painting a kirkham
 

Would like to speak with someome that has painted a Kirkham. Thinking about getting one, have done several projects what to know if it's something I should try on my own?:confused:

Tony,
If I may, "if it's something I should try on my own?"

Only if you are familiar with the painting procedures involving aluminum!
DV...sure would like to know what happened to that Delorean :)

Tony,
Call the Kirkhams. I could swear Dave or Tom told me they use an industrial 2 part epoxy floor paint to seal their cars. I know it sounds crazy. Maybe they were pulling my leg? :eek:
Steven

Ed,
the guy who bought the remaining parts and the rights to the Delorian name set up shop about 10 miles from my home. He's got a huge modern wherehouse to store all the stuff. at least 5 or 6 cars out front every business day.
http://www.delorean.com/
Steven
Direct link to virtual wherehouse tour:
http://www.delorean.com/Warehouse__T...ouse_tour.html

Steve,
A two part floor paint! Now that I gotta see! :) A two-part paint catalyzed-primers I can believe, but floor paint!

On the other hand, Kirkhams do seem to have a way of doing it their way. :D

A lot of hand sanding/blocking, Dupont's Vari-Prime, (self etching) a couple coats of a quality, catalyzed primer, couple coats of catalyzed sealer and you should be ready to go.

Painted aluminum boats for years, hundreds of motor homes for a well know manufacturer, (who shall remain nameless) when they didn't use the proper procedures on their aluminum attachments, i.e.; doors, trim panels, compartment doors, etc.

We even did hundreds of pieces for an unknown Japanese company. Now that is a story in itself! We had no idea what we were painting, hundreds of pieces, all brought in to our shop in the wee hours of the morning in umarked semi's. We didn't even know what company we were dealing with. (They contacted us through Dupont). We even had to make sure the paint was never to thick, much like painting airplanes, and Never get so much as over spray in any of the thousands of holes that were drilled in all the pieces! Now, THAT was tricky, a perfect edge on every hole, no over spray what so ever and of course we were not allowed to sand or grind out holes in case of a Boo-boo!

Mrs. DV to the rescue! She went to Columbs and bought every cork bottle stopper, fishing float bobber she could find! Worked like a charm.

With the hundreds of parts hanging around the shop for weeks you would think we could have figured out what the heck we were painting! Nope...we just couldn't put them together. Some pieces as small as a quarter, other pieces, square and over an inch thick, weighing in at over hundred pounds!

When we were all done, parts secured and wrapped indiscreetly, the Semi's returned, once again under the cover of darkness, loaded up and drove off into the darkness, never once giving us a hint as to what the heck we had just painted. :(

DV...Oh-well, just a mystery of life ;)

Hey Ed!
Were there black helicopters hovering over your shop? Did the transport guys wear dark sunglasses? Did you test the parts
with a geiger counter? This explains allot about your unusual behavior!%/ Can you post any pictures of the parts? (I'm serious)
With all the high gov. clearance guys on this here site, I'll bet we can figger it out.
We use zinc chromate primer on our aircraft alum. for starters. the stuff is as hard as nails.
Steven:)

We were advised to not take pictures...or else!

I did eventually, (almost a year later) find out what we had painted.

Seems we painted three mechanical / electrical *****, none of which were shipped to us as as a whole. They mixed all the parts together, and had us do it in three different batches.

I don't know if this is worth anything or not..but give it a shot.

"They" were way ahead of their time...late 70's
All we got was the frame work....
They debuted in the Chicago worlds trade fair...

When assembeled I would guess +/- a ton anyway
Painted bright Imron yellow and Silver

DV... any guesses? I'll bet Steve nails it :)

Comon, I'm curious. What were they for? :)

-steve in nj-

Sorry,
We've got to wait until Steve chimes in! :) If I tell you know he'll just go....see I knew it all along! :)

DV... the ****** indicate the correct amount of letter! :D (add gthe 5th * for plural! Dv--I'd like to by a vowel for Jenny....

Sounds like a generator of some sort. Wind turbines?

Ed,
You have me stumped. I just re-read your description seems to heavy for aviation.
I think you are giving me too much credit :) :)
Steven

Ed- I thought Deloreans were stainless steel bodied!
Are you are talking about Acura NSX? They came out about that time I guestimate.
I'm so old I can remember leading in aluminum fenders on max wedge cars.
As for painting a Kirkham I guess I will ask the CC in mass question,,,, Why?
I too have used catalized zink chromate primers. It used to be a Ditzler product I think. Is the stuff that's out there better now?
cobrashock

Ed, don't leave us hanging... what the heck were they???

Paint
 

Tonywest,

We have painted several Kirkham cars and several for one of the Shelby dealers. If you like give a call and we'll tell our story.

If we get the car early enough, we'll D / A the whole car and powder coat it for the base primer. Yup we built and oven large enough to put the whole car in. We be anchored to the alum.

The Best
Chuck

Premier Motor Sports
913 321 2112

Chuck,
You've got me. Powder coat the aluminum? I've never even given that consideration. Very interesting!

Steve, I'm really surprised you gave in so quick ;) I guess there really wasn't much to go on. In today's world they are as common in industry as the air tool.

ROBOTS...automated eletrical welding robots to be exact. We think they were used to put the roof on then spot weld in place without human intervention.

DV

OH! Heck, I was going to guess massive coffee grinders! :)

If you are going to paint it....pay a PRO and get it done right. You are looking at a large investment - unless you are a Pro it will Show!