Homecoming Next Week (knock on wood)

RodKnock · #1 (**permalink**) 09-19-2008, 09:51 PM

Well, I visited the Kirkham #539 this afternoon, again. She's a runner. Hall Fabrication & Racing in Benicia has been installing the engine and tranny as well as a few other extras. I bought it in October 2007, the engine was built around March 2008 and I dropped it off at Hall Fab in May 2008. They're going to keep it for a few more days next week, just to sort out anything that needs to be sorted out. Also, they'll be corner balancing it and also weighing it. Hall Fab changed the mufflers from the stock Kirkham setup to some Hushpowers, which is a division of Flowmaster. Thus, they're not quite as loud, but supposedly flow better due to less restriction. Can't prove it, but I'll go with it for now.

Now I need to get my TOP so I can drive it next week. The shop is about 90 minutes from home, so I don't know whether I will flatbed it home or drive it home with a someone on my tail.

Almost one year and I'm real excited to get it home. Then off to the CHP and BAR.

Got the Bug · #2 (**permalink**) 09-19-2008, 10:04 PM

Congratulatons Rodney!! Looks awesome!!

Take your TOP up to Benicia, slap that puppy on the windshield, and put some miles on your car before you drive it home.

xlr8or · #3 (**permalink**) 09-19-2008, 10:49 PM

Finally. I hope its everything you wanted. It's a great looking car.

RodKnock · #4 (**permalink**) 09-19-2008, 11:30 PM

It's almost everything I wanted. Once I have the Dynatek (or TWM) on there, then it'll be everything I wanted.

Scott, thanks for your help answering my questions over those many months.

Doug, wouldn't you be worried about the maiden voyage? I thought I would take it on some short trips around the neighborhood first,then widen my range from there as I build confidence.

rokndad · #5 (**permalink**) 09-20-2008, 11:46 AM

Hey Rodney,

Before you pick it up, go to DMV and tell them you want a one day moving permit so you can bring it to the office to get the initial inspection. Just remember to bring your paperwork on the purchase price and the install costs of the engine and trans. You'll be done in one day, and have a legit TOP for at least 90 days which should get you through the BAR mess.....and now that we have a State budget, BAR should be back in operation no prob. And you have the CHP inspect before BAR as well. Can't wait to see you in it!!

I'm also talking to Tom Hank at Dynatek about my engine's cam and whether or not it will work. He's looking into it.

Tom

Got the Bug · #6 (**permalink**) 09-20-2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodKnock

It's almost everything I wanted. Once I have the Dynatek (or TWM) on there, then it'll be everything I wanted.

Scott, thanks for your help answering my questions over those many months.

Doug, wouldn't you be worried about the maiden voyage? I thought I would take it on some short trips around the neighborhood first,then widen my range from there as I build confidence.

Rodney,

Before I took delivery of my car, I went up to Reno and drove it for half a day to make sure everything was OK. I found a few things that needed to be tweaked/fixed before I took delivery. The second time I drove my car, was from Sacramento to Santa Cruz.

My thinking was that if you put a few miles on it near where Hall is located and you had questions or found an issue, they could take a look at then (vs. having to bring the car back). Just a thought.

RodKnock · #7 (**permalink**) 09-20-2008, 05:01 PM

Doug, that's an excellent idea. I may do that, but I still don't think I'm brave enough to drive it home like you did, unless I have my own race team behind me. I might have to do that too.

Tom, I thought that these FI systems adjust to any cam. If I remember correctly you have more duration than me, but I have more lift than you. I think both of our cams should work with FI. By the way, there's a discussion of the Dynatek versus TWM over on www.gt40s.com. Something about sequential versus batch fire. I need to read more about it.

I really like the turkey pan, but the look of Webers, I just gotta have it.

RodKnock · #8 (**permalink**) 09-25-2008, 01:02 PM

The homecoming of my Kirkham has been delayed until next week. The shop wants to put a few miles/time on it before delivering it to me, since I didn't have a TOP. So I went to the DMV and got a TOP. While I had to pay my 2008-2009 registration fees

, I did get a TOP through 12/31/08

.

The DMV counter person seemed to sympathize with me that the backup at the BAR referee could be huge due to the budget battle. Anyway, assuming my car is home next week, I made an appointment at the CHP for the following week (October 7th). Just bring the paperwork, right? Should I call BAR and make an appointment now for after the CHP appointment or wait until after the CHP appointment? I assume that they couldn't possibly have anything before then. Do I need the VIN # to just make the BAR appointment?

Almost there. Thanks.

dlang14 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-25-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Do I need the VIN # to just make the BAR appointment?

Yup, or at least I did. I went through some hassle where the DMV used the wrong VIN number and ended up having to go back to the DMV for them to inspect the plate the CHP installed, then back to the BAR for another test (they cant print a new sticker until they run the test....gotta love that system) and finally for a corrected sticker.

Randy Rosenberg · #10 (**permalink**) 09-25-2008, 01:45 PM

Hey Rodney, Congrats! I agree with Doug's advice about driving it around locally to Hall, etc... I did the same thing years ago when I picked up my SPF.

1. The CHP will require to see your Cobra, since you will be asking them to assign (and affix) a VIN to it.
2. The BAR requires you to have a VIN, so step #1 first before you visit the BAR. However, you can make an appointment now with the BAR for sometime AFTER you get your VIN from the CHP.

Make sense? Hope so...

Good luck,
Randy R...

franklin · #11 (**permalink**) 09-25-2008, 02:00 PM

Hey Rod,
Congrats, look on the bright side you live in California, so your driving window is larger than ours here in Utah. I hope to be in your shoes by next spring if I can just get past all this polishing, and start building!

Can't wait to hear how your first drive goes...

RodKnock · #12 (**permalink**) 09-25-2008, 02:05 PM

Thanks guys. I knew the CHP would want to see the car and every shred of paperwork that I have, but I would like to call BAR right now, if I can without the VIN assignment, and schedule the BAR appointment for after the CHP appointment. I think some CC members in the past have said that the BAR appointment could be 1-2 months out. Is that correct?

Also, we'll the local police and/or CHP give me any difficulties for driving with just a TOP? I remember a photo of Doug (with the burgular-looking head warmer thingees

) on one of those local Cobra fun runs with the TOP prominently displayed on his windshield.

RodKnock · #13 (**permalink**) 09-25-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by franklin

Hey Rod,
Congrats, look on the bright side you live in California, so your driving window is larger than ours here in Utah. I hope to be in your shoes by next spring if I can just get past all this polishing, and start building!

Can't wait to hear how your first drive goes...

Thanks Franklin, I was supposed to bring it home tomorrow, but the shop felt "reluctant" letting the car go without putting some miles on it to make sure everything was alright. If I had my eye on the ball and didn't have a brain fart, I should have gone to the DMV last week for my TOP.

At any rate, the shop will have the TOP tomorrow morning via FedEx. My insurance is ready to go too. My car should be home just in time for our rainy season.

Maybe I'll get some time to drive it when the soccer season is over too.

Franklin, my car came polished from Kirkham. There's no way I had the time, energy and skills to do that job.

4pipes · #14 (**permalink**) 09-25-2008, 02:29 PM

Congratulations Rodney, welcome to the HFR/Kirkham club. After Stewart says the car is ready to go, just drive it home. That's what I did. He'll make sure it's road worthy.

Good Luck
Dave.

RodKnock · #15 (**permalink**) 09-25-2008, 02:50 PM

When corner weighting the car, Stewart used 150 lbs in the driver's seat. I think I was 150 lbs back in middle school. I'm sure it will make a huge difference when I'm ripping around Infineon or Thunderhill next year.

Stewart does a great job. No doubt. Dave, thanks for the recommendation and help answering my questions.