which body to use?

Dominik · #1 (**permalink**) 07-04-2005, 11:43 PM

good morning,

bevor you invest too much time in the birdcage, get a body.
the birdcage sits very tight and 1/4" or 3/8" off (inside) will not fit.

build the birdcage according to the body, or use a body which is strong enough without the cage.

dominik

Three Peaks · #2 (**permalink**) 07-05-2005, 07:29 AM

Dominick,

Now that I'm at that stage I agree. Since the birdcage is so tight to the body, I'm surprised that anyone can build it without the body on the frame to make sure it fits properly. I probably won't remove the body until I have all the birdcage pieces fitted and tacked into place.

Interesting sidenote- a friend in our Cobra club bought a Kirkham body a couple years ago, to attempt to attach it to his FFR frame (which didn't work out). He told me the body came with the birdcage already attached to the body and ready to attach to a frame. Interesting- Bob

'65 Cobra · #3 (**permalink**) 03-20-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Three Peaks

Dominick,
Interesting sidenote- a friend in our Cobra club bought a Kirkham body a couple years ago, to attempt to attach it to his FFR frame (which didn't work out). He told me the body came with the birdcage already attached to the body and ready to attach to a frame. Interesting- Bob

So did he ever get the body onto a different frame?

Dominik · #4 (**permalink**) 07-05-2005, 10:12 AM

Bob,

now can you imagine how often they modified the body mould until it was alright?
fitting the cage into the body is actually easier, but that means you need dedicated people to bend it, not just metal workers using a jig/template.

I remember Kirkham offered an aluminium body with the built-in birdcage.

Dom

Three Peaks · #5 (**permalink**) 07-05-2005, 10:50 AM

So far, I've been using my electrical bending tools to do most of the bending and it has worked great. However, there are some very tight bends around the door supports that I don't think my tools will handle. I may have to get inventive or invest in some factory bend 90 degree elbows and weld them in place?

We always save the fun stuff for last.....

mloy · #6 (**permalink**) 07-05-2005, 12:43 PM

I need a 289 body at a reasonable price!!!

mickmate · #7 (**permalink**) 07-12-2005, 08:56 PM

Hey Mark check out.......
289 body

mloy · #8 (**permalink**) 07-13-2005, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mickmate

Hey Mark check out.......
289 body

Saw it! The dude has a lot of Cobra stuff up for auction. Problem is, no feedback for stuff that isn't cheap. (At least that is the way I think.)

Someone on another post thought they knew who it was but I have not heard anything else about the individual.

oldboy001 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-22-2005, 08:45 AM

I chased down the body that was posted on e-bay last week. The body is manufactured by Tim Gunning (ex Hi Tech Motorsports).

He has a number of body styles available from the 289 FIA body (posted on ebay last week) a 427 comp car body (which he is posting on ebay), and a really cool serial no. 3002 (first 427 body.... 289 FIA front mated to a 427 rear body section). Body finish appears to be very nice. Bodies can be provided with fiberglass hood, door and trunk skins... or as shown with aluminum hood, door and trunk skins.Cost is in the range of $1500 for a complete body.

Tim can be contacted at 520-450-9844 or by email at bestof65@azt1.com or bellp63@cox.net.

He also has a range of other parts available including foot boxes, trunk, prebent "bird" cage tubing, cnc aluminum inner panels, etc.

I will try to post a few pictures of the body this evening

Regards,

Scott

oldboy001 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-22-2005, 09:00 AM

I posted 3 photos in my gallery of the 289 FIA Body that was offered on ebay last week.

Regards,

Scott

silverback · #11 (**permalink**) 07-22-2005, 10:33 AM

I have one of these 289 fia bodys that I got from high tech on my a/c, and I must agree that it was when I first got it, and still is very nice.

mloy · #12 (**permalink**) 07-22-2005, 11:25 AM

Thanks for the information. I will keep this gentleman in mind very soon.

--Mark

427sharpe · #13 (**permalink**) 07-22-2005, 07:32 PM

He is also the fellow selling the unmachined 427 uprights. He had them on ebay with a no sale at 225/pair. I emailed him and he said he wanted 150 each for them. It sounds as if this is Tim Gunning, the guy who bought HiTech when D'Antonio went to work for Shelby to create the CSX4000 cars. If it is, I would tread carefully, as a lot of folks got left holding empty bags and worthless work orders when Gunning disappeared. He was using cust deposits to finish cars that had already been paid for, and the scam ended when people started asking for their deposits back. There was a large legal mess, and HiTech was broken into bits for sale to recover losses. Hi Tech made some beautiful cars, but Gunning came off in a less than stellar light. If I were to buy from Gunning..and IF this is him...I do not think I would hand over cash until I had product...escrow would be the name of the game.

mickmate · #14 (**permalink**) 07-22-2005, 08:12 PM

I was wondering out loud to Dom about them uprights. I wonder if they weren't listed as well as they could be, if no one wants them or they don't want them unmachined. Zero feedback on big ticket items like the seats and body make people a little leery I think. Well at least he hasn't created a good feedback on buying dollar items, should be interesting!

Three Peaks · #15 (**permalink**) 07-22-2005, 08:35 PM

If a guy was to buy a set of the unmachined uprights, how much machining would be necessary to get them to finished spec? Are the knock-off spindles, steering arms, and brake mount brackets available for these pieces?

mickmate · #16 (**permalink**) 07-22-2005, 08:45 PM

These are the rear uprights. They need lower shaft hole boring and slotting with clamp screws drilling and tapping. Then the top would be drilled and milled out for upper heim and then you would have to decide on what bearings you were going to run and bore the hubs to suit..........then you would have to machine the offset and locate and drill caliper holes. Whew, I wonder why they didn't sell unmachined, but then you can't sell them machined unless it's to the customers hardware combo

oldboy001 · #17 (**permalink**) 07-22-2005, 09:59 PM

Robert:
I am pretty sure that it is Tim Gunning.... he matches up pretty well to a picture in an old Kit Car magazine (article on Hi Tech Cobra FIA car).

One thing that I have learned over the years, be careful when buying automotive parts.... always know the source of the part before you purchase it and always have the part you want in hand before you turn over the cash...... keeps honest people honest and friends.... friends.

Scott

Three Peaks · #18 (**permalink**) 07-23-2005, 09:26 AM

Scott,
I wish it were that easy but if we had to have parts in hand before releasing money- there wouldn't be any internet shopping at all.
A certain amount of trust- and the required due diligence- is required to do business on the internet. This forum is an invaluable asset to help guys decide on who to do (or not) business with. Personally, I didn't even know who this was, or his history, until reading this thread.
Thanks for the heads up as I had already e-mailed him and received a response on some parts for my build.

oldboy001 · #19 (**permalink**) 07-23-2005, 10:45 AM

I agree with your comments. I would be glad to assist you with transactions (I live in So Calif and travel to Arizona a couple of times a month to check up my wifes parents). If there is anything that I can do to help, please let me know

Scott

oldboy001 · #20 (**permalink**) 07-23-2005, 10:51 AM

Thinking about my response to your last.... you don't know me from Adam.... not too smart on my part... but I can provide references! Please let me know if I can help...

Scott