What is up with the bellhousing in this BAT auction?
 

I was looking at this auction: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1965-shelby-cobra-75/

In picture 209, it looks like the bottom of the bellhousing is missing. Doesn't it seem like you should not be exposing the flywheel, ring gear and clutch to the weather like that? If you driving while it is raining or drive through a puddle wouldn't the clutch get all wet?

Any thoughts on this?

Dust shield. Maybe ground clearance issues ?

That finish looks awful.

It looks like the mufflers are going to hit the ground.

Someone else pointed out zip ties on the spark plug wires.

Only 200 miles, it looks like this car needs some debugging.

I am surprised it is at 90k with 3 days to go.

that car need to come completely apart and start over...

I don't think I have ever seen that before.%/ At first I thought maybe there was a funky inspection plate that was removed for the pic, but I don't think that's the case. Jeez, if a good sized rock bounced up in there just right while you were driving it could be a nightmare.:(

Inspection cover
 

I have seen those type inspection covers before. They use to be fairly common. You can see the bolt holes to attach it. I agree that it could have been removed because of a clearance issue. Not a good idea to leave it off because a good portion of the clutch is exposed. Seems to be a few hokey looking things on a car of that value.

Fred

Did you get an answer on the auction question?

If you read the seller's description of the car it is apparent he is uninformed and uses clumsy English to describe the car. When you look at the car it looks like it was poorly constructed which is unbelievable for a Kirkham. The owner was as uninformed about building the car as he is about describing the car.

Inspection cover not withstanding, the bell housing is a cast bell housing that offers no protection to driver or passenger if something goes awry in the clutch / flywheel department and there is an explosion. There should be some type of blowproof steel bell housing on the engine.

Then of course there is the matter of how the engine was built. The narrative suggests the seller does not know the compression ratio when he says the "engine is said to feature 9.8:1 compression" Interestingly he follows that up with a statement that the block was sonic checked for core shift. It is interesting he has specific knowledge about a sonic check but what sounds like hearsay information about the compression ratio. Might just be an uninformed copy writer or ...

With either 45 or 200 miles on the car this car is definitely not sorted out and just from the pictures requires considerable attention. The transmission appears to be a top loader and while period correct does not provide an overdrive capability which you might find useful on the highway. You also don't know which top loader it is.

$90K is cheap for a Kirkham but this particular Kirkham will require some TLC after purchase. If you are up for the TLC this could be a decent buy.


Ed

I know nothing about Kirkhams. Wouldn't one think a Kirkham would have a blow-proof belhousing? They build beautiful top quality Cobras, don't they?
When my clutch let loose, it tore up and ruined the blow-proof bell. A stock cast bell would have been horrific!

If I was the successful bidder of KMS036, I'd send it to KMP for proper "sorting" and "updating". That and to remove the hideous stripes/extra paint work.

Bill S.

The seller replied:


werling19339 (The Seller) This author's likes: 8
Using zip ties on spark plug wires is quite common on race cars, have been using them on cars for 20 years without a problem. A cover for the bell housing usually is quite low and presents a potential problem of ground clearance, driving thru water with out a cover is the same principle as driving thru water with your brakes, same difference. Centrifugal force is not going to let water get into the clutch. If you are the winning bidder I will be happy get you a cover if you like. Thanks for the question. I will measure the clearance on the muffler later today and post the answer. .

Bill,

The description says it is vinyl wrap, not paint. I'm not bidding on this car, but who ever gets it would be wise to send it off to KMP as you suggest to make sure it is put together correctly.

You probably remember my kids really being small, well time flies. My youngest will be off to college in a few months. My plan is to move and downsize the house, maybe even this summer, so maybe I will free up some money for a cool fun car, but then again I will have 2 kids in college. If I do get a fun car, perhaps an FFR would make more sense than an ERA or Kirkham. I saw someone that we both know from Club Cobra bidding on a Caterham 7 on BAT recently, I never thought of that, but that might be a fun car too and probably cheaper than a Cobra replica.

Ken

Ken,

Recently I helped Rick Muck unload some Caterham 7's from a container and he had one that was registered. Took it for a spin and it was a fun ride. With a car that light it does not take a lot of HP to make it get up and go.

Jim

IDK. The finish is an "acquired taste", one that could easily cost 15 K to get rid of.

Well I don't think I would be quite so worried about the finish after peeling the vinyl stickers off as to making sure the car is safe to drive. It looks like the rear driver side ride height is different than the rear passenger side ride height, plus worrying about the exhaust hitting the ground, the bellhousing, etc. If you sent this car to KMS to make sure it is put together correctly, I think you are going to be writing them a check for more than 15k and then add another 15k if you want to address the finish.

Won't be my first "7", that one caught my eye because it was Atomic Orange and would have gone well with the 69 Shelby. Even more fun than a Cobra, strictly from a power to weight ratio, at least that car was. Sadly, a downward spiral with a family member, and her recent death this past week has really kept me off my "A" game. I briefly thought about taking a run at the KMP, but again, my mind is elsewhere and my heart is just not in it.

Bill S.

Before the VSE I had a dedicated scca autocross 7. I ran in DM, weighed about 1250# and had a 250 hp accura K20. Just think about where you are headed and you are there. I sometimes ponder the idea of buying a nice street 7. Only problem there is getting run over since it is so low and so minimal.

As for the bell housing cover, I would not drive it that way.

It is astonishing to me that some otherwise sane seeming people will run a Cobra with the oil pan hanging down a couple inches below the frame begging to get torn off and ruin the engine.

And I don't buy the centrifugal force keeping crap out of the clutch. Anymore than it keeps toes out of bicycle spokes.:cool: