Million Dollar Skunksworks Kirkham

David Kirkham · #1 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 10:56 AM

Here we are testing the fit of a Keith Craft aluminum monster. You can see we used the Quick Time bell housing. It is quite small and light.

David Kirkham · #2 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 10:59 AM

Here you can see the floor pans going in. Notice the front of the passenger foot bot box is all hogged out. We started with a 1/2 plate for the front of the foot box as it is a stressed structure in this Chariot of Fire. On the side you can see the "X's" milled into the door sills. Hoofa, those are the areas we decided not to cover up with carpet.

David Kirkham · #3 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 11:04 AM

Here is a shot of the driver's side floor pan. The chassis "main rails" are 4 inches tall, just like an original car. I say "main rails" because the structure is somewhat like an airplane with longerins and ribs. The floor is connected to the top of the rail and the belly pan is connected to the bottom of the rail to make a very strong box like structure. The stressed tunnel adds to the stiffness and the tall door sils add as well.

David Kirkham · #4 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 11:07 AM

1ntCobra,

The billet engine is indeed part of this project. We are just working on finishing the car right now and then we will move on to finish the block. I lost my main programmer to MIT graduate school and I had to train a new programmer!

The chassis is indeed as of now a 1 off. The billet blocks will be sold to customers, however, when we finish and test them out.

David

David Kirkham · #5 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 11:08 AM

Another floor pan shot. Notice the markings to cut out clearance for the ebrake handle...it is hard to think of everything when you are making parts that all have to fit together.

David Kirkham · #6 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 11:10 AM

Close up of the driver's foot box. Notice the big "X" on the left side of the picture. That will be left billet in the car with now carpet to cover it up.

David Kirkham · #7 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 11:13 AM

Here is a shot of the rear support. This is bolted straight down to the rear bulkhead. The body is supported from this structure and the roll bar helps to brace it. It has 1 in square tubes going backwards to support it in the rearward direction. If you look closely, we also milled directly into the part slots for the passenger shoulder harness.