Re-body?

[jdog]

Anyone know how much Kirkham would want for one aluminum CSX body? No frame, running gear, or anything else, just the body?

And installed?

Hello, Mr Kirkham sir?

jdog
P.S. Paint them black they look the same.

[computerworks]

The body,,,without the frame,,,is a gum-wrapper.

And installed?

...on what?

[Jamo]

No...you can't have one.

[Chaplin]

Can I have one?

[Power Surge]

Jdog, the bodies come from Poland attached to the chassis. The bodies and chassis are one unit because the aluminum skin is actually wrapped around many parts of the birdcage. It's not a fun job to remove/replace an alloy body.

The CSX glass cars do NOT have the same birdcage setup as the alloy cars. They are different because the glass body bolts onto the frame, so the attachement points are different.

To put an alloy body on a glass car, is a major undertaking. In all honesty, you'd be better off just buying the entire body/chassis and then swapping all your other parts over to it.

Just my 2 cents, maybe David will chime in.

[ST]

Originally Posted by Power Surge

To put an alloy body on a glass car, is a major undertaking. In all honesty, you'd be better off just buying the entire body/chassis and then swapping all your other parts over to it.

Of course the CSX number would have to remain with the original chassis.
You’d basically end up with an aluminum bodied replica of your original replica.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by ST

Of course the CSX number would have to remain with the original chassis.
You’d basically end up with an aluminum bodied replica of your original replica.

[Chaplin]

Somewhere Evan's head is exploding right now.

[xlr8or]

Originally Posted by Chaplin

Somewhere Evan's head is exploding right now.

Now that there is some really funny shiite.

[jdog]

When Selby needs another aluminum CSX body from Kirkham they send the frame to Poland? I don't think so!
They put those CSX bodies on right here.

Hello Mr. Kirkham?

jdog
P.S. Sorry Ron. Installed on a CSX Cobra.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by jdog

When Selby needs another aluminum CSX body from Kirkham they send the frame to Poland? I don't think so!
They put those CSX bodies on right here.

Hello Mr. Kirkham?

jdog
P.S. Sorry Ron. Installed on a CSX Cobra.

Shelby buys the body and chassis as an assembly from Kirkham. A "re-body" is a major undertaking on an alloy car. Usually if an alloy car gets damaged, they replace the section of the body that's damaged (if it can't be repaired), not the whole body.

[jdog]

Does Kirkham have an "Option Delete" feature?

A bare roller is $39,000. Just "Option Delete" everything but the body. That should cut the price down to? Well, Hello Mr Kirkham?

Just send the unfinished, never attached, alum body. Straight from Poland, how much?

I would think that if I presented the Kirkhams with a bare framed CSX car. They could order a body shipped over. And I believe they could install it without trouble!

How about an alum bodied,Kirkham built, CSX car? The best of "Everything"!

Hello, Mr Kirkham sir?

jdog
P.S. Don't hate the player, hate the game!

[Three Peaks]

I've checked the Kirkham gallery and I believe the body comes with the "birdcage" attached to the body since the aluminum edges are wrapped around the cage to make a stiff structure. Once in country, they are attached to the chassis, which are made here- I believe.
I would think it would be a relatively simple procedure to remove the glass supporting birdcage and attach the aluminum body w/cage to the CSX chassis, but why? They are the same car from what I understand as Shelby buys the body w/cage from Kirkham and attaches it to their chassis. So why not just buy a Kirkham and save a step and some money? Unless, of course, you REALLY have to have a CSX number.
Actually, it wasn't all that long ago somebody was selling a Shelby glass body and other parts and a Kirkham chassis after doing exactly what you are contemplating. With a little work and a good welder, it should be a relatively simple project.
Of course, that is what I said about building a car from scratch, and here I am 2 years later still trying to get the chassis completed and ready to start adding the aluminum, drivetrain, etc..... just about there......

[mrmustang]

Kirkham aluminum body AND frame (birdcage and chassis) are built in Poland, then shipped over to the US and assembled into rollers in Utah.


Bill S.

[decooney]

Jdog,
I don't get it. And doing so would mean your car would not be an all original Shelby, right ??? or maybe I'm missing something.

Personally, in contrast I think you'd be better off to sell your car as a complete, original, Shelby CSX400o, and go buy a new Kirkham if you really want aluminum. Even more so, I like your car the way it is. Good Luck on this one.

[RedEsprit]

The aluminum cars aren't so much rebodied as they are "re-skinned". If you order a replacement decklid, for example, the panel will be wheeled to the proper curves and arc but will include enough metal to overlap the opening by several inches. You then fit the panel to the opening. Installing a body shell to a proper set of tubes is really no big deal (hammer and dolly work but watch for body shell warp during shipping). The main body simply wraps around the tubes and is pop riveted in place. Fitting the doors, decklid and hood are a different matter entirely since they don't simply wrap around tubes. They are custom fit to the main shell openings and its a bit of a pain. I re-bodied an AC Bristol once. Great learning experience. I imagine Kirkham does it exactly the same way as the old panel beaters at AC. Long story short, your tubes will need to be very close (virtually identical) to those from the Kirkham jigs or you will be in for a verrrry, verrrry long (and expensive) afternoon.

[jdog]

Originally Posted by Three Peaks

Unless, of course, you REALLY have to have a CSX number.

Take a look in my photo gallery for pictures of CSX4795.

Originally Posted by Three Peaks

Actually, it wasn't all that long ago somebody was selling a Shelby glass body and other parts and a Kirkham chassis after doing exactly what you are contemplating. With a little work and a good welder, it should be a relatively simple project.

Thanks, that's what I thought, I was just hoping I didn't have to buy the whole roller.

jdog

[Igofastr]

OK, I'm going to ask what everyone is thinking....WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR NEW CAR?

You haven't even gotten it on the road yet! Did the garrage door fall down? Forget to set the parking brakes while taking the car down off the jackstands (did that one myself )? Common, you couldn't have developed aluminum envy that quickly, could you?

Originally Posted by jdog

Anyone know how much Kirkham would want for one aluminum CSX body? No frame, running gear, or anything else, just the body?

And installed?

Hello, Mr Kirkham sir?

jdog
P.S. Paint them black they look the same.

[Tom Kirkham]

jdog,

When we sell an aluminum body to Shelby there is a frame attached (as well as all of the interior, engine, and trunk panels).

An aluminum body can be mounted to your frame. It has been done several times. Typically, a frame and body will be bought from us and then the superstructure of both cars will be cut off flush at the ladder frame of both vehicles and then the aluminum body with the superstructure will be welded onto the CSX frame. Wrapping the aluminum body onto the frame is very, very difficult to due right. This is why cutting the superstructure off both cars is so appealing as the body does not need to be rewraped. Hope this helps.

[jdog]

Thank you Tom,.........er Mr Kirkham!
That is good to know, (just in case) anything was to ever happen to my glass Cobra body.

So Tom, how much would a roller cost, deleting everything but body? How much for you to do the exchange? You can PM me if you don't want to quote prices here.

Then could I put my glass body on the Kirkham frame?
WTF, would I call that?
You talk about RARE!

jdog
P.S. Nothing yet Igo, just planning for the day!