Pics: Kirkham twin-Paxton Super Snake cammer

[rodneym]

Sundude,
I believe it is a Unique. There was an article in one of the kit magazines a couple years ago. PM me your email and I'll send it to you.

[Livnn]

Unreal............

[Paul F]

Blessed are those that have unfettered sums of money and know how to spend it.

The Homer Drool Sound - YouTube

[fordracing65]

Get some better tires dude, I use those BF's on my work van, it has 800hp for christ sake.

[rpatton3]

Yes, the cream colored must have had a different intake because it all fit under the stock hood covered alll the machinery!

Thanks,

Russell

[rpatton3]

Originally Posted by rodneym

You are correct rpatton3.

And it was shoehorned in a stock hood.

Thanks for confirming my memory. Yes, the stock hoof covered all the extra machinery.

Russell

[rodneym]

Fitting under the stock hood means using a dual inline intake (mine is a Dove tunnel wedge-which is a better flowing intake than the Ebrock FX-66 anyway) as well as the Paxtons being situated in a somewhat compact manor.
Look at pics of SS engines, no two are the same (for the most part). Some Paxtons sit higher, lower, further apart, turned outwards, etc.

[rpatton3]

The car is still out there. It has a blue interior and no tell tale bulges. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

Russell

[rpatton3]

Originally Posted by SunDude

There was a guy at SAAC-37 who had a fiberglass Super Snake Cobra replica, painted to match CSX3015. I didn't have the chance to speak with the owner. Does anyone know which kit this was built from? Unique Motorcars? Other?





UPDATE: Yep, it turns out that this particular car is from Unique Motorcars. The powertrain consists of a Ford 390 bored out to 403cid and equipped with two Paxton SN2000 superchargers hidden within original SN60 housings and feeding two Holley 600cfm double pumpers. Transmission is a four-speed toploader (not a 3AT as per CSX3015). Power output is a verified 800 hp. The hood scoop is homemade. The car was featured in the Oct 2010 issue of Kit Car Builder magazine. -- Thanks, Rodney!

Very nice work. Incredible "fear factor", too.

[Oakfield765]

Here are a few pics of my Kirkham. More in member gallery Oakfield765. Kirkham did an amazing job on the build and Keith Craft was outstanding with the motor.

[FUNFER2]

Fantastic !

Tell us some details.

[Oakfield765]

Kevin:

Here are some details:

Kirkham 427 S/C to resemble comp cobra with cut down windscreen and Aviad dry sump
527 Cammer with Shelby aluminum block built by Keith Craft
Bill Coon SOHC heads
Period Twin Paxtons from Craig Conley
Top Loader
Smith Gauges
3:31 rear
Super Snake custom hood by Kirkham digitized from on Franklin Mint Super Snake Model
Custom Twin Paxtons Brackets by Kirkham
Approximately 18 month build

[lovehamr]

This is coming from a "dual hooper" so take it for what it's worth but for a car as stunning as this one surly is, don't the bolt on wheels seem quite out of place?

[FUNFER2]

Originally Posted by Oakfield765

Kevin:

Here are some details:

Kirkham 427 S/C to resemble comp cobra with cut down windscreen and Aviad dry sump
527 Cammer with Shelby aluminum block built by Keith Craft
Bill Coon SOHC heads
Period Twin Paxtons from Craig Conley
Top Loader
Smith Gauges
3:31 rear
Super Snake custom hood by Kirkham digitized from on Franklin Mint Super Snake Model
Custom Twin Paxtons Brackets by Kirkham
Approximately 18 month build

Truly, one of the best Cobra's ever built.

How many miles have you put on it and any problems with the Paxtons or heat etc. ?

[Oakfield765]

Kevin,

Thanks very much for your kind words. I will be able to tell you when I actually get the car! It is en route from Kirkham as we speak. The pics are from Kirkham's shop. I am very much looking forward to seeing it in person and actually driving it.

I do know that the current vintage Paxton set up on the car is limiting the HP to approx 750 HP and 6000 rpm since the 527 cammer is pulling much much more air than available from the vintage Paxtons. I decided to keep the vintage setup since I like the look better than the modern Paxton models and wanted to stay with the vintage Super Snake look. If I wanted to get more HP I was told by Keith Craft that I can always swap out to modern Paxtons.

[fordracing65]

That's cool the Kirkham's did the install for you.

[Oakfield765]

They were great to work with, very knowledgable and flexible.
Keith Craft was also outstanding to work with,they build an incredible product.

[Geary L. Sarno]

Hi - I'm the owner of the blue Unique based SuperSnake. If anyone has specific questions on my car feel free to email me at: glsarno@verizon.net.

Over the years I have done extensive study of original cars including two on-site visits to document CSX3015 while it resided in a private collection at Auto Palace in Pittsburgh, PA (Year 2000)

Just to clear up questions about the X-F66:
My first thought was to use a C7ZX-9425-A GT500 intake which always delivered stellar performance for me in the past.
The reason for choosing the vintage X-F66 intake is:
1st - The correct look for my replica project.
2nd - Based on supercharger forum discussions with Vince Granetelli I learned
that "Paxtons like Siamese Fighting Fish are beautiful in form/function but don't get along well with others". The X-F66 was used on the SuperSnakes to totally isolated each Paxton from the other. If dual Paxtons are used to pressurize a common intake plenum one becomes dominant over the other momentarily resulting in a back & forth supercharger roll. The pressure from the blowers is unregulated and they will never push equally. You must set up each engine bank to run as good as possible even if there are differences between the the two sides. The tricky part is the balancing of the engine side to side.

The Compomotive bolt-ons were a personal choice as this car is a driver.(Currently approaching 30,000 miles. 18,000 on the Paxtons)
After 42 years of British car ownership I've had my fill of Thor Hammers and Safety Wire.
- Geary (Aggressor)

[mickmate]

Hi Geary, good chatting with you at SAAC about your car. It's a fantastic set up and a driver to boot. You are well versed in Paxton speak and these guys would do well to take you up on your offer of talking about your set up. Keep clicking up miles.
Cheers Nick

[Geary L. Sarno]

Nick - It's most excellent to hear from you again. Just prior to SAAC37 I took her for a short 2000 mile run from PA to Alabama and back. This is with the superchargers engaged for the entire run. I should have removed the blower belt and run 'er normally aspirated but as my wife would say I not prone to doin it the easy way. Still got a hair under 17 MPG to boot driving in what is best described as "End of Civilization as We Know It Today" rain storms.
She picked up a couple of awards along the way at the Rocket City Mustang Club(Huntsville AL) MCA Annual Show and we ended up with a groovy dinner at Simp McGee's Restaurant in Decatur AL. It just don't get any better than that.

Best Regards
- Geary