First ride.....What an experience

[ng8264723]

I took it out on a maiden voyage Sat. I'm nuts first day out 115 miles one way. It behaved well. It was a little squirrely... I have to get the 4 wheel alignment done. I was overheating in traffic but not it idn't as long as I kept moving. The damn fuse went on the electric fan. It was 90+ and it didn't it didn't overheat without a fan!!! The dang car is so loud that I didn't realize the fan wasn't working. I still have some guage issues. My fuel pressure is pegged (15 PSI). It is obviously wrong. My oil PSI is all over the place. It was fine with a mech guage on the stand so I think it's the guage. Tom is working with me on this. We will get it resolved. I did have to drive home at night with no dash lights. That kinda sucked. I used my cell phonbe to check the guages. The car is strong a little scary and loud. It is brutal to drive but fun. I have over 275 miles in one weekend. WooHooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RodKnock]

Wow, that's more than few scary things that were happening all at the same time. More than my little brain could handle.

Nonetheless, congrats on the maiden voyage. I'm happy that you saw it through all the trials and tribulations.

[kurtmart]

Congrats. Wellcome to the club. I replaced my oil gauge. You need a 20 or 30 amp block fuse for the fan. Mine came with 10 amps and kept blowing. The alignment will make a world of difference.

Your life will never be the same.

[rodneym]

Again, congrats of the Kirkham. Great mileage for one weekend!
600 just had her maiden voyage a couple of months ago. I know how exciting it is.
Don't know what engine you have but the stock radiator (as long as the fuse issue is resolved) will cool a big block in traffic on a 90 degree day no problem. Generally I leave the fan on in traffic (any weather) and off on the hwy.
And I'm not sure if you came from another Cobra, or if you have Billboards, but if you do, they will feel different all by themselves.
Good luck!
rodneym

[maurice19]

Congrats on a lively 1st ride.
Do you have the old style buss fuses? Mine does and occassionally the 30 amp burns out. I toot my horn when it is noisy and I want to check the fan, go figure.

Maurice

[Mark Thompson]

The first ride is very exciting, and rewarding after putting it together. Congratulations.

You are much braver than I am, I only did walkable distances for the first 50 miles. These cars handle very well when set up correctly and can kill you if not, so exercise caution if you suspect something is not right. I don't know what tires you are running, but mine with Avons tracks great and is very stable with the alignment as delivered by the Kirkhams. Bias plies will be innately twitchier in a straight line, but not unstable. It also is stable in during cornering with mild understeer, as it should. Did they align your chassis for you? Twitchy is usually toe or caster. The fan motor has a big current spike on start up, so use slow-blow fuses, and bigger is better. Turning the fan on when the car is moving will help the fuse blowing problem as the fan will be turning and so has less inrush current spike.

Have fun,

Mark

[Jamo]

"The car is strong a little scary and loud. It is brutal to drive but fun."

Write this down somewhere...it will be the same years later.

[RON N BKFLD]

(RODNEYM)"not sure if you have Billboards, but if you do, they will feel different all by themselves."
Billboards follow the grooves in the road, but street tires are dangerous........
Dunlops broke loose while accelerating onto freeway, 70 MPH, 3rd gear. got my attention!.......Ron

[rodneym]

Ron,
I heard that they hunt and I can verify that. But can't that some of that be elimanted with alignment? Those tires are so rounded and not flat like modern tires.
I would never mess with regular street tires on my Kirkham. I had an SPF with a Roush 402R and BF TA's. That was scary enough. I had to be pretty gentle on the gas. With the Kirkham I dropped 500 LBS and added over 60 ft Lbs tq. That would be downright dangerous on those old 70's custom van tires.
rodneym

[ng8264723]

The car came with firestones which are still on it. I will run those until they wear out. I will try to get it aligned next week.
The oil PSI is not around 50-60. It is where it should be. I have to call the guage guy and discuss.
The car definately attacks attn whereever I go.
Chris

[ng8264723]

Kurtmart,
You replced your elec guage? What did you put in it's place? Why did you replace it?