Weight of Kirkham???
 

This is in response to questions about weight in another thread.

Several years ago David weighed several cars and posted the results. Here is a copy of what he posted:

CSX4238
2490 pounds
90 pounds of fuel
2400 pounds corrected weight
Iron block 427
Lakewood steel bell housing
Flywheel unknown
Aluminum heads

Kirkham 427
2179 pounds
30 pounds of fuel
2149 corrected weight
351 iron block
steel flywheel
aluminum heads
aluminum bell housing

Kirkham 427
2070 pounds
20 pounds of fuel
2050 corrected weight
302 iron block
aluminum heads
aluminum flywheel
Lakewood steel bell housing

Kirkham 427
2158 pounds
10 pounds of fuel
2148 corrected weight
427 aluminum block
aluminum heads
Lakewood steel bell housing
Aluminum flywheel

CSX3104
2553 pounds
140 pounds of fuel
2413 corrected weight
427 iron block
427 iron heads
Lakewood steel bell housing
Steel flywheel


I just weighed KMP 550 at 2117 pounds It has a Pond aluminum block punched to 482, QT bellhousing, aluminum flywheel, Tremec TKO 600, our lightweight battery, stainless exhaust and less than 3 gallons of fuel. (Not sure how much fuel exactly but not much...) It does not have a fire suppression system. That would add another 12 pounds.

The car has a stainless roll bar, aluminum hood scoop, door ferrules, stainless heat shields, billet radiator tank, billet reservoirs and bracket, Kirkham aluminum diff, diff breather, Penske non adjustable shocks, big brake option, leather covered dash, six point seat belt, small gas tank, polished body with brushed stripes, battery cut off switch with battery, steel tank straps, leather steering wheel, stainless exhaust, drivers side fresh air, wind wings, sun visors, 15" Trigo wheels and Goodyear Eagle GTII tires.

Just weighed my car (aluminum Shelby block, TKO 600, aluminum diff, fire bottle):

2594 lbs with 240 lbs in the drivers seat, 25-30 gallons of fuel and all other liquids topped off.

With magnesium wheels, it would probably be 1800 lbs.**)

Somehow, I knew that mag wheels would come up in this thread...

I hate to disappoint....

Joe,
Do you have a close estimate as to the weight of the Kirkham coupe?
Thanks,
Chris

Chris,

Not at this time... It is going to be a new ball of wax...er...aluminum.

Joe

:LOL::LOL::LOL:

Any who, if you add the 2,117 lbs and the 12 lbs for the fire suppression system, which I have, and I'm no math genius, (I am ;), then that doesn't equal the 2,180 lbs that you posted in the other thread. I hate to quibble over 51 lbs, but hey, I'm a quibbler. :LOL:

2,180 was from the top of my head. In the past we it seems we have weighed a car at that weight. In this case I would rather quote a little more and have it actually come in less.

The car I just weighed was 2,117. I am sure that the new battery, hubs and side pipes add to the lightness. (Can you add to lightness? I think Colin Chapman said that you could...)

Any reason you want the car to be heavier? We could add some ballast ports to your main frame rails. :3DSMILE:

Joe

Kmp253 weighed in at 2150 (without fuel) with a shelby 427 block, aluminum toploader, and all the works. It is probably lighter now that I swapped out a Kmp seat for a Kirkey and the windshield for a racing windscreen. The distribution was 49% front and 51% rear.

Scott

I haven't weighed mine with me in it, but I believe we can safely assume it is well grounded.

No, no, I don't want the car to be heavier. Do you know how much the new hubs, sidepipes and battery changed the weight? Is 550 the first car to have the new hubs and battery? I don't think mine, 539, had those items. Certainly not the sidepipes. :)

Truly, you guys are amazing up there in UT. My '66 BB Vette Roadster is about 1,000 lbs heavier with just a little more HP.

I want my Kirkham on the road already. :CRY:

RodKnock,

Your car has the same hubs and battery but not the side pipes.

Joe

Weight distrib'n
 

Hi Joe

That's excellent data, thanks.
What about the weight distribution ratio, to front and rear tyres?
M

Just curious how much, if anything, going with polished vs. painted body saves.

Guy's

KMP 259 weighs in at 2630#lbs and that is with a lot of Support structure and belly plates ...splitters and Wings and re-enforced Cockpit area........

And still is very quick on the track......

Morris

KMP 498 Weigh 2280 w/ 4 gallons gas. Iron Engine & heads, alum flywheel, ss sidepipes, quicktime BH, alum diff, no paint, gear starter, TKO 5-Speed. I thought was pretty light.

Kmp 542
 

Joe,

Might you comment on your work of art, KMP 542 as to weight, etc.? As it has the new style stainless pipes, etc., I am curious as to you take on how many lbs' I am carrying around...or is it the other way around??

Groan,

al

CSX 4802: Fiberglass body, alum. FE & trans.

2487#s wet.

From this thread and others, I've gathered that the Kirkhams are up to a couple hundred pounds lighter than others, can anybody offer a detailed breakdown of how? Their website says the following, but is not specific on how:

"Weight: From over 2400 pounds for a car with original style suspension, brakes, differential, top loader, 427 FE with iron block and heads to less than 2000 pounds with all of our lightweight options and an aluminum engine."

The ERA website, meanwhile, quotes 2600 for an Fe FE. I'd be curious to know if there's info like "alu frame saves XX, suspension bits ABC save YY," etc. I've done some thread searching, but not found many definitive numbers.

The billet suspension is where the weight savings is over stock or original suspension, and other billet accessories...