Fiberglass or Aluminium body

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Is this a problem unique to Ford?

If you mean the solid lifters in an aluminum block issue, No it's not a problem. The Genesis 427 aluminum block has lifter galleys that are drilled to accept hydraulic or solid lifters. http://www.genesis427.com/Alum.htm But the truth of the matter is that less and less guys want to adjust valve lash.

[Kit Cars Mexico]

Fonti, go for glass and aluminum

http://www.clubcobra.com/classifieds...uct=2424&cat=2

I have also a new Kirkham Satin 300 Miles.

Alfredo Canalizo
www.kitcarsmexico.com

[REAL 1]

A new aluminum Shelby roller is $115,000.00. The wait is about 6 months last I checked.

You are not buying a well sorted aluminum Shelby Cobra for $105K new or used. A glass CSX yes.

As to the choice of motor. No doubt in my mind if you are doing a Shelby would be original 427SO first and a Shelby aluminum 427 second. Problem with the original motors is good ones are getting harder to find. My pick would be original assuming I could get my hands on a nice original block. In years to come they will increase in value IMHO and become even more sought after.

If you are going to track you car go with the aluminum block. I wouldn't risk damage to a valuable original 427SO. The new blocks are easy to replace.

[fonti]

@real1: I'm also on the "original" side...makes it easier to register it in Switzerland and I won't race it often anyways...and to be mighty fast I think an original, well tuned and balanced 427 is good enough, or?

Paint vs bare aluminium: in Switzerland (another stupid law!!!) the polished version is not allowed. Even with polished alu gas tanks from older bikes you can get in troubles...so it would be the brushed version.

What I like is a combo: paint outside and bare aluminium on the inside - does that look ok?

[tkb289]

Peter,

Interesting about no polished aluminum allowed. You mentioned having to 'adapt' the Cobra to be compliant with Swiss law. Just curious, but what exactly does that involve?

For paint on the outside and bare aluminum on the inside, I'll bet that someone here can come up with some photos of such a set up ... the tough part may be selecting a color. Take a look though the Gallery, might be something there of interest.

If you wind up purchasing a pre owned brushed aluminum car, one thought would be to live with it in it's BNL state and see what you think after a while. You might decide to leave it bare.

If you are considering having a car built, then getting it painted during the build process is the way to go ... less work in the long run.

- Tim

[fonti]

Originally Posted by tkb289

Peter,

Interesting about no polished aluminum allowed. You mentioned having to 'adapt' the Cobra to be compliant with Swiss law. Just curious, but what exactly does that involve?

For paint on the outside and bare aluminum on the inside, I'll bet that someone here can come up with some photos of such a set up ... the tough part may be selecting a color. Take a look though the Gallery, might be something there of interest.

If you wind up purchasing a pre owned brushed aluminum car, one thought would be to live with it in it's BNL state and see what you think after a while. You might decide to leave it bare.

If you are considering having a car built, then getting it painted during the build process is the way to go ... less work in the long run.

- Tim

You call the polished aluminum "interesting", for me it's more "stupid"...
We have to adapt:
- miles per hour in kilometers per hour
- approved bulbes in all the lamps
- emergency light switch (both lights have to be turned on)
- windscreen wiper
- no "new" parts, like blue high tech fittings and so on
- no billet parts
- all original (aircleaner, ignition and so on)
- the fuses have to be at the original spot
- approved tyres (the great looking goodyears are not "good enough" for our streets!!!)
- the list goes on an on
Our main problem is: we have 26 different counties (with a total population of 7 million people) in every county there is another DMV with another "Chief" with another likes and notlikes. So for tuned Ducatis or Ferraris it might be good here but if he hates US-Cars you are in troubles for ex... not easy here!!

[Stentor]

Originally Posted by fonti

You call the polished aluminum "interesting", for me it's more "stupid"...
We have to adapt:
- miles per hour in kilometers per hour
- approved bulbes in all the lamps
- emergency light switch (both lights have to be turned on)
- windscreen wiper
- no "new" parts, like blue high tech fittings and so on
- no billet parts

If no billet parts are allowed, you might have an issue in getting a Kirkham registered.

[fonti]

Originally Posted by Stentor

If no billet parts are allowed, you might have an issue in getting a Kirkham registered.

I don't know what parts you think of, but some of the parts we can say, that was billet all the times...or even thats no billet - there is always a way...

[RodKnock]

When you buy a unpainted aluminum car, whether CSX or Kirkham, you can either fully polish a brushed car or go back to a brushed car from a fully polished finish. In your case, you could buy a fully polished car, if one presented itself to you used, then brush the finish back from it's fully polished state. That's the beauty of raw aluminum for at least.

Take a look at "4pipes" gallery. He has a beautifully painted Kirkham.

[bret a ewing]

Arrghumminum good.

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

When you buy a unpainted aluminum car, whether CSX or Kirkham, you can either fully polish a brushed car or go back to a brushed car from a fully polished finish. In your case, you could buy a fully polished car, if one presented itself to you used, then brush the finish back from it's fully polished state. That's the beauty of raw aluminum for at least.

Take a look at "4pipes" gallery. He has a beautifully painted Kirkham.

So does Evan...

[jay bentley]

I bet Evan will find it hard not to laugh at that one!!! That is funny!

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by Jamo

So does Evan...

Is someone intentionally trying to get on Santa's naughty list?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Jamo

So does Evan...

I think Jamo wants to close this thread.

[khansmith]

To me, the aluminum body is piece of art. Fiberglass can look great but if you look at the time, effort and soul that goes into an aluminum car...it's like a sculpture. If you haven't already, go check out chuckcobra's site where outlines the scratch build of his Daytona (and he hand built a 289). After reading his blog, I came to have even more appreciation of the aluminum bodies. Heck, if I had the time, skill and/or talent to do what Chuck did....I would go that route!

[WarrenG]

If bare naked polished is "illegal," how about just a clear coat over the aluminum? That way you could say that it was "painted." Would that get an effect similar to bare polished?

As for painted outside and aluminum inside, there are several fiberglass cars out there in various colors that have at least the underside of the hood "plated" in aluminum. It looks pretty good in pictures. I would think original aluminum would would turn out at least as good looking.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by fonti

What I like is a combo: paint outside and bare aluminium on the inside -

+1. Given unlimited budget, that's the route I would personally go, too.

-Dean

[franklin]

Brushing a polished car now there is an idea!

[3KCarbon]

Just get one of each! Drive the glass one and polish the metal one. There, all settled.

[fonti]

Originally Posted by 3KCarbon

Just get one of each! Drive the glass one and polish the metal one. There, all settled.

thanks! you solved all my Cobra-problems...not I have to go to my bank