Kudos to the Kirkhams

[steve meltzer]

Kudos to the Kirkhams

I’ll try to make this brief and concise, but some background history is important. I bought KMP #174 as a painted roller last spring (2003), the side exhaust and headers came from Justin O’Rourke in RI and the side oiler and toploader from Southern in mid-June, 2003. This is a project I would never have attempted if hadn’t been for the encouragement and dedicated slavery of my great friend, mentor and intrepid mechanic, John Dillman. Throughout the project I also had superior advice from the Kirkhams (more about them later), Jim Shukert, Roger Bolick and others on the list as well.

From the get go, it seemed the odds of KMP #174 ever running were about equal to the chances that pigs could fly. Ultimately, we got the diff in, the engine and tranny setup, and with prodigious effort, the clutch even worked! (Yes, David, I know it would have been easier to use an internal hydraulic T/O bearing!).

Just as we began to see “the light at the end of the tunnel”, we ran into our first insurmountable problem...placing the headpipes. Our first clue that they were gonna be a problem was that the numbering system engraved on the pipes was not the Blue Oval enumeration system. After hours of playing with the pipes like they were tinker toys, we were finally able to sort them out by cylinder number. We got the passenger side on without much trouble, tho’ in retrospect, the #4 pipe (nearest the firewall) was very close to the foot box. (ouch!)

The real problem began when we started on the nefarious driver’s side. Despite moving the engine slightly on the hoist, and various others “tricks”, we couldn’t get the #7 and #8 pipes to fit. “Massaging” those two headers was futile as well; it was just hopeless. Tho’ Mr. O’Rourke was initially very friendly and seemingly helpful, he continually held to the precept that we had the pipes on wrong or upside down. Even when presented with digital pictures, he thought we should have turned the motor mounts around (glad we didn’t listen to that nonsense). When confronted with the fact that the pipes would never fit, Mr. O’Rourke ultimately sent a profanity laden letter to Mr. Dillman, accused us of being inept and completely blew me off. My requests to have him discuss this with the Kirkhams went unheeded. Mr. O’Rourke may well make a functional set of pipes; the same cannot be said of his ability to deal with his customers.

Ultimately, I called the Kirkhams, and sent pictures and the geometric measurements they wanted. To the Kirkham’s credit, they quickly acknowledged that the footboxes had been mounted incorrectly. Within 24 hours, and this was a weekend to boot, I got an email from David Kirkham stating that they were not only going to fix the footboxes, but that they were going to pick up the car, finish everything and ship it my baby back to me, completely finished! All of this, at no charge to me! WOW....BEAT THAT IF YOU CAN!! Not only did they rectify the niggling problem of the footboxes, but they did many, many other things that were not their responsibility. Despite my numerous and sincere offers to pay for all of these other items, stuff that I would have had to purchase anyway, David has steadfastly refused any more remuneration. (I still think he’s more than entitled to those payments, but he’s been stubborn about this.)

I can’t recall ever dealing with a more outstanding and dedicated individual or group on any major purchase in my life. The integrity displayed in quickly identifying the problem and implementing a fast and very benevolent solution, leaves a very deep and lasting impression. In retrospect, I shouldn’t have been too surprised; several other minor dealings with the Kirkhams earlier in the project had been conducted with the very same sense of customer-focused clarity. In a world where it’s always “someone else’s fault”, my experience with the Kirkhams was exemplary indeed.

So my hat is off to the whole Kirkham operation, and especially to David whose sense of purpose and integrity are beyond dispute.

steve meltzer

[belgian cobra]

Hi,

Yes Steve, I know what you're saying. They're truely outstanding those Kirkham's.
A started a discussion here about if there was a belgian cobra club and I almost immediately got a reply from David Kirkham, with some more information about the Cobra itself and his great own company.


Keep on the good work Kirkham!


Greets,


BC

[David Kirkham]

Steve,

Many thanks for the kind words. Please let us know if there is anything we can do in the future or if you have any questions.

David

[Bud Man]

Steve:

They are a class act, to be sure. Superior product and people.

Congratulations on the progress, and be sure to post some photos!!!

Bud

[Jamo]

Oh big dam deal...they do that kind of stuff for all of their customers.

[Excaliber]

Jamo, it sure seems to be that way, pretty cool huh!

[Guinness]

World class company and people too. The Kirkham's have gone well above and beyond the call of duty for me on several occasions.

Jeff

[PatBuckley]

Absolutely!

[shaps]

Steve,
I couldn't agree more! They are AWESOME!
Had a couple of small issues, David, Thomas and Steve were all over it and went waaaaay above and beyond!
They are truly a class act!
Shaps

[David Kirkham]

Shaps,

Many thanks for the kind words and for the unbiased advice...

U2

Hope you are keeping comfortable up there and no one has snuck (is that a word???) in any interesting magazines.

Buckley, Jamo, Bud,

Many, many thanks for the kind words.

Maybe our family will get a little bigger soon.

David

[steve meltzer]

Now that the initial excitement of getting the car back home has sort of come to a slight lull, I have had a chance to really look the car over and admire the truly excellent job the Kirkhams did in finishing it up. When the car came off Rich Lacy's transport, it was washed and immaculate inside and out, engine bay, wheels wells, etc. As a bit of a compulsive myself, I recognize and appreciate meticulous work... and this was it. I was so proud to be the owner when #174 rolled off that ramp that I've been grinning ever since. If I can ever to anything to repay the Kirkhams, let me at it....giving a reference is the very least, that's for sure. steve...I've spent all my money on this car, wine and women....and squandered the rest.