Kirkham 289FIA build

[southernfriedcj]

I was the lucky buyer of the latest Kirkham 289 FIA car on Ebay. The car is the 289FIA body on the 427 frame. I'd like some input from you guys on the build. I'm not after a nut & bolt clone of a 289FIA, but a would like the car to be somewhat true to the original. After a limited amount of research on 289FIA's the most amount of info I've found was on the ERA website. I think I will lean towards a competition car/street car hybrid(hey, the car is already a 289/427 hybrid).
I do not care for the look of the 289 FIA side pipes(I gather all comp cars had them?), so I am leaning to undercar exhaust. I am going to use black quick jacks and the car will be left unpainted, but I am on the fence about everything else.
I know getting opinions out of you guys will be like pulling teeth , but lay'em on me.

Paint: none
Stripes?
exhaust: undercar
engine: aluminum small block(Bill Parham will get the call)
carb? Webers($?)? FI?
tranny: toploader
wheels/tires?
interior(comp or street, leather or vinyl)?
gearing(I'm thinking 355)?
locker?
Tow vehicle: F350(again, I just couldn't resist)
brakes and suspension bits will be discussed with the Kirkhams, but feel free to add your $.02

The car will be used mostly on the street, with the occasionl strip pass and hopefully some track time(I've got no experience but I hope to gain some). The car will NOT be shown. When I was younger I washed my cars daily and wax them weekly, but now I just drive the puupies and let the dirt ride with me. In short this will be my "jack of all trades"(master of none?) Cobra replica.
It appears that I am "all over the map", so before I start I would like to plan the car so it will be what I want. I just hope I don't end up with a Cobrastein(as in frankenstein).

[Mark IV]

...considering that I "let" you win this auction I at least expect a ride.

Had I won it would have been a stroked 302 with a five speed. That extra gear lets you run the 355/370 type final and still have a relaxed cruise. I recommend fuel injection, you are not building a "nut and bolt" replica, rather something with the "feel' of the FIA. One of the individual stack type FI systems would be my choice, period looks and computer performance. I agree with the undercar exhaust, hard to make the FIA side exhaust look good with mufflers.

I wish you well with the car, I know the Kirkhams will welcome you to the family with open arms.

Rick
always the bridesmaid....

[mr bruce]

Fried ,you got a hell of deal there. Trick everybody, put an aluminum FE in there, bag the Webs,big jumbo Holly Dominator, go with the toploader, 3.50 rear. Stick the sidepipes up in the rockers like LP's Daytona replica(Eeyes, or "Werks, you got a pic?) Paint it black, scare the hell outta everybody.

[computerworks]

Bruce:
LP?

[David Kirkham]

Jim,

Thanks for buying the car. There are some deals to have out there! When we sell at no reserve, we mean it! We just count it as advertising. We already had one guy call and want to buy another one at the discounted price...I politely said no. "Well, you sold one at that low price." "Yes", I responded, "I would have felt better if you would have bid it up more!"

Seriously, we have had some really great deals on stuff lately, so keep looking.

I think you will have a GREAT CAR! It is going to be a hoot to drive with a light small block on that suspension.

LP=Lynn Park

Thanks for the interest,

David

[computerworks]

You mean like CSX2010?

[Excaliber]

I LOVE those dual side pipes!!! They are SO cool. But, can you imagine being stopped at a light and the exhaust rolling up and right into your face!!! Oh boy, I think they are better suited to a track only car.

Top loader? NO way! The emphasis here seems to be "street". Go for the "low rear end ratio" and a 5 speed for decent cruising. This will keep the "noise" down at speed and prolong the "gas station" stop at the same time!

Stripes are nice, but with a daily drive approach toward the build, is it "practical" or represent to much "maintainence"?

Ernie

[John A. Simpson]

SFCJ

It looks to me like you have the perfect opportunity to build a replica of the first 427 chassis style car to be raced by Shelby, S/N 3002. I believe Mike Kenney could shed some light on this as I believe he was involved with cloning 3002 back in the Hi-Tech days. According to an article in the Jan 1999 Kit Car Magazine the body for the first 427 raced had an FIA style body with the forward braced rollbar and 427 style side pipes. Check it out, I could e-mail you some pics if you like.

[southernfriedcj]

David: No need to thank me for buying the car, thankyou for selling the car with no reserve! I think one of my business partners is going after the leaf spring car.

Rick: You got that ride. Where can I find some info on the FI w/ the Weber look?

mr bruce: Great idea, but not on my car!

Ernie: If I do any stripes they will be polished aluminum(no maintainence, I think?). I'm going to have to give the 5spd some thought. There was a post awhile back that convinced me that a 4 spd was the way to go(I can't remember the topic).

John: Please email the pics. I will not be swayed(I don't think) though, I want an aluminum small block.

[Mark IV]

....look at www.gt40s.com and search for threads involving FI. There are a couple of outfits that do an 8 stack system that gives the "Weber Look" but allows the tuneability and slick running of a EFI system.

There are several pictures there of systems on both 289/302 units and 351 systems.

I really like the 302 stroker idea myself as you can have the look of the 289 (302 is externally the same) and yet get some good power and torque without needing to build a hand grenade. Good set of aluminum heads and you have more power available than the team cars ran in the 60's with all day reliability.

There is even a shifter set up for the 5 speed that looks like the 60's FoMoCo shifter with the reverse lock-out ans all.

As this is a "hybred" car no need to do it any way except the way you want to.

Make sure you have an "FIA suitcase" to carry in the trunk! A nice portable bar setup would go nicely inside it. Filled with Raki and moonshine. Good use of the trunk dimples!

Rick

[Excaliber]

Oh yeah! This is shapeing up nicely. EFI with the weber look on small block? Excellent! Polished stripe would be the only option, can't see paint on a BNL car! 5 speed shifter with the top loader look? KILLER!

If you decide on the 4 speed don't go to low on the rear end ratio.

Ernie

[John A. Simpson]

You've got mail

[John A. Simpson]

They are on the way

John

[Dave Crace]

SFCJ,
I painted my pipes black, so you hardly notice them, and I think they make the best sound out there. ERA does make an under car exhaust system that you may be able to adapt to your car though. Congrats on the car, can't wait to see it. FIA's will rule the DSCC! I'm with you on the aluminum engine.

DC

[Dave Crace]

Here is another side view.

[John A. Simpson]

Your mail box is full, check the e-mail I forwarded and I'll send the last pic.

John

[southernfriedcj]

David: Great looking car.

John: Thanks for the pics, the last one got bounce but I cleaned out some old mail so now I've got room.

[John A. Simpson]

Hi Jim

Last pic on its way, you should have 4 separate images.

John

[Corky]

sfcj,
Here is a link to a FI weber look a like. I to like the weber look on a 289FIA. I am looking at an ERA FIA and will try to do the same thing when I get it next month. Hope this helps.

http://www.twminduction.com/Throttle...leBody-FR.html

Corky
soon to be owner of a ERA FIA.

[Guinness]

SFCJ,
Here is what I'd do:
- Bare body with polished stripes like the DVSF III car
- Boss 302 block (aluminum sounds great also), stroked to 331, Eagle or Carillo rods, Weber carbs
- 3.31 gears with a Toploader
- FIA side pipes painted black
- Buy the interior and rear end from the Kirkhams
- FIA knock offs

Congrats again,
Jeff