Million Dollar Skunksworks Kirkham

David Kirkham · #1 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 07:01 PM

Gents and Fellow Car Nuts,

If you had a "million dollars" what kind of a car would you build. More realistically, if you could have anything you wanted, what would you do? I am speaking of a replica that we all dream about. What options would it have? What engine?

I mean if you wanted the ultimate Chariot of Fire, what would you do? And why?

David

BERT · #2 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 07:11 PM

A Kirkham GT-40 or 1958 Testarossi. Robert Ihrig

David Kirkham · #3 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 07:13 PM

No, that will have to be later. We are going to miss you this year Robert!

No, this one is a KMS 427/SC. But what would you do to actually improve the car?

David

BERT · #4 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 07:18 PM

That's going to be tough. The car is nearly perfect already. Robert

David Kirkham · #5 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 07:27 PM

Bert,

You are kind! Thanks! We do try to make the car as nice as possible. We have certainly learned a lot over the years on how to make things--espeically from billet.

BUT

There comes a point where you simply can't improve upon what is there any further and you have to throw the baby out with the bath water...you need to start over with a clean sheet of paper.

Once in a lifetime, your world is turned upside down when a customer calls and asks you to make the car of YOUR dreams for him.

David

BERT · #6 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 07:37 PM

One improvement might be light weight half shafts instead of Spicer units and ceramic rotors. One pound reduction in rotating weight = a lot of total car reduction (as you'll surely know). Robert

1985 CCX · #7 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 07:31 PM

David,

With a million dollars.....let's see.....

This may sound corny/typical however:

I would start with a KMS 427 and build it to original comp dry sump specification. The car would use tubular steel suspension and use all the OEM Shelby details, new magnesium Halibrand wheels, all along with one slight change a KMS SS frame for years of service. The only other major deviation I would make uses the most up to date aluminum block FE available with all the best appointments money could buy. Of course the original paint scheme Rangoon Red! With every detail covered right down to the correct rear view mirror and optional 60's angle iron supports on the a-arms. So close it could even fool Ron R.

I would hope that after that I would have enough left over to talk you into making a custom replica of the Ferrari 250LM in aluminum. Of course this car would incorporate all the CNC capabilities of KMS to allow for undercarriage updates to match new exotics while taking advantage of the adjustability of today's engineering. Powered by a replica of the original powerplant in aluminum....

This car in F-Red or course.

A KMS version of an Alan Mann 40 would also be a treat as they were aluminum.

Thanks David, now I can't sleep.........Ahhhhh

David Kirkham · #8 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 07:36 PM

1985 CCX,

Thank you for saying you'd use a KMS 427! I am proud of our cars and I am thrilled our customers are happy.

I know what you mean that you can't sleep. This project has kept me awake for many, many nights. Tonight will be another one of those nights.

David

Joe@KMS · #9 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 07:37 PM

After our lesson on "Whats in the background of the picture" can I post some more?

Side Pipes

Joe@KMS · #10 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 07:43 PM

David,

Since we had the lesson on "Whats in the back ground of pictures sent to customers", can I post some more?

Gatorac · #11 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 07:47 PM

Finish one to exact original specs with the patina of a well used race car. Worn leather on the seats. Dings and dents in the aluminum. Dull cracked paint.

Joe@KMS · #12 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatBoy

Pictures like these...

D-CEL · #13 (**permalink**) 05-19-2008, 10:55 AM

David,

Like always, Incredible. Will it be at SEMA?

As for "ultimate Chariot of Fire"

How about a McLaren M8F or a Lola T222!

I have always thought these were the most beautiful open top race cars. To build them with current technology, cylinder heads, turbo, EFI, shocks, brakes and optimized monocoques. To me, the ultimate road cars!!

Jason

Maricopa · #14 (**permalink**) 05-19-2008, 11:03 AM

Check out RCR, he's building some stuff very similar.

RodKnock · #15 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 08:02 PM

David and Joe,

I'm a bad guesser and I have little time for this since it's 6:00 PM Maui time right now. I've got to back to the pool and play with the kids. Can you hurry it up?

Joe@KMS · #16 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 08:04 PM

Maui?

Its 19* here in Provo. You do not deserve to know. Go back out and play with the kids.

David Kirkham · #17 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 08:06 PM

Lew,

We aren't wrapped up yet! It will be a long night. I have a special dish I have to get out oven.

This is so cool...It's like my birthday!

David

BERT · #18 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 08:10 PM

Oven.... ? Are you heat treating something or autoclaving carbon fiber ???? Or is it just a TV dinner? Robert

Lew Ledyard · #19 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

Lew,

We aren't wrapped up yet! It will be a long night. I have a special dish I have to get out oven.

This is so cool...It's like my birthday!

David

HA! HA! HA!

David Kirkham · #20 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 09:16 PM

Lew,

Bert,

Just put the hubs in the oven. They come out looking like gold...about as expensive too!

What'saCobra hits the nail right on the head! (But he cheated, he came out here and saw us sweating over it!)

BILLET ALUMINUM CHASSIS!

If you take billet far enough, you eventually just billet the chassis so you can get the suspension points where you want them.

The 90 inch wheel base presented some real challenges. The structure is very similar to a wing with longerons. We will rivet sheet aluminum over the billet rails.

Just for some fun information, we did an FEA (Finite Element Anaylsis) on the original 427 Cobra chassis and it had a stiffness of 1450 foot pounds/degree of deflection. The billet aluminum chassis we engineered has a stiffness of right at 4500 foot pounds/degree of deflection--or a 300% improvement over an original. Just for comparison, the thicker frame rails we use have a stiffness of 1650 foot pounds/degree of deflection--for an improvement of around 14% over an original chassis.

Interestingly, even so low a figure as a 14% increase in stiffness is READILY noticeable as soon as you drive down the road. I can't wait to try a 300% increase in stiffness! Another point of comparison, a "Supercar" (like a McLaren F1) typically has a stiffness of 10,000 foot pounds/degree of deflection--but remember, they have a roof which is an enormous help. We were able to get the stiffness of the billet chassis so high because we used very tall door sils that we hid under the doors and spread them WAY apart. We also made a really cool billet aluminum bulkheads and a stressed tunnel to help transfer the loads.

David

I will post a picture soon.