New interesting Kirkham/ Keith Craft build beginning

[rodneym]

I just realized that the polished cammer is for Darren and the dual Paxton is for someone else

I wonder if the dual Paxton Cobra will have the Super Snake hood and cross ram intake or the regular dual inline system I've seen a couple times

[N2VENOM]

I hope the owner of the Paxton cammer joins in. I am sure he will have many challenges to contend with. I'm sure this thread will be informative for all.

[Keithc8]

These project do require some time, engineering, money and a lot of patience. Some of this has not been done before ina Cobra. Yes the SOHC engine has been put in a few but know we have all aluminum new SOHC engines that make 760 to 800HP on pump gas. It is all over kill and I would have not done the two Paxton package but our customer wants something over the top. He knows that nhe will not be able to use all the power but it is his car and we will build him what ever he wants. It will be an in line 2X4 set up since this is an eaqsy intake for us to get on the engine and one is made. If we did a cross ram style we would have had to done a sheet metal and that would have added even more money and time. The in line intake that we will us will make more power anyway. The trick will be to get the blowers mounted in the car on the front of the SOHC Cammer engine with that front cover that it has. There is going to be some engineering that will need to be done here and I know that Dave and Tom can handle it. Once it is done it can be repeated in the future.
The polished Cammer that was spoke of earlier is still in the early stages and hope that we get to start on it soon. It will require some extra work with the polishing and maybe a custom fab intake as well for the stack injection that is wanted on that engine. Maybe we can find an intake already done but not sure. I will have to get with the customer and Lance and go over the exact size we want to do and the power are looking for.
The 496C.I. SOHC we just sold had small camshafts in it and was dyno on pump gas and made 760HP by 7100 rpms and 630 ft/lbs odf torque at about 5000 rpms. It was a very smooth street engine that idled at 700 rpms and should drive great. It worked out very well. I can see with a little bigger camshaft along with a little tweeking on the heads and intake along with a little more compression or cubic inches that this would be a true 800HP pump gas engine that can be driven.
I am always a waite and see type of guy. When the parts became available we stepped up and did our own engine to see what could be done and how all of the stuff that was out there would work together. With the parts that we selected it all went pretty well. There will be a few things that we will tweak to make it a little better. We do not want to any engine that we think is going to be a problem down the road and this is why we waited a while till all of the parts were in place to do one right. So let the fun begin and we will try and take this stuff to the same level that we were told we could not do with a 427 SO FE engine just a few years ago by some of the FE know it alls. Like I have said many times before this is not your Daddy's FE engine any more.

Thanks and good luck, Keith Craft

[Keithc8]

On another note let me know what you would like to see picture wise of these builds. There are a lot of pictures of the first SOHC build on our website at www.keithcraft.com if you want to check them out. We will post some more in the future. The heads do require quite a bit of work out of the box which is what has not been told. They flow about 330 to 340 on the intake and we take them up almost 400 cfm at .500 lift and 420 cfms@ .600 and this is how we make a lot of power with a .570 to .600 lift camshaft and this does not kill the valve train. Same thing with the exhaust we improve it quite a bit as well. If the engine was a full race deal where we raised the ports and used sheet metal intake and all the flow would get close to 480 cfm on the intake and we could make 1000HP normaly aspirated but not many of them needed right now at about 50,000.00.

Thanks, Keith

[CoolCarl]

Way out of my price range but it is super cool to read about this stuff. I'm anxious to see pics.

[gsharapa]

This will be interesting to watch. Keith's engines are amazing as I just started my all aluminum KC 496 FE last week and talk about awesome!!!! Watching this project go in a Cobra will be of great interest. Putting twin paxtons on a SOHC would be a challenge in itself and then to stick it in a Kirkham...........

[David Kirkham]

Hey guys,

These are exciting times. We are actually building 3 cammer cars right now.

Fuel injected Cammer--polished aluminum body
Twin Paxton Cammer--brushed aluminum body
"Normal" Cammer.........with a polished COPPER body.

We'll post pics as we get going. Designing the twin Paxton set up will be a challenge, but I can't wait to see it all together.

Maybe Thomas and I will have to make a 4th Cammer. The shop needs a new parts runner

David

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

Hey guys,

These are exciting times. We are actually building 3 cammer cars right now.

Fuel injected Cammer--polished aluminum body
Twin Paxton Cammer--brushed aluminum body
"Normal" Cammer.........with a polished COPPER body.

We'll post pics as we get going. Designing the twin Paxton set up will be a challenge, but I can't wait to see it all together.

Maybe Thomas and I will have to make a 4th Cammer. The shop needs a new parts runner

David

Well, now I'm REALLY jealous. Another copper Kirkham? Very Cool!

[N2VENOM]

Hey David, do you think it's time to tell everyone about our "special body modifications" on the polished cammer? Peace, Darren.

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by N2VENOM

Hey David, do you think it's time to tell everyone about our "special body modifications" on the polished cammer? Peace, Darren.

Sure

I'm thinking at some time we should start individual threads for each of the cars.

David

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Well, now I'm REALLY jealous. Another copper Kirkham? Very Cool!

You never know what lurks in the Skunk Works.

David

[N2VENOM]

David, how about a cross country trip when these projects are finished? I'm sure you are going to need a break from the shop when these cammers are completed. Any takers? Darren

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by N2VENOM

David, how about a cross country trip when these projects are finished? I'm sure you are going to need a break from the shop when these cammers are completed. Any takers? Darren

Count me in.

David

[N2VENOM]

A cross country cobra trip is long overdue. I'm thinking California to Washington. Maybe another tread on the subject should be started.

I talked With Wayne at KC today. We are thinking about a Hilbourn FI setup with FAST. I'm running a EZ-EFI in my Roush/Shelby 451 and love it!

[David Kirkham]

California to Washington. I'll bring my Gadsden Flag

David

[N2VENOM]

Considered the "first flag" of America, I think it's a great choice. "Don't tread on me" is a fitting statement with the way I've been feeling about my government.

[Keithc8]

Hope it was alright with you guys for me to post about these new neat projects. Dave I will probably have you do me a Kirkham next time with one of these new all aluminum Cammers. I will probably build something, just a 527 SOHC 800HP pump gas engine. I do not need the Paxtons, hell it will cost enough as it is and then I will have to sell it.
Still working on selling the last car we did and then I can start on a new SOHC project with you. Already have a lot of parts for both engines and trying to get more in. I feel that this will test both of us.

Thanks, Keith

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by Keithc8

Hope it was alright with you guys for me to post about these new neat projects. Dave I will probably have you do me a Kirkham next time with one of these new all aluminum Cammers. I will probably build something, just a 527 SOHC 800HP pump gas engine. I do not need the Paxtons, hell it will cost enough as it is and then I will have to sell it.
Still working on selling the last car we did and then I can start on a new SOHC project with you. Already have a lot of parts for both engines and trying to get more in. I feel that this will test both of us.

Thanks, Keith

Of course it is OK! These are cool cars. I think they will make some pretty cool threads.

The quote of the year...

" I will probably build something, just a 527 SOHC 800HP pump gas engine."

Only a true motor head would say "just a 527 SOHC 800HP."

David

[dcdoug]

I love the idea of you guys making a trip out to DC. We can come out and meet you part way and drive back together.

[N2VENOM]

We are thinking about putting this trip together for a 2012 run. Just in time for the 2012 election year. This trip could be huge, requiring a lot help. Any takers?