking up the miles, Bernie - that's excellent!
Photos, photos, photos!

[soulman]

3000 miles, in 5 weeks.... That's pathetic Bernie.

Took me only 4 years to do that !



Coffee machine is on !

Catch up soon,

Soul.

[BMK]

Soulman

I am doing another 200 tomorrow...

I am driving up to Sandown Racetrack for the Historics racing. We are meeting at 0800 to 0830 at the Bunnings on the left just prior to the Sandown Track entry overpass.

We have a spare entry pass. If you are free call up.

Bernie

[BMK]

Pictures.. driving to fast to take any. Standby....

[BMK]

Just filled the gas/fuel tank. It's making extremely load banging sounds as if I am folding it inwards. Pressured up..

The gas cap appears to be breathing ok....

[BMK]

And another 280 k today - 180+ miles..... Might have get to work..

Any thougthts on that gas/fuel tank complaining...

I will pull it out and check it over if this keep happening.

The filler cap appears to be breathing. But the tank was three quarters empty today and whilst filling - about 10 litres/ 2 gallons into the fill - it banged so load it frightened me. It was if it was sucked in.

I am considering pulling the breather out of the fuel cap to check eliminate it.

Anyone else experienced this..

[Tengu]

Bernie, presuming its a stainless steel tank? Is the floor of the tank supported sufficiently to prevent it from sagging and pulling the sides in?

Looking forward to the pictures... I haven't seen it yet, but my skin is already changing colour to envy green.

[keith 720]

Bernie how large is the filler tube.Does it have an unleaded filler neck,If so does it have a breather tube off the top of the tank running up to the filler neck higher than the end of the fuel nossle when filling.If not then you may be pressurising the tank when filling.Just a thought mate.

[BMK]

The Kirkham tank has two brackets that run under it. It is well supported.

When I get low on fuel I will climb all over the tank to see where it is getting sucked in.

It definately is pressuring up.

The ULP pump head is only small and there is plenty of room for air to get down the side as it fills. I think the weight of the fuel is pushing the tank back into shape.

The next thing is to remove the inner fuel cap rubber and little non return breather.

I will also check the breather in the neck in the morning to see where it vents too.

I called Kirkham Motorsport today and will ring them in the morning again, to talk to the engineer there. Only the computer people in today.

No big deal but I want to get onto it...

[JBCOBRA]

On my fuel cap I cut an additional groove in the metal, under the rubber to allow additional venting/breathing. Took 5 minutes and solved the problem.
Maybe try that first...?

[BMK]

JBCOBRA

Thanks yes a good idea. Did you have the same problem?

Yes I am onto it now as the tank is low. Will check it all over to see where it is being sucked in......

[JBCOBRA]

Yes, my cap was not letting air in fast enough, which ended up trying to collape the gas tank inwards......vacuum.
Just cutting an additional groove in the metal on the gas cap allowed more air in as the fuel pump sucked gas out of the tank and solved the problem.

[rodneym]

Guys,
forgive me for being a bit off topic but I have an issue filling up when the tank gets relatively full, with the thousand clicks of the pump and bubbly fuel that needs to settle to let more fuel in. It's worse in my Kirkham vs the SPF I had.
Thoughts?

[BMK]

Rodneym

I have not experienced the same problem as you, but have reached the full position and the pump clicks off as I squeeze the last bit in, then found it could of had an extra few gallons in.