Kirkham 668 build

[Lexluther]

not a fabricators backside and I have real problems finding anything on google
I just like working things out and tinkering

[guye]

You, sir, are a legend!

Now I'm thinking of things I could use that for, just to have an excuse to try it!

Is it special plastic sheet you use? Is it readily available?

[damage]

Looks good mate.

[Lexluther]

That plastic is ABS , there are many others that are suitable for vac forming like styrene, pet. (coke bottle plastic), ABS has good impact properties, you cant buy it at bunnos but should be able to buy it from any plastics supplier.the vacuum cleaner has its limitations don't expect to pull really complicated shapes. give it a go - nothing to loose other than setting the kitchen on fire. My wife is very supportive in most instances but I don't think she approved me putting plastic sheets in the oven

[Dimis]

That's simply awesome.

Just for comparisons sake... The only thing I can make is toast with jam or cheese.

[Aussie Mike]

That's Brilliant! I reckon I'll have to have a go at making one of them.

Cheers

[stephen low]

oh gawd Mike, stay on track with your rebuild will you - ha

But as others have said Lex, brilliant work mate.

You've got me thinking about when I have to come to make up footwell sill covers and the like. We will see.

Perhaps I can order a set off you!!

Cheers

Slo

[Lexluther]

Thanks everyone for your likes and comments it is certainly not a viable business venture
Just a bit of fun when the wife is at work ( its a bit smelly)It is fun yrying to think of new parts to make but I have to be carefully my cobra does not end up covered in vac formed plastic bits.....
Slo happy to give any part a go as long as it fits in my oven

Cheers

[750hp]

On the other hand, vac formed carbon fibre bits all over the car would be completely acceptable! Is that possible with what you've created?

[Lexluther]

I'm thinking........ I suppose you could lay it up on a mould and seal the table top of, you just have to stop the resign getting sucked in to the vax. I think they use plastic bags to put the moulds with the mat & resin and suck the air out not sure if a vacuum cleaner will have enough suck.....you really got me thinking I will have to give it a go.

[Aussie Mike]

Carbon fiber is usually done with a Vacuum bag setup as it's curing. It's fairly straightforward to do at home. The vacuum pumps are reasonably priced. The hard work is in making the mold.

However you could probably buy poly-carbonate sheet that has a carbon fiber print on it and vacuum form it.

A lot of the carbon fiber look parts out there are molded plastic that has a water transfer print on it.

Cheers

[damage]

750hp top idea didnt even think about that

Lex, if you want that I have all the Carbon Fibre Twill pre-preg and vaccuum gear in my shed.

[Lexluther]

Just figured out what pre preg twill is.. Shows how much I know.
Thanks Damage I will keep it in mind

[Lexluther]

Time for a bit of a mini up date.
As you all know I have been playing around with door trim for a while now
lock covers , hinge covers. In the background I have tried to come up with a solution for the rest of the door trim.

First prototype I did in fiberglass it covered everything but I could not come up with a solution for finishing the edges at the top of the door, and it was a bit bumpy lumpy looking


Second try was cutting an aluminum tube in half to cover the intrusion bar, and using the plastic lock and hinge covers


did not like it so added a piece of carpet



still did not like it....

went away thought about it and finally came up with a less is more version

Using a piece of 6mm plastic coreflute I cut it to the door shape.


(that's the real Lex in the back ground, my trusty helper)

back cut the sheet so it would form to the door




I then stuck a 4mm thick high density black foam on to the core flute had to do it in two half's above and below the intrusion bar, wrapped the bottom half with some upholstery leather


Then for the finale..... another piece of leather with the logo laser etched in to it




not too in your face it is actually difficult to see unless you really look for it, I like it and I think this version might just stay.
The intrusion bar will be wrapped in leather after the engineer inspection.

And just because I love looking at it...


Cheers

[Donunder]

Flabbergasted!

Again ...

This car is going to be one of the very special ones when it's finished.

[guye]

Also amazed. Vacuum forming, plastic and leather work. All extra skills I need to learn I think. What next?

I am loving this type of detail in your build thread, Lex's Dad!

[Dimis]

Genius!
Mensa called... They are curious to know where you've been.

[750hp]

Originally Posted by Lexluther

I didn't realise how impressive your covers were until I looked at some great details pics of CSX3004 - the factory dry sump comp Cobra here 1965 AC Shelby 427 Comp Cobra


and


Great stuff!

[Lexluther]

Thank you all for kind words and encouragement.

Had an excellent morning, went for my first ever ride in a cobra (other than a squirt around the block),
How cool..... literally how cool? it was freezing, but I did not really care and it was over far to soon.
Inspired me to get on with some work on mine.

Had a surprise last week end, almost two years in the making my dash, wiring loom and wiper motor assembly arrived from AP. I got so carried away I almost for got to take some photos.

After spending an hour or so just looking at it figuring out which end goes where I started to feed it through the fire wall holes
This is just starting out, the bulk of the loom is on the cockpit floor and the rear loom is stretched out on the floor


This is the mess that awaits me under the dash

A day of bending into positions I didn't relise I could get into
a few P- clips and cable ties, it is looking almost finished , a few more connectors for the demisters and steering lock to do

Put some water proof connectors on the tail light assemblies

Finally plugged the dash in and bolted it in place


seems easy but it has taken two full days to get it very close to hooking up a battery to see if anything works.
As well as crimping the connectors I am soldering everything as well,
I am trying to "hide" all of the wiring the best I can, instead of riveting the loom on the side of the chassis rail, I have put in inside the sill panel. ( absolute pain if it has to come out again)
That meant some wires were to short and other to long, so a bit of extra work.
I am pretty happy with the results "a blind man would be glad to see it"

Waiting on some parts from OS then it is on to working on that big iron thingy under the lid in the front

Cheers

[damage]

Awesome must be happy to be moving forward.